Thanks to those who reviewed it meant a lot to me.
The boys sat listening with rapt attention as Racetrack told them of his encounter that morning, "Oi the older blondie, she's tough. Not street tough, Ise could soak er easily, but tough like she don't take no crap. The little blondie nevah shuts up-"
"Ise like er," Junior shot in.
Race laughed, "Don't Ise knows it."
"Youse like tha redhead didn't youse?"
"Junior!" Race tried to cover his mouth. Too late.
"The redhead? Youse didn't tell us 'bout a redhead." Spot smirked. It was one of those rare occasions where Spot had joined the Brooklyn newsies for lunch at Tibby's. Usually his visits meant he had business with Jack but today he had just had the overwhelming urge to come down.
Racetrack blushed, "Well 'er name's Melody. She's gorgeous."
Jack walked in and sat down next to Spot. "Heya guys, Spot"
"Jackie-boy," Spot used the nickname he had given Jack. It was common knowledge that Jack hated it and if anyone other than Spot said it they'd be in for a soaking.
"Jackie-boy? I like it, I'm gonna call you that from now on. So Jackie-boy, how's it hanging?" Many faces turned to the girl speaking. Jack often brought girls to lunch but they were usually over the age of 15. A girl this young was just wrong. But it was also wrong that behind that girl there were five others. One girl, that was the rule. Of course, Jack was the leader but still FIVE girls?
"Gabs!"
The littlest girl turned her attention from Jack to, "Junior!" Before anything else was said, Junior grabbed Gabs and ran out of the restaurant.
Blondie made to follow them but Jack stopped her, "Theyse just playing in tha park. Let 'em be."
"So uh Cowboy, youse gonna introduce us ta your friends?" A boy with a patch over his eye motioned to the girls. Jack started to and realized that the only knew one of their names.
Shortie stepped forward. "I'm Shortie, that's Blondie, Bookworm, Melody, Slowpoke, and out there is Gabs." She pointed to each girl as she said their name. Some of the newsies introduced themselves. Blondie went to check on Gabs, she would have gladly pulled her back in the restaurant but this was the happiest she had seen her since…well in a while. She returned to the table and knew from that moment that her friends adored these boys. Melody was blushing from something Racetrack had just said. Shortie was laughing at a joke Jack had just made. Slowpoke sat with Bookworm who was deep in conversation with a boy Blondie didn't know. Another boy was trying to entice Slowpoke into a conversation, but all she did was sit and stare at him as if he were crazy. At least he was being friendly.
"Sometin' the matter doll face?" Blondie turned to face boy a couple years older than her. Attractive as he was, who could resist those grey eyes and that dirty blonde hair that fell in his face, it ticked her off to be called 'doll face'.
"No nothing is the matter and don't call me that." She snapped. He threw his hands up and made what could be considered an innocent face.
"Sorry. The name's Spot, Spot Conlon."
"Blondie." She looked for a place to sit and groaned.
Spot looked around and laughed, "The idea of sittin next ta me tha bad?" He leaned back in his chair, giving Blondie a good view of his chest.
"Well no, I guess not." She quietly sat in the only available seat, next to Spot.
"So where's youse from? Ya accent certainly ain't tha of a New Yorker's."
"Texas, Smokewood Texas."
"Tha's an awfully long way ta travel." Blondie nodded, "An' awfully expensive too." Suddenly she didn't like where this was going. "You goils don't look like youse got much money. An' I'm bettin youse didn't walk, 'cause ya shoes are still intact. So where'd ya get the money?" He was now leaning over her in a towering manner.
"None of your business." Blondie spat.
"Youse thieves ain't cha? All youse are." Blondie shook her head. They weren't all thieves. Bookworm, Slowpoke, and Gabs had never done anything against the law, at least she thought they hadn't. "Newsies don't associate wid thieves. Get youse in trouble wid the Bulls, they do."
"We're not thieves."
"Howse were you planning on makin money?" Stealing, Blondie thought. But she couldn't tell him that, obviously her friends enjoyed the boy's company. If she told the truth, the newsies would never talk to them again.
Thinking fast Blondie replied, "We were gonna become newsies. We'll sleep at the lodging house (there is one here isn't there?) and we'll sell papers."
Spot started to laughed but suddenly stopped at the look on her face, "Youse serious?" She nodded. "Only one problem, babe, goils ain't newsies. Being a newsie is tougher than it looks, it ain't only selling papes and sleeping at the lodging house. If you join the newsies you're expected ta fight, defend yourself. No offense goil but you and your pals don't look like youse could even soak Junior. Maybe you guys should go to a convent or a seamstress, you'll fit in better. It'll be easier too."
That little speech had just made her mind up for her, Blondie was going to be a newsie. "I'm sure it would be but if I had wanted easy I would have stayed at the orphanage." She walked over to Jack and Shortie. "Uh Jack was it?" He nodded. "You seem like a good person to ask so here it goes. Me and my girls are gonna be newsies. We need a place to stay and someone to teach us how to sell. You in?"
He looked to Shortie and then back to Blondie, "I'm in."