A few days went by fairly uneventfully. Harmony proved herself to be a skilled, hardworking cleaner, impressing Kloppmann. She spent her nights hanging out with the boys. She played cards, talked, and above all, avoided Blink. She couldn't bear to see that wounded puppy dog look in his smiling face any more, but she didn't know what to do about it. After the night when she had flirted with him, for Spot's benefit, she had more or less stayed away from him since she knew it really was mean to lead him on. Although, she had managed to convince herself that this had been her own idea and not one of Spot commands.
Spot and Harmony continued to have their fights, which were almost always the same. Harmony would make and offhand comment about Spot, and he would figuratively jump on her. It always ended with Spot threatening to soak her and throw her out on the streets. She would always assert that he would never do that and eventually would stomp out to the fire escape until she had cooled off and then go straight to bed without talking to anyone.
Jack was still absent from the Newsboy Lodging House. Spot had told everyone that Jack had to go to Brooklyn and he would be back after the Newsie Convention coming up in a couple weeks. Even though everyone was very confused about this no one dared to ask questions, especially since Spot seemed to be in a bad mood constantly.
"Are you'se guys as sick a dis whole thing as I'se am?" Blink asked. The boys all nodded to show their agreement. A couple of the newsies were sitting in Central Park holding a secret meeting.
"Yeah, alls dat happens anymoah is Harmony an' Spot fightin'! I shoah miss Jack 'roun heah," Mush complained.
"I'se certoinly has moah respect fer da Brooklyn newsies…havin' to put up wid da high an' mighty puppy dog's moodiness all da time." The newsies had permanently adopted Harmony's nickname for Spot, when he wasn't around of course. "I'se thinkin dey'se brain dead 'cause its easier dan listenin' ta Spot all da time!" Racetrack put in. The boys all laughed but didn't eliminate the possibility.
"But what can we'se do 'bout it? Obviously we'se can't jest ask Spot to be nice ta her an' I'se doubt Harmony's gunna wake up sum day an' decide she's madly 'n love wid Spot," Skittery pointed out.
"Who says she'se gotta love Spot?" Blink said hurriedly. "All we wants is fer dem two ta be civil."
"Kay, so what's we gunna do 'bout it?" Skittery asked.
"Well, I'se gots an idea but it'll prolly end in all a us gettin' soaked by Spot." Blink said looking around for reaction…which he got.
"What? Why'se we gotta get soaked fer it?!"
"I'se ain't gettin' Spot mad fer sum stupid goil!"
"Are ya crazy!?"
"What? Last boy dat crossed Spot still ain' walkin' an' thinkin' right!"
"Would you'se cowards all SHUT UP!" Blink yelled. He wasn't smiling now.
"Look I'se ain't askin' you'se all ta do da dangerous parts…Ise'll take care of it. I jes' need ta make sure yas ain't gunna interfere. All right so I'se was thinkin' what if we'se…I'se means what if I'se 'accidentally' locked 'em in a room togethah 'til they promised to be good?"
Everyone looked shocked at Blink. Only a completely crazy person would try that with Spot Conlon!
"Well, I'se fer one loves yer plan…a course dat doesn't mean Ise'll help you'se but ya got me word that I'se definitely wont get involved." Race commented smiling.
Blink's smile returned to his face and he nodded to Race in thanks. The rest of the boys made comments similar to Racetracks.
Blink gave a brave smile and commented wryly, "Now I'se jest gotta get dem 'n a room togethah an' not get killed 'n da process."
The boys all gave sympathetic smiles.
"I gotta give you'se credit Blink," Mush said nicely. "You'se a brave boy. I mean even if ya do make dis all work out you'se ain't gunna be 'round long 'nough ta get yer praise seein' that Spot will prolly kill ya."
"Thanks Mush. You'se a big help…" Blink said glaring at Mush.