"Heya Red. What youse boys doin' round dese parts?" Spot said out
loud.

"It ain't yer business." Red replied.

"It is me business if youse is hoitin' me friends."

"We aint been hoitin' nobody period!" Red replied.

"Yeah youse have. Youse soaked Pallet twice an' youse soaked Sapphire
too!" Spot said scowling.

"If Sapphire wasn't so stupid she wouldn't a gotten soaked…And if
yoa friend Pallet would stay outta our way, she wouldn't get soaked
neitha. She needs ta loin ta do what she's told too" Red replied.

"What do ya mean, do what she's told?" Spot asked.

"It aint yer business, It's b'tween us. Aint dat right Pallet?" Red
replied smiling at me.

"No! If tellin' me ta kiss you when I don't wanna is tellin' me what
ta do, then I don't have ta listen ta you!" I snapped.

"Spot, youse betta shut er up b'fore I do!" Red said scowling,
stepping closer.

"Ise cant make er do nothin' she don't wanna." Spot replied smirking
and squeezing my hand for comfort.

"I can make er!" said Red stepping towards me.

"Youse betta jest leave er alone!" Spot replied stepping between me
and Red. "Ise dunno if I can keep er from soakin' ya foa too much
longah." He said smirking.

"Ha! Yeah…An' I'll jest walk away wit me tail b'tween me legs. I
don't tink so." Red said laughing.

"Oh..so youse tink I'm funny. Pallet, ya heah dat? He tinks I'm
funny."

"Yeah, a regulah comedian." Red said smartly.

"Ise wouldn't be laughin' as much if Ise was you. I'd like ta see you
try and take on Pallet when er back aint toined!"

"Yeah…Right…Like ol' Pallet could evah beat me. She's a
whore!"

"Youse lil' bum! Take it back!" Spot yelled furiously. Red just stood
there staring at Spot smirking.

"I'll soak youse ya lousy bum!" Spot screamed going after Red.

I tried to pull him back but it was no use. He had already
let go of my hand and ran for Red. Spot knocked him on the ground and
started pounding on him. Red did all he could to try and get away but
it was no use. Spot wouldn't let him up. The next thing I know I'm
yelling at Spot to let Red up. At the time it just made sense but if
you asked me now I couldn't tell you for the life of me. How could I
want someone who I despise so much to be let go? I guess I knew that
if I hadn't said anything that Spot would never let him up. Don't ask
me why, but Spot had the worst look in his eye. I never knew someone
could care so much for me. That was a good feeling. Spot reluctantly
let Red up and walked over to me.

"Now youse bettah get outta heah b'fore I get really mad!" Spot
shouted at Red.

"You'll regret dis Spot Conlon!" Red shouted backing up slowly,
stumbling over his own feet. I guess Spot's punches had blurred his vision a little bit.

"We bettah not see youse or yoa boys round dese parts again Red."
Spot said as Red was backing off. "Or next time I won't be da only one
doin' da soakin' if we do see ya!" Spot yelled.

I could hear it in his voice that he wasn't joking. He was so
furious with Red for what he's done to Saff and me. I knew that next
time he saw them he wouldn't be so kind. After Red and his boys were
out of sight, Spot turned to me and just started hugging me.

"Are youse ok Pallet?" Spot said concerned.

"Yeah Spot I'm ok. Thanks a lot. I don't know what I would've
done if you hadn't been here'." I said holding him close.

"Don't worry bout dat Pallet. Im always gonna be heah. You can
count on dat."

"Oh Spot, you're the best person in the whole world." I said with my
eyes starting to tear.

"Yeah Pal. Ise know. Youse not so bad yaself." He said looking
deep into my eyes. "Hey it's gettin' late. We should prolly get
back ta da Lodgin' House." He said putting his arm around my shoulder.

"Yeah I guess you're right. Let's go." I said wrapping my arms
around his waist.

We walked all the way back to the Lodging House like that.
With Spot's arm around my shoulder and me holding on to his waist.
We were so comfortable like that that we didn't even notice it when
we walked into the lobby of the Lodging House still cuddling. We
quickly remembered though…as soon as we heard a chorus of giggles
and whistles from everybody in the lobby. As soon as we realized it, we
quickly let go. Saff slyly walked over to me putting her arm around
my shoulder as she led me to the bunkroom. On our way she started
talking.

"Don't even like im eh? Can't stand im eh? Ise don't know what I'm
twakin' about eh? Yeah right. Youse bettah' tell me everytin' dat
happened an' Ise mean everytin'." Saff said giddily.

"Oh come on now Saff. Don't make me tell you everythin'."

