Spot's Milkshake
Chapter Fifteen: Return
Disclaimer: Did you really think I owned all this? laughs Well you would be wrong. Nothing belongs to me, except Brandie, the Dunstans, and some of the Brooklyn newsies mentioned.
A/N: this is padfootismyhero. I just changed my penname
1904, Manhattan, New York, 4 years after Brandie 'disappeared'
"Would ya all shut ya pie holes an' back away?" Jack Kelly shouted over the heads of his Manhattan newsies. He was just as anxious as they were to see the newborn baby from Brooklyn.
Smalls Boyd, formally Smalls Rivera, had given birth to a healthy baby boy. She, along with her new husband, Sniff, had named him Emil Ace Boyd. He had some curly black hair, like his mother. His eyes were brown, like his dad. Not many Brooklyn boys were there in Manhattan that day, for they had already seen the baby. The Manhattan newsies, however, had not had the privilege.
"Aw, ain't he jus' da cutest little t'ing in da whole woild?" Mush said aloud. Kid Blink gave him an odd look. "Well he is!" Mush defended himself.
"So, is dis da reason ya married 'er? Knocked 'er up eh?" Race whispered to Sniff, who smacked him in the back of the head. "Ow, watch wheah ya throw yer arm." He told him, walking away, grinning. Sniff shook his head and laughed.
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Spot Conlon stared blankly out the window. Life was going pretty well, except for one minor issue. Troy McAllister. He had been out of the refuge for almost 3 years now, but he hadn't been a problem. Now, he was. He was always staring at Spot and some of his close friends in an odd, threatening way whenever he gave them his papes. He always had a chance to harass someone. Or, he used to. Sniff had quit his job at the distribution center because of Troy. He stayed with his second job as a newsie, but now his family was struggling greatly. Some of the newsboys helped out, but it just wasn't enough sometimes. He and Smalls went hungry some nights so Emil could have food. Any parent would do this.
Spot stared out the window that had been broken previously by Troy himself. It was now fixed, and better then ever. Spot had had many confrontations with the boy, and none went so well. One of them, usually Troy, ended up with a black eye and a couple of bruises.
"Whatcha t'inkin' bout Conlon?" A dark voice asked from the inky shadows behind him.
"Life." He responded, knowing very well who was addressing him. "An' yourself Harold?" He smiled a bit.
"Life? Since when does a newsboy such as yaself t'ink bout life? Only when he is gonna settle down wit a family, dat's when." Harold answered his own question, smirking at the lone Brooklyn leader.
"I is not gonna marry, bastard! I t'ink I have told ya dat 5 times within two days." He replied, his voice rising a bit.
"But ya were." Harold said softly, knowing this was not an area in the mighty leader of Brooklyn's life that should be tampered with. There was a long pause, and then Spot's icy voice filled the room.
"Dat's history."
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1908 Manhattan, New York
"Well here we are! Gorgeous New York." Frederick Dunstan took a deep breath of the New York air. He leaned over and whispered to his companion, "I told you we would come here." He smiled, and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.
Brandie Dunstan, a mere woman of 24, picked up her eldest daughter out of the carriage and placed her on the ground.
"Mum, I wanna go over there." Brianna Diane pointed to the Horace Greely statue in the middle of the street.
"In a moment darling." Brandie told her. She leaned back into the carriage and pulled out her youngest daughter, who was only one year old.
"Why don't you take Brianna site- seeing and I will take Terra to the hotel, and we will wait for your return. Besides, it's almost time for her nap." Frederick motioned to Terra, who was beginning to close her eyes.
"Are, are you sure you want me to take her site-seeing?" Brandie asked hesitantly. He nodded to her.
"I thought you knew this place well." He smiled, getting back into the carriage and riding off in the other direction, leaving Brandie dumbstruck.
"C'mon mom." Brianna tugged on her mother's hand. Turning to face her, she took her hand and led her to the statue.....
Brandie's POV
I took Brianna to the statue that she wanted to see, still thinking about why we were here. We had no family here, but Brianna and Freddy had wanted to see the sites. He had such an influence on her. She was only four years old, but she talked about all the splendors of New York like her father did. I was sucked back into reality by the silence I now encountered. I spun around, but saw no Brianna.
"Damn." I muttered, clamping a hand over my mouth. I hadn't spoken like that for years, why now? It was this city that made me do such things, but I wouldn't realize that until later.
"Brianna! Brianna where are you?" I shouted out into the streets, which were as crowded as I remembered them to be. I frantically looked around for her. She knew better than to run off like that, especially in a place that wasn't familiar.
After several minutes of a panicked, unsuccessful search, I spotted her. She was talking to three men. Feeling that my daughter was being threatened, I quickly rushed over to her.
"Excuse me, but I'll be taking back my daughter now." I told them coldly. All three looked up at me instantly, alarmed that I had spoken to them.
"Sorry miss." Was all that was said at first. I think they were at a loss for words.
"Mummy, they were just telling me how to get to Central Park." Brianna pleaded for them. I nodded my approval.
"I think I can find it myself, I am rather familiar with this city." I told them, taking her hand and leading her away. Not before the man in the middle could smirk at me. I felt my cheeks become hot, but continued walking, ignoring his behavior.
"You know better than to talk to strangers." I scolded her. She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, but they seemed nice, and they showed me where that park is. Have you seen it before mommy?" She asked me. I winced, but told her the truth.
"Yes I have."
"Course she has." A voice behind us said. Brianna turned around first, I followed her lead. One of the men, the one that had smirked at me, was behind us. Anger rose inside of me.
"And just how would you know?" I asked, venom dripping with every word I spoke. He paused at this, and stopped walking towards us.
