im am so proud of myself! i figured out the mystery that is "myspace" if you have an accout, look me up! name-Kelly. im still working on figuring out details though. story, right...i knew that...oh yeah, and i changed my pen name, tell me if you hate it and think i should put it back, if you care


Even the guys who had bet that she would were amazed that Mustang had gotten the rattle.

"So it's all true?" Racetrack asked in disbeliefe, pocketing a fair amount of moeny.

"Yeah, all da stuff about da rattlesnakes. An he sure knows da horses too. Race, who'd yeh bet on today?"

"Same horse I've bin bettin on since he started racin. Show Biz. Don think anybody even looked twice at da ninth."

"Someone did," she smiled. Dutchy walked over and put an arm around her waist.

"Alright, since yeh made me some money, yeh interested in ditchin dese losas an gettin some lunch? My treat, sependin on what ya want." Mustang laughed and kissed him.

"Sure." They walked back to Manhattan, along with most of the other newsies who had only come along to see the outcome of Race's bet.

"So," Kid Blink said, dropping onto the bench next to Racetrack to watch the horses being loaded for the next race, "Didja think she'd actually do it?"

"Dunno. I didn think da stories were true, didn think dere'd be anythin ta get. I hafta admit, I'm impressed dough." They sat and watched the race. As the third pulled ahead, they heard footsteps approching them. They turned to see the rattlesnake man standing behind them. He leaned on the walking stick as he walked. "Hiya dere. Can we help yah?"Racetrack asked, extending his hand. The man moved his walking stick to his left hand and used his right to shake Racetrack's.

"You two're newsies, right?" he asked, walking around the end of the bench and sitting down next to Kid Blink.

"Yeah, but we're sold out now. If yeh wait, we'll be goin ta get da aftanoon edition soon."

"I've already got a paper." He pointed at the paper Mustang had given him that was now in the pocket of his long coat. "If yeh don't mind, may I ask yer names?"

"Racetrack."

"Kid Blink."

"Youse can call me Rattler." They shook hands again. "Out of curiosity, do either of yeh know do goil dat gave me dis pape? She's bout as tall as you, Kid Blink, has dirty blonde hair, wears a grey cap..."

"Yeah, dat's Mustang. What about 'er?" Blink shifted a little, wondering why he was asking about her. He had subconciously become a part of Dutchy's Protect-Mustang-from-everything plan. "Why da yeh wanna know?"

"Jus wonderin. She seemed interested in da horses."

"Most people round heah are." Racetracksaid, lightinga cigar. Rattler smiled.

"Most people're interested in how fast dey run. She seemed ta actually be interested in who dey are. How's she know so much about 'em? Do yeh know?"

"Well she does own one."

"Dat's strange. Jus randomly has a horse in da middle of da city?"

"She found 'im. He got away from a street act er somethin." Blink found it very strange that this guy should be so curious. It was starting to bother him. If Dutchy felt that Brunette and Suep shouldn't know why Mustang had fallen into the river, even though they'd saved her, this guy had no right no know anything. Rattler sat back and watched the horses for the next race approching the start gate.

"Didja put any money on dis next race?"

"Nah, I haven't seen most of 'em run. Heah Street Rat's a favorite dough." Rattler nodded. "Got a tip on Blind Bull'seye, guy said it was a sure thing." The older man laughed.

"An it might've been a year er two ago. Dat horse could run, he he needs ta look inta otha work. I'd say put it on Street Rat, but dere's a bunch a new ones I don know too well in dis one." Racetrack nodded and headed over to the betting booth. Blink looked over at Rattler, who was watching the tenth fighting to be loaded into the start gate. "Dat one's a piece a work. Might put up some competition." Another moment of silence.

"Not ta be rude er nuthin, but why're yeh so interested in Mustang?"

"It's not every day dat someone's interested in listenin ta me. She's da foist person I've talked to in a long time dat wanted ta heah anything besides who I thought was gonna win da race. It's nice ta be listened to sometimes."

"Well, Mustang's good at dat. Jus be careful, she's real good at talkin too." They both laughed. Racetrack came back just as the gates opened. The tenth, a horse named Firebird, took the immediate lead, followed closely by Blind Bull'seye.

"Dat one'll burn out fast," Racetrack muttered, hoping he hadn't wasted a bet.

"Don be too sure. Dere are always exeptions. Jus cause most of em do, doesn't mean dey all do." Firebierd held the lead most of the race. Around the fianl turn, a light chestnut horse swung wide and fell into place right beside Firebird. His legs, chest, and belly were splattered with white markings, giving him the appearence that he'd run through snow that stuck to him. While Blind Bull'seye fell back into the larger group, Firebird and Street Rat fought for the lead, pulling ahead more and more. Firebird's red coat caught the sun and light danced off of Street Rat's powerful shoulders. Down the final stretch, no one seemed to have the upper hand. Racetrack leaned forward, whispering something under his breath. Kid Blink stared at Firebird. Maybe it was just because he couldn't tell horses apart, but he thought it looked like Cowgirl. "Somethin's up wid dat horse," Rattler whispered. Firebird's jockey was using his crop, but the horse seemed distracted. It was shaking it's head and then, feet from the finish line, it stopped. Just stopped and looked over the rail into the center of the track. The jockey started screaming as Street Rat flew across the finish line.After the final horses had passed, Firebird took off again and crossed the line. Blink looked up at Rattler. He too was looking at Firebird who was now prancing about, being held by its trainer.

"Dat is da strangest race I've eva seen. An you thought he'd be competition, didncha?"

"She. Not many mares race, but she's one of 'em. An she could've been serious competition if she hadn't been...distracted." Racetrack had already gone to collect his winnings. "Looks like she's a bit of a handful." Blink looked back down at the track. Firebird's jockey was getting frustrated and finally swung off her back and started yelling. The horse jumped back and just stared at him. "Ain't gettin nowheres by yellin at her." He stood. "I'll see ya lata Kid Blink." He shook his hand and headed down toward the barns.


i bet you guys have no idea what im planning! i, for once, actually do! ha ha! tell me what you think of my new character.