"Come on Pallet. Spill it."

"Oh, alright." I said reluctantly.

When we got into the bunkroom we sat down and I told her
everything that happened. Not leaving out anything. When I was done,
Saff had the biggest smile on her face. She jumped up and clasped her
hands together in front of her chest. She pulled me up off the bunk
and gave me a big hug.

"Ise knew dis was gonna happen Pallet Ise jest knew it! Dis is so
great! Now we's both got someone ta be wit. Oh Pallet dis is so
great."

She was jumping up and down and swinging all over the room.
She must've forgot she had another person hooked to her. I was
getting thrashed all over the place but I didn't really care. I was
celebrating just as much as she was. I was so happy. Spot liked me!
Just then Saff stopped swinging me all around. We heard footsteps
coming up the stairs. Not to my surprise, it was Cowboy and Spot.
They opened the door slowly and walked in.

"Youse goils done in heah? Everyone's getting' kind of tired and it's
about time ta get some sleep." Cowboy asked.

"Yeah Jack. We're done. Youse can stawt sendin' up da troops." Saff
said walking over to Cowboy giving him a hug.

We barely ever see those two not hugging if they're together.
They must really be in love. Just as I was wishing Spot would come
over and do the same…he did. He came over and gave me a hug.

"Youse still ok Pallet?" Spot said looking at me.

"Yeah I sure am…now that you're here. I thought ol' Saff was gonna
rip my arms out of thier sockets she was pullin so hard." I said with a
smile.

Cowboy went to the door and told everyone to come up and go to sleep.
They did as he said. As chance would have it…there were only two
bunks left with no people sleeping in them and Spot and Cowboy
claimed them to be theirs, leaving only the top bunks to me and Saff.
I guess we'd have to share with the boys tonight. Usually Saff and I
had the same bunk. So anyway, We both climbed into the top bunks(each
above our own guys) and tried to get some sleep. About a half hour
after we layed down to get some sleep I heard Saff getting down from
her bunk. I was curious to see what she was doing so I turned so I
could see. Saff was getting down and Cowboy was in his bunk…he
scooted over in his bed and patted the mattress. Saff climbed into
bed with him and they started to cuddle. Jeeze…They can't be apart
even when they're sleeping. Just then I started thinking to
myself… Why should Saff have all the fun? So I climbed out of my
bunk and got down on my knees. I nudged Spot awake.

"Spot…it's lonely up there all alone." I whispered slyly.
He looked over and saw Cowboy and Saff.

"Oohh I see. Come on." He said with a huge smile on his face.

I couldn't help but think we were in Heaven the whole night.
We just layed there whispering to each other until we fell asleep.

The next morning I awoke to something warm on my cheek. When I opened
my eyes Spot was sitting nest to me on the bed.

"G'morning Beautiful. Sleep well?" he asked

"MmHmm. Did you?" I replied smiling.

"I slept great." Spot replied kissing my cheek again. "But now it's
time ta get up an' sell papes."

"Can't I jest stay in bed taday?" I whined.

"Nope. If I'm up, youse gotta get up." Spot said standing up.

"I'm not sellin' papers taday, need more sleep." I replied pulling the
covers over my head.

"Fine ave it your way." Spot said.

For a while I heard nothing so I closed my eyes and went back
to sleep. Then I heard some commotion going on so I opened my eyes and
before I could pull off the covers to see, someone yanked the cover and poured
water on me.

"AHHHH! Cela a froid! That's cold!" I screamed looking up at Spot.

"Ya shoulda got up." He replied smirking.

Saff and Jack were laughing so hard, I swear they couldn't
breath. No one else was in the room so I figured they had already gone selling.

"T'ink of it dis way Pallet, now ya don't need a showah." Saff said
laughing.

"Shut Up." I replied getting up to change.

"We'll meetcha at da circulation desk." Jack replied.

"Ok Jacky-boy. See ya dere." Spot replied as Jack walked out the
door.

"I'll be out in a minute Spot. I gotta go change."

While I was in the washroom changing into clean, dry clothes,
looking at a cup in there, I got a great idea. I filled the cup with
water and called Spot.

"Hey Spot, I need your help with somethin', can you come here? I can't
find my brush."

"Yea shoa. I'm comin'." He replied.

As soon as he stepped into the room clear of the door to the
bunkroom, I dumped the water on him.

"You little…" he said smirking and running after me.

I ran into the bunkroom and Spot grabbed me and playfully
tackled me to the floor and started tickling me.

"Stop it. That…tick…les." I said laughing.

Finally, after about 3 minutes, