Chapter 2:
A/N: Ok so you know the lodging house is three stories. Spot is on the Second. Oh and no one can tell that Spot is from New York. I know that they could probably tell from his accent but let's pretend that they can't. Don't worry this will make sense when you read. xD
Disclaimer: I don't own Spot or Race. Disney does. I do however own all the other characters at this time.
Shout Outs: ok cause this got deleted on me I am going to do shout outs from the first time it was up and the second.
Rustie73: Well here you are the next chapter. And have a chocolate covered newsie for being the first to review. –holds out chocolate covered newsie-
tuck (): Ok well I'm glad you like it. I just hope you aren't disappointed with the new chapter.
Smilin Star 13: Yeah well I only revised it a little bit. As in Angel was 3 now she's five. Or if that isn't changed it's supposed to be. Lol.
And now for the new chapter
I am now 307 miles from Brooklyn. I can't believe I had made it that far. And to tell you the truth I'm homesick. All I want to do is go back to New York and play poker with the boys. But somehow I know that I'm going to be here for a long time, weather I like it or not.
A loud clanging sound vibrated through the lodging house causing Spot to roll out of bed in shock. He hit the wooden floor with a resounding thump. Groaning from the impact on his arm he slowly stood up. His eyes scanned the room and rested on a set of cloths that had been laid out on the back of a chair. Walking over he stripped out of the torn, mud covered clothes he was wearing to put on the clean ones he had been given. Again his eyes swept the room. This time they landed on a mirror and a small table under it. And on the table was a towel and a basin of water. Going over he cupped his hands and dipped them into the water. Brining them back out he splashed the cool liquid on his face. Taking the towel he dried his face and looked in the mirror. Other than having a few scratches and his hair being a mess he didn't look that bad. Done with washing he went to the door and opened it. He could here that people were moving around above him and below him. Walking out into the hall he walked down it until he got to a set of stairs. Shrugging his uninjured arm he made his way down. Reaching the bottom of the staircase he let himself follow the smell of food. Reaching a set of closed door he opened them a was greeted with an amazing site.
There, before him, was a hundred or so people sitting out a huge table, laden with food. His eyes searched the room and landed on the few people he knew. Sitting at the far end of the table was Flame, Red and the twins. Flame looked up from were she was helping Devil cut her toast and spotted the blonde hair teen. Standing she let out an ear piercing whistle. Immediately the buzz of chatter stopped and all heads turned to look at her.
"Alright. As you all know we have a guest staying with us. Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce to you Spot Conlon." She said the last part with a jester sent in his direction.
All the heads turned to look at him and Spot could see that they were sizing him up. Shifting his feet he looked at them all with an icy stare, careful to show no emotions.
"Spot why don't you come sit down here?" Flame moved her hand to indicate an empty chair next to Angel.
Spot made his way over and sat down. As soon Flame sat down the room was filled with the talking. Red glanced at him from his seat next to Devil. Flame looked over Angel's head and smiled at him.
"Help your self to what ever you want. Your going to need it, trust me."
Spot took some toast and eggs from the plates in front of him and poured him self some coffee.
"So Flame how come you guys have this?" Spot gestured to the table.
"Well with so many people we can't exactly go to a restaurant or soup kitchen. And we don't have any nuns like they do for cities like New York."
"Seriously and you know what bugs me the most about those dam New Yorkers?"
"What Shadow?" Flame patiently asked the boy across from her.
"The fact that they think there better then us just 'cause they won that huge strike last summer. So what if we don't make the front page of the papers. We do a hell of a lot more stuff then they do. The press just doesn't care."
"Yeah. When I went up last month they could not stop talking about it and how no one would ever do something as big as that." Another girl said from next to Shadow.
"Alright Shadow, Rain, enough about the New Yorkers. You have to eat. We have a big day ahead of us."
Spot had kept quiet during this whole exchange. So this is what other people thought of him and his friends. It wouldn't have bothered him as much except that the strike had been a big deal.
'That girl, Rain, she doesn't know a dam thing.' He thought as he shoved a forkful of egg into his mouth.
'But I better not tell them I'm from New York. I don't think it would be a good idea.'
"So what exactly is this huge day we have ahead of us."
Flame looked at him.
"Oh right. No one told you. See we have this huge thing twice a year against the kids who live in Philly. We each take our fastest people and race. It starts in Harrisburg and ends in Baltimore. It's the most awesome thing you have ever seen. But the only problem is that the race starts next Friday. We want to be in Harrisburg by next Monday. That means we have a week to raise the last bit of money for train tickets."
"How much do you need?"
"Uh around three hundred I believe. Red?" Flame looked to her brother for confirmation.
He nodded his head. Spot nearly choked on his coffee.
"Three hundred. How are you going to raise that much money by next week?"
"Well some of us are going to sell papers but we also have people who work in restaurants and some of the boys work at the train yards. And I work with Red at the tracks."
"Well what about Angel and Devil."
"Well Devil goes with everybody but the boys who work at the train yards. And Angel well you can kinda guess with her."
Spot nodded.
"But isn't it dangerous to bring the little kids to the track?"
"Not really and Angel is a miracle worker with horses. Last week she got this huge horse, Shadow's Revenge, to stand still while the vet gave him his shots. And yesterday no one could get American Beauty, this mare with a stubborn streak, to settle down. I had left Angel alone for half an hour and when I come back she's sitting on Beauty's back, like she was a child's pet, not a powerful racehorse. And everyone who works there loves them."
"Well I know they love Angel but Devil here. They say she lives up to her name." Red said, tickling the little girl so she was practically falling out of her chair from laughter.
Spot figured that it was a daily thing as no one stopped talking to look at them.
"Alright so what will I be doing?" Spot asked.
"Well take your pick."
Spot thought about this. He didn't much care for restaurant or train work. And besides you had to apply for those jobs. He could sell papers but then they might get suspicious of him and the fact that he already new how to. That left only one option left.
"I think I'd like to go to the track."
"Ok then it's settled. Now finish eating. They expect us there at 7 and it's…….5:30 now. That means we should be out of here by 6:00."
"It takes that long to get to the track?"
"It does when you're dragging along two 5 year olds."
"But I'm not going." Devil said, a small Spanish accent slipping into her speech.
"So where are you going?"
"To sell papers with Teeter."
"OK well have fun and make sure you do everything he tells you to do. And I guess we don't have to leave till 6:30 now."
Spot bent his head to finish eating. As he did he noticed Angel looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head they stared at each other for a few minutes before Angel turned her head away. Brushing off the encounter Spot went to finish eating.
"Alright Spot this here is Spirit, Jet, Shot, Cross, Lash, and Ice. Guys this here is Spot."
Red said as he pointed to each of the kids in turn. Each of them nodded at each other.
"Well now that that's taken care of we can go. Don't want to be late."
The group headed to the track. Spot kept a careful eye on his surroundings. There were newsies on every corner, some of which would wave to the group as they passed. He could also see a lot of girls heading out to work at the factories. And a thought came to mind.
"Hey Flame." He asked the girl who was walking just a bit ahead of him, angel perched on her shoulders.
Flame turned her head.
"Yeah?"
"How come no one from the lodging house works at the factories?"
"Cause they hate being confined like that."
Spot nodded. In a half hour the small procession had found its way to a small track on the out skirts of the city. Walking over to a guard they stopped and took out Id's.
"No need guys. I know who you are. Besides I can't keep Angel out. Everyone here would throw a fit."
The group let out a laugh.
"Thanks Bill."
"Don't mention it Red."
As the group walked past Bill saw Spot.
"Hold up. Were do you think your going?"
"He's with us Billy. Joined not to long ago and decided to work with us at the tracks."
"Fine." He said and waved Spot through.
"Poor Bill. I think we confused him." Ice said
"Yeah but he'll get over it." Spirit retorted.
Everyone laughed.
"Ok well we better get to work. Angel I trust you to stay at the backside. Alright?" Flame asked, setting down the little girl.
She nodded and wandered off.
"Ok then we'll see you at the kitchen around 12:30. Come on Spot."
Flame took the boy's hand and dragged him deeper into the track stables.
"Morning Mr. O'Malley."
"Morning Lass. Good to see you today. And who might this be." The man asked, craning his head down to get a better look at Spot.
"This here is Spot. He's the new recruit."
"Well boy have you ever worked with horses before?"
"No." Spot said.
"Well then Flame it looks as if you're going to be taking the morning off. We can't have a boy who doesn't know how to ride working here."
"Awesome. Can we borrow a couple of your horses?"
"Sorry dear but I only have four down and all but one is racing. And he's to high strung for a beginner. You can ride him though. Maybe Rodney has one you can use."
"Alright. Cool. Come on Spot lets go."
Flame started off with Spot following. It wasn't long before they were walking into a dimly lit barn. The sound of music drifted from a radio in the distance and the smell of straw and horses all mingled together. Flame looked around and spotted an older man talking to a short guy with a riding hat tucked under his arm.
"Morning Rodney, Charlie. How are you guys?"
"Good, thanks."
"Fine. You?"
"I'm good. So Rodney I was wondering."
"What do you want Flame"
"Well Spot here doesn't know how to ride and O'Malley said that he only had one horse we could use and that it was too high strung for a beginner and that I could use it. He then said to ask you if you had one Spot could use. So do ya?" she asked finally taking a breath.
"Actually I do. Old Nick isn't getting any attention at the moment and he's better then a thoroughbred for a starter."
"Cool. Thanks a lot. I'll just grab some tack and stick it on."
Rodney nodded and turned back to Charlie. Motioning for Spot to follow the two headed to the tack room.
"No you have to bring the cinch up to five holes so that it doesn't slide."
Spot sighed and pulled the cinch up 3 more spaces. He and Flame were standing outside of a small arena. Flame had tacked up her horse, Midnight's Fury, in no time and then had helped Spot with his. But now he was learning that you weren't done with tacking after you left the barn.
"Alright now stand at Nick's left shoulder and put your left foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up and over so that you're sitting on top. Like this."
Flame stuck her foot in the stirrup and pulled her self onto Fury's back.
"How the hell did you do that?"
Flame sighed and again told him how to pull himself up. But as hard as he tried he couldn't get up. Laughing at him, Flame dismounted.
"Sheesh Spot here I am getting on a 16 hand thoroughbred with no effort and you can't even get on a 15 hand Quarter horse without help."
Spot turned to her.
"Yeah well maybe if I had ever ridden before I wouldn't have this problem."
"Relax it was a joke. No need to get angry. Besides everyone has trouble getting on the first couple of times. Here, put your foot in my hands and I'll boost you up."
Flame kneeled down and cupped her hands. Warily Spot stuck his foot in and was boosted up and into the saddle.
'Wish Race could see me. He would flip.'
Flame walked back over to Fury and mounted up again.
"Ok so because we're riding English……."
"Wait there's more then one type of riding?"
"Yeah, but you hear mostly English and Western used cause those are the to types of way to hold your reins. Ok anyway since we are riding English then we will be holding our reins like this."
She showed Spot and he mimicked it.
"Ok now I want you to sit deep in the saddle, sit up strait, and look forward. We don't want you falling off. Oh and keep the reins at waist level, no higher."
Spot did as he was told.
"OK now I want you to put your heels down. No down. Ok there you go. Now we are ready to start moving. When you want to walk all you have to do is tap the horse with your heels and say walk."
"That's it."
"Yep."
"Ok then. Walk." Spot said and tapped the horse with his heels.
Nick didn't move.
"No you have to say it calmly or he won't move. Nick's a smart horse. Taught me how to ride."
"So you're telling me he won't move if he thinks you're afraid?"
"Exactly."
"Ok. Walk."
Nick moved forward. Flame nudged Fury forward and they walked along side.
"See I told you."
Spot nodded. He was having a hard time trying not to smile at the fact that this was the most amazing thing he had ever done.
"Ok now on to faze two."
"Hold up I hardly have this down and you want me to do more." Spot looked wary again.
"Well I don't think you will get any where in a straight line and besides, that gets boring after a while. Anywho, now if you want to go to the left all you do is lightly pull your left rein and at the same time you want to press in with your right thigh. I said lightly pull the reins Spot. If you pull to hard you can damage a horses mouth."
"Ok." Spot did as he was told and nick went to the left.
"Alright so I take it to go to the right you do the opposite"
"Yep its easy."
They continued with the lessons and before Spot knew it a smile was planted on his face.
Yep I'm gonna be mean and end it here. And I will try to get the next update out sooner but I'm not promising anything.
Much love to my reviewers:
Hawk