Yes, Red is a person.

- - - - - - -

A few minutes later, Torch knocked on the door of the Lodging house.

"Whadda ya want wit da Brooklyn boys?" A voice from behind made Torch whirl around, quick as a gun. He relaxed when it wasn't anyone he knew.

"So, now datcha done wit ya shock, whadda ya want?" A blond with steel eyes stared at him. Torch started to speak.

"Uh, dis is a message for Spot Conlon an'…"

"An' what?" The blond boy stuck his face right into Torch's. Torch started to get defensive.

"An' it's from Jack Kelly."

"What's it say?"

"Are you Spot Conlon?"

"Yeh. Ya eva hoid of me, shrimp?"

"Yah. Only all da stories. Da lady-catchin', tough as nails Brooklynite newsie who owned half da strike last year."

Spot leaned back and grinned. "Dey teach ya well ova in 'Hatten, dey do. So what's it say?"

"Don't ask me. Read it yaself. I don't snoop in udda's mail." Torch contemplated tossing the folded paper at the boy, but instead handed it to him, who opened it and read. After a minute he looked up. His eyes glinted.

"Tell Jacky-boy dat nobody beats Brooklyn. And dat I'll be ova tomorra."

"Awlright." And with that, Torch ran off towards the bridge.

Spot grinned as he looked again at Jack's letter.

"Hey ya Spotty, just sendin da kid ova ta see if I can trust him. Ya know da drill. And can ya come ova for da poker game tomorra? Race got a whole bunch on a winnin horse. Lets see if we can play 'im outta it. --Jack

- - - - - - - -

After selling his papers the next day, Torch stopped by Tibby's and was about to go home when he decided to walk about town and learn the place a little better. As he walked by a ladies dress shop, he stopped and stared. But no sooner did he stop than he heard two infamously familiar voices behind him.

"So, we meet again, Red. Or should I call ya Rose?"

Torch turned. Shock registered on her face, which she quickly cleaned away.

"Yah, youse a goil, aintcha? I knew it da foirst time ya walked in tru da gates."

Torch tried to look uninterested. "Shore ya did."

"So youse admittin' it, eh?"

She crossed her arms and leaned against the side of the building. "An' if I was?"

"Well, den, we could tell ya pal Jacky-boy." The Delancys moved a little closer. "An' we can tell ya, Jacky ain't real tolerant of goil newsies." Torch blanched at this. "But we can take care of dat, Red. You give us whateva we want, and we'll make sure nobody will eva know who ya really are."

Torch shivered. She didn't want to have her gender and past blown everywhere so she couldn't get a job. And what if Jack wasn't tolerant of girl newsies? What would the other newsies do to her if they knew who she was? Would she rather be taken again by the Refuge…or give the Scumhooks what they wanted…?

"Ya don't agree? We's can run straight ta Snyder, if dat's what ya want."

After a long minute, Torch whispered her answer.

"Ok."