"I wouldn't. I jus' thought dat ya would like ta know dat horse numba 7 'as been doin' me a woild o' good." He smiled, then turned and walked away.
At that moment, it felt as if someone had dropped a hundred pound weight on my heart. I watched him, and with every step he took, my heart beat just one more beat faster. Without hesitation, I yelled after him. "That old thing still races?" I tried to smile, but I couldn't. He turned around and faced me, laughing. A thousand memories came back to me when I heard the sound come off his lips. Forgetting where I was, or that Brianna was standing next to me, I ran up to him and hugged him as tight as I had ever hugged anyone. Tears streamed down my face as I cried into his shoulder. I thought I heard him try to say something, but failed to do so.
"Racetrack Higgins." I breathed. I could feel him nod his reply. Finally, we pulled away.
"So, ya decided ta come back?" He asked, observing me, then looked down at my side, at Brianna. I knew what he was thinking, and I could tell he was shocked.
"Yeah." That was all I said. I really didn't know what else to say.
"Mommy, why are you hugging that stranger?" Brianna asked me. I smiled down at her.
"This man isn't a stranger. He's an old friend. Bri, I would like you to meet Mr. Racetrack Higgins." I wiped my eyes, and smiled as she stuck out her hand to shake his.
"A pleasure ta meet ya. How so much you look like ya mudda." He observed aloud. She blushed at him and hid her face behind me. He laughed, then leaned in and whispered. "You're not da kind o' person ta take responsibility like dis." He seriously. I looked at him, sorrow filled his eyes.
"Things have changed." I said sadly, looking away from him.
"I could be ya tour guide taday ladies." He said bowing. I laughed, and so did Brianna.
"I, well I don't think that would be a good idea. If someone saw us.."I trailed off. I think he understood what I meant though. He nodded.
"Wait, would ya jus' come an' see da guys?" He asked me, his eyes pleading. I wanted to so badly. If I had been asked this question eight years ago, I would have said yes right away, but that was then, and this was now. I was changed now, different, not who I was then. I thought for awhile. It wouldn't really hurt anything would it? They were old friends, and I might only get this chance once.
"Alright." I looked up at him and smiled. His mouth broke into a smile instantly as he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the lodging house.
"Do you think they will remember me?" I asked quietly as we approached. He nodded. As his hand went towards the handle, I became afraid. Memories were rushing back to me, feelings I hadn't felt for years were being felt again. It was agonizing. I remembered how terrible it had felt when I was forced to leave, how I longed to come back. I feared the same thing would happen if I went in there. Before I could change my mind, Race opened the door, and pushed me in. No one noticed at first, which gave me time so say something to him. "You're too old to be newsies aren't you?" I whispered. He nodded again, leading me into a room full of older men, much like himself.
"Kloppman didn't wanna let us go, so he built dis room fer us older boys dat can't find wives." He winked.
"That'll be about all of you huh?" I asked him, looking in the room, and seeing it filled with boys. He laughed. Some boys looked our way. I wasn't sure if they recognized me or not, they looked confused. Either they didn't know why a girl was there, or they couldn't believe it was me. A very handsome man, with a familiar red bandana around his neck walked up to me. I knew who it was immediately. I smiled at him, trying to jog his memory.
"Well, well, well, if it ain't miss mornin' face 'erself." He said embracing me. "An' who is dis purty little t'ing?" He asked, kneeling down next to Brianna.
"Tell him." I prompted her.
"Brianna Dunstan." She said shyly. Jack looked up at me , then back at her.
"An' is dis ya mudda?" He asked. She nodded. He pondered a moment. "An' ya 'ave a fadda too?" He asked, staring up at me. I winced as she nodded again. He looked down, then stood up. "Nice ta 'ave ya back." He said, almost sarcastically. I felt like hitting him, but held back. What was my problem. I thought I had been cured of my 'New York infatuation.' That was what Adelaide had called it. She and Rae had helped me 'overcome' that certain obstacle in my life. She must have known that she did not do a good job of it, because she protested my coming here. I was almost hoping I wouldn't have to. I was afraid of them now the newsies. Afraid that they would take me from my family. No, that was Adelaide talking now. She had brainwashed me, and told me horrible things about the newsies of New York. But what did she know, she was just a rich, hoity toity snob. But then, what was I?
a/n
Well, what did you think? I had soo much fun writing this chapter! I am sure that I will have fun with the next one too..hehe!
Like the little twist I put in? Eight years into the future, not 2! I changed my mind right as I began writing. It would make sense though. She is married, and has two children, a four year old and a one year old. How happy eh?
-silence-
OH SHUT UP WILL YOU?! ITS NOT MY FAULT! JUST BECAUSE I AM THE FRICKING AUTHOR DOESN'T MEAN I MADE THE STORY COME TO THIS DOES IT? looks around
Shoutouts:
Coin: Thanks for the advice! Nice use of Spanish I believe it was! Thanks for reviewing!
Tiggerbaby2430: Glad you liked the last chapter, hope you liked this one! Thanks for the input for the 2 year thingy! Thank you for reviewing, hope you review this one!
Pyro: Yes, depressing! This one, well I thought it was sad cuz she was kinda brainwashed with the whole, New York infatuation thing. Thank you for reviewing, hope you like this chapter!
Vinnie Monfredo: haha, dicky Freddy, dicky Freddy! Heh! Well, I hope to show his change in the next few chapters, he's really not so bad cough well if you minus the whole 'forced marriage' and stuff like that! Thanks for reviewing, hope you liked this one! Thanks for the quote too, I really liked it!
BlackWiltedRose: Do you like what I decided to do with it? I hope so, I actually am quite please with the result! Thanks for your input, it helped a lot! I hope you like this chapter and review again! It means a lot!