Chapter 4

      That afternoon Spot and Vivien returned to Brooklyn. 

      "Spot, if you ain't my Daddy, den who are you?" Vivien asked Spot as they entered Brooklyn.  Spot stopped uneasily.  He wasn't exactly sure how to answer that question, so he chose to ignore it.

      "Vivien do ya know what your Mommy's name was?" Spot asked her.

      "Mommy's name is Mommy, atleast dat's all I ever called her."  Vivien told him, a bit confused by his question.

      "Ok…" Spot frowned.  He wanted to know whose kid this actually was.  Spot looked up and saw Fire not to far from where they were.  "Hey, stay 'ere for a minute, I'll be right back." Spot told Vivien starting towards Fire.  Vivien grabbed his arm and Spot stopped.

      "No!" She exclaimed.  "You'll leave just like Mommy did!" Tears started to well up in Vivien's eyes.

      "Stop crying." Spot told her angrily.  "If you'se in Brooklyn wit me you'se can't cry kid.  You'se ruinin' me reputation."  Vivien dried her eyes, unsure of what Spot meant by that.  Spot then drug her behind him as he walked over to Fire.

      "Whaddya want?" Fire asked snidely.

      "I wanted ta tell ya dat whatcha read in dat ledder ain't true.  Dis ain't me kid, Fire." Spot told her.

      "Yeah, sure.  No one would jist go leavin' kids wit people dey don't even know!" Fire said angrily.

      "Well someone did.  Dis ain't me kid, Fire.  She's four years old and I… I…" Spot started to stutter, realizing it would show weakness if he told her that he couldn't have had kids four years ago.

      "Spit it out!" Fire demanded.  Spot stood there looking at her, unsure what to do.  "Fine I'm outta 'ere." Fire started to walk away.

      "Fifteen minus four is eleven, Fire.  You do da math." Spot called after her.  Fire stopped and turned around.

      "Spot you'se better be tellin' me da truth!" Fire glared at him.  Spot gave her his infamous look.  "Oh me God!"  Fire cried out, her eyes getting big and loving.

      "You and your tempeh." Spot mused.

      "Why do ya t'ink dey call me Fire?" Fire replied.  "What's 'er name again?"

      "Vivien." Spot told her.

      "Well dat just won't do.  You'se need a newsie name." Fire told Vivien.  Vivien was frightened of her, so she didn't reply.

      "I'se still tryin' ta teach 'er ta sell, let alone give 'er a new name." Spot told Fire.

      "Well den tanight for da evenin' edition, she'll sell wit me." Fire decided.

      "Oks.  We'll meet ya at da DO." Spot told her, and pulled Vivien off in the other direction.

      "I'se don't wanna sell wit 'er!" Vivien shouted the moment Fire was out of site.

      "You'se gonna sell wit 'er.  She's one of da best goil newsies we gots, plus she's gonna be in you'se life a lot so you better get used to 'er." Spot told Vivien.

      "NO!" Vivien said stomping her foot on the ground.

      "Yes." Spot said trying to stay calm even though his temper was beginning to flair up.

      "NOOOOO!" Vivien cried.  Spot turned and saw other newsies looing over at them.  Spot dragged Vivien back to the lodging house and back to their room.

      "You WILL sell wit Fire.  Don'tchu even try ta pull da I'm not gonna stuff because I will make ya do it." Spot yelled angrily.

      "Ok…" Vivien said weakly.  She had never heard Spot really yell and it scared her.  She started to cry.

      "Go take a nap!" He commanded her.  Vivien ran over to her bed and laid down, shaking with tears.  Spot shook his head and thought to himself how awful he had just handled it.  He had to get away from this how act of being a 'father.'  As soon as Vivien fell asleep Spot slipped out of the room to go find Tracker and Coil.