What Will Become of The Girl?
Ch. 2
6 years later…
When I woke to the same sound for 6 long years. No matter what, I can't sleep when hot guys are getting dressed. Who can? I rolled out of bed and grabbed a pair of jeans and a button up white shirt. As I pulled on my black suspenders, I looked around the room to see if anyone came in the middle of the night. Usually we would get a couple of new boys a month. I felt good being the only girl. My 16th birthday had passed about a month ago and according to Blood and the other guys, I had matured by 15 so I could stay for as long as I like.
I cut my dirty blond hair so it would end at the end of my throat. I developed fairly large breasts. That's why Blood and some of the other boys let me stay. From selling papes all day, my skin turned a healthy tan. I would wear the boy's old clothes and I got a lot of funny looks from the other boys of Brooklyn.
Spot and I have been best friends ever since I came to live with the other Newsies. Over the years, Spot became the most respected Newsie in New York City. Everyone had herd of him. Spot had always been there for me. When I turned 13, Spot told me that Jack lived in Manhattan and that he was in the House of Refuge. I was upset knowing that Jack was in jail, but 6 months later, Spot told me that he had escaped and was a Newsie in Manhattan.
"What ever ya do, don't visit him." He told me one night.
"Why not?" I asked.
"He thinks your dead." I never spoke about the matter again.
Spot was waiting for me after I got dressed. We walked over to the distribution stand. I got 40 papes and took 3 hours to sell them all. Spot got 60 and sold them all in 2 hours. I don't know how he does it but he does. The headline was good today; mayor's eldest daughter was getting married. I went to the docks to find Spot, and the other boys there, in his chair. I took off my shirt, don't worry, I have a bra on, and dove into the blue green water. The cold water felt nice against my warm skin. As I got out, I noticed 3 boys walk over to Spot. It wasn't unusual but it didn't happen very often.
"Well, if it ain't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick." Spot said as the boys walked closer to him.
"I see you moved up in the world, Spot. Got a river view and everything." The tall one said as the 2 boys spit shake. My eyes widened when I saw that that was my brother, Jack Kelly. I could tell it was him because of the red bandana around his neck that our mother gave him. Spot turned to the small black boy.
"Heya Boots. How's it rollin'?" He said. I went and stood behind my best friend to hear better.
"I got a couple of real good shooters." Boots replied. Spot took one of the shooters and put it in his slingshot and shot it at an empty bottle of beer.
"Yeah. So, Jacky-boy. I've been hearing things from little birds. Things from Harlem, Queens, all over. They been chirpin' in my ear. Jacky-boy's newsies is playing like they're going on strike."
"Yeah, well we are." Jack replied. I snorted and Jack looked at me funny. It might have been because I snorted or because I was only wearing a bra and a pair of jeans.
"We're not playing. We are going on strike." Said the better dressed of the 3. Spot walked up to him and got in his face.
"Oh yeah? Yeah? What is this, Jacky-boy? Some kind of walking mouth?" He asked.
"Yeah, it's a mouth. A mouth with a brain, and if you got half a one, you'll listen to what he's got to say." Jack replied looking annoyed and putting on his cowboy hat. I gasped remembering that last time I saw him. He turned and looked at me and I looked at the ground.
"Well, we started the strike, but we can't do it alone. So, we're talking to newsies all around the city." The better dressed one said.
"Yeah, so they told me. But what'd they tell you?" Spot said.
"They're waiting to see what Spot Conlon is doing, you're the key. That Spot Conlon is the most respected and famous newsie in al of New York, and probably everywhere else. And if Spot Conlon joins the strike, then they join and we'll be unstoppable. So you gotta join, I mean...well, you gotta!"
"You're right Jacky-boy, brains. But I got brains too, and more than just half a one. How do I know you punks won't run the first time some goon comes at ya with a club? How do I know you got what it takes to win?" I herd Spot say. I jerked back up to normal time to hear the rest of it.
"Because I'm telling you, Spot." Jack said turning his attention to Spot.
"That ain't good enough Jacky-boy. You gotta show me." Spot said as he watched them leave. When we could no longer see them, I turned to Spot.
"He didn't even know who I was." I said quietly before going back into the cool blue green water. I looked up at Spot and saw that he was in deep thought. I stayed in the water for a little while longer .I slowly got out of the water and walked over to Spot who was high above us in his 'throne'.
"What are ya thinkin' about?" I asked. He titled his head up.
"We gotta go on strike." Was all he said.
Libby: Thank you but this is a prequel, when I'm done with this I'll write the sequel.
Madmbutterfly713: Nick is Mush's real name. Like in the real Newsies strike. MADELINE! Since when did you start swearing?