"Alright what about Brooklyn? Who's got Brooklyn?" Suddenly the newsies got quiet, looking everywhere but at Jack.
"What, you're scared a Brooklyn?" he asked.
"Hey we ain't scared a Brooklyn!" Boots piped up. Then he paused, looking at his feet. "Spot Conlon, uh, makes us a little noivous," he said, quieter this time.
David saw Jack look over at a newsie leaning against the wall. The newsie, who David didn't recognize, smirked back at Jack. Jack looked at his newsies, then back at Boots.
Yeah, well he do't make me noivous. So you an me boots, we'll go to Brooklyn. Boots nodded and Jack continued, "an Dave can keep us company." Again Dave saw Jack glance over at the unknown newsie as the other boys laughed.
Dave got Jacks attention again, saying "Just as soon as you take our demands to Pulitzer."
Jack and David took Les back home before heading out to Brooklyn. They met up with Boots again at the statue and were on their way. As they neared the bridge, Jack suddenly said, "I'm surprised ya waited for us, Pocket." David jumped a little when he noticed that the newsie he had seen earlier had somehow materialized beside them. They walked along in silence for a moment, the new boy staring straight ahead, easily falling into step with them. Jack elbowed the boys arm to get his attention. "Or didya wait?" he asked, his tone casual, but his face serious. Confused, David glanced over at Boots and saw that the younger boy's eyes were trained on the newcomer, his face expectant. In the silence that followed, David watched this quiet newcomer out of the corner of his eye, wondering what was going on. Jack seemed to be asking something more than what his words were saying. The four of them kept walking, Boots clearly getting impatient. David nearly tripped over his own feet when "Pocket" finally looked up with a grin, and answered in a low, throaty, but still definitely female voice, " Couldn't have gone and got back already cowboy."
This answer seemed to satisfy Jack and Boots, but only left David even more bewildered. Noticing his confusion, Jack laughed loudly and stopped walking.
"Guess ya need an introduction, huh Dave? This here's Pocket, she's one a us newsies. Ya didn't meet her yestaday. Pocket, dis is David. Him and his brother Les are me new sellin partners."
Pocket looked Dave up and down, then held her hand out for him to shake. David was grateful to see she didn't spit in it first. He reached out his own hand and she grasped it firmly, he noticed her palm was just as rough and calloused as Jack's had been the day before. Despite the roughness, he couldn't help but notice how small and delicate her hand looked in his. His eyes traveled from her hand to her face, also small and delicate, with full lips, a slightly upturned nose, and wide, smoky green eyes framed by thick, dark lashes. He noticed that her thick black hair wasn't short like he had originally assumed, but tucked up under her beat up black cap. He didn't realize he was still holding her hand until she gently tugged it away. Jack raised an eyebrow at him. He looked back at Pocket, embarrassed because he knew he had been staring. He looked down at his feet, then back at her, opening his mouth to speak then realizing he didn't know what to say. Suddenly nervous, he proceeded to embarrass himself even further.
"You're a girl!" he blurted. The other three laughed.
"No kidding?" she teased, then grinned at Jack. David turned bright red. "Don't worry," she smiled at him. "You ain't da foist ta be surprised. I don' exactly go around advoitisin it."
David smiled gratefully at her, wanting to kick himself for his stupid comment. Jack laughed again, the shoved David in the arm. "Now dat we're all friends here, let's get goin'. Don't wanna spend all day in Brooklyn."
As the four started walking again, Pocket linked one arm through Jacks and her other arm with Boots. David hung back, watching her. Now that he looked closer, he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed she was a girl right away. He guessed it was just that he wasn't expecting a girl newsie, so he must have automatically assumed she was a boy. He wasn't used to seeing a girl dressed in boys clothes, either, so that hadn't helped. Watching her stride along next to his friend, he took in her attire. Her shirt, once white but now dyed grey by the grime of the city, was old and worn, but fairly clean. It was several sizes too big, hanging loosely from her small shoulders and almost completely hiding her small frame. The sleeves were rolled up several times, and the elbows were almost completely worn through. Since the shirt was so big, David had to look very carefully for even a hint of girlish curves. His perusal continued down to where her grey pants hung loosely to puddle over her shoes, the hems torn and frayed where they dragged on the street. The pants, too, were too big for her, but they clung to her hips in a way that proved the wearer was most definitely not a boy.
Boots voice brought David back to the conversation, and David tore his attention away from Pocket to listen to the younger newsie. Boots was telling Pocket that he was glad she had come with them.
"Dis way, " he said, " we won't have no trouble gettin to see him. Dey all knows youse. And even bettah, " he added, "now youse can be the one ta talk to Spot."
David wondered why Boots thought Pocket was a better choice than Jack to do the talking, but before he could ask, Pocket shook her head.
"Nah Boots, dis ain't my show. Ya gonna have to do yer own talkin" she answered, now turning her head to look at Jack. "Cowboy, I hope ya don't have any ideas that I'm gonna do dis for ya?" she teased.
Jack just smiled and shook his head. "Aw, c'mon Pocket," he joked, "ya know he likes ya bettah dan us."
"He likes ya bettah dan anybody," Boots put in. "so you should definitely be da one to talk ta him."
Pocket pretended to think about it before answering, "ya right, boots, he does like me best. I think I wanna keep it dat way, so no, I ain't gonna be da one talkin"
They all laughed, and she grinned at them, once again making David forget the conversation. "But, " she continued, "I do have somethin for ya Boots." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of marbles.
"Here ya go," she handed them to Boots. "You can give him dese, dat'll be a good start."
"Yeah, might soften him up," Jack said. Pocket laughed.
"Yeah right," she joked. "soften him up." She and Boots grinned at each other and started discussing the marbles he held, their heads bent togther.
David admired the curve of her neck, slowly falling back a little so he could watch her walk. Jack noticed, and he slowed down too. He hung back with David, letting the other two get a little ahead before speaking. "Hey,' he said softly. " Don't be getting any ideas."
'What do you mean?" David asked. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Whadda I mean? You'se jokin right? I see ya lookin at her. Ya think she's pretty?" David didn't answer. Jack grabbed his arm and stopped him. They faced each other, Jack looking serious again.
"Listen Dave," he began, still keeping his voice low. "She's real pretty, and a lot of fun, too, but don't go gettin any ideas about her. Wouldn't be smart."
"Why not, "david wanted to know.
"Just trust me on this, " his friend answered., and started walking again. "Ya bettah off just forgettin about it, especially now. And when we get over da bridge, ya bettah not let anyone see ya lookin at her like that. I know ya don't mean nothin, but you starin at her ain't gonna make Brooklyn wanna listen."
David mulled over Jack's words, then asked 'Does she have a boyfriend over here or something?"
Jack didn't answer for a moment, and David asked again, "is that it?"
Jack just shook his head, and then David noticed that Pocket and Boots had stopped and were waiting for them to catch up. Before they reached there friends, Jack leaned over and whispered, "Look Dave, just don't let Spot catch you lookin at her, or I don't know if I can stop ya from gettin soaked"
David stopped in his tracks, but Jack went on ahead. After a moment, David jogged to catch up.
"So is this Spot Conlon really dangerous?" he asked. Pocket laughed.