Chapter 2

Everything started when I'se was just a little goil around 10 or 11. Yea 11. I'se was living with Spot at the Brooklyn Lodging House and sellin' papes with him everyday, we were really close and I'se didn't know what I would have done without him. He was the only family I'se had and I considered him me father since I'se had never known no other. I slept in Spot's poisonal (personal) room in the Lodging House every night. We'se even had a routine in the morning when we'se would wake up. We'se would wake up a little before the otha newsies to get ready so we'se could go sell papes together. Our daily routine felt like more of a tradition than anythin' else since we didn't have many o' those I'se liked to call it tradition. First I'se would wake up and take a shower while Spot would wash his face, shave, because he thought he needed ta, and brush his teeth. Then when I'se was finished in the shower he would take one while I'se was washin' my face, brushin' me hair, and brushin' me teeth. We'se did the same thing everyday before the rest of the Newsies would wake up. They didn't bother me or anythin' it was just easier this way. I'se would even say I'se felt like I'se had 20 olda brothas. I'se had lived there since before I could remembah and it was the only place I'se really knew good. I'se loved my life and everythin' in it, especially that one "chosen" friend Race, from 'Hattan. He was a few years olda than me yea, but we'se were as good o' friends as any. Well this one day I'se was in the Lodging House playing cards, Spot had taught me how ta o' course, with some o' the guys and then Spot comes in ta ask me a question. He takes me a ways away from the othas and says, "Kane, I'se gotta ask ya somethin'."

"Alright tell me already," I'se told him "I'se in the middle o' a card game!"

"Well then I'se guess it can wait til latah then." He says sounding annoyed.

"No you'se gotta tell me now, ya got me wonderin' what this is all about. I'se all curious or soemthin," I tried to sound educated.

" Well Kane, I'se was wondering if ya would mind bunkin' with the guys from now on," he said it like he almost felt sad askin' me ta do it. Well is he wasn't he shoulda been.

"What? Why would I wanna do that for? We'se been roomin' together since I'se was real young," I tried not to sound hoirt, but I'se don't think it was woikin' too good.

"Well I kinda invited Fighta to come and live with me from now on. So I'se kinda wanted her ta sleep in my room with me and-"

"You did WHAT?!?" I screamed probably as loud as I could. "You mean our room? The one we have shared forever? You'se and mine? Are you'se trying ta kick me out Spot?"

"NO! O' course I'se not trying ta kick ya out Kane, I'se just askin' ya ta bunk with the guys from now on. You'se still gonna be me little sista Kane, now and forever," he was tryin' ta make up for what he had done. It wasn't woikin' too good.

" Well I'se would rather live in 'Hattan with Race than bunk with these guys. No offense to you'se guys," I'se said getting madder with each second.

"None taken," the othas stated as they watched from their seat at the card table.

"Fine then run off to 'Hattan with Race! Do whatever you'se want to, I'se not your fatha. If that's what you'se wanna do, do it!" He yelled at me! For the foist time in a long time Spot actually yelled at me and what does he mean he's not me fatha. He's the closest thing I'se got to it and he knows that. Why would he say that?

"Fine I WILL," I'se yelled at him as I ran to get my stuff together. I was so mad I'se had almost forgotten to grab me hat too. I'se don't know if Spot really though I would do it or not, but I'se did. I left Brooklyn.

"Come back Kane I'se didn't really mean it! Come back!" He yelled at me as I ran towards 'Hattan. But you know me, I'se not the kinda poison that follows orders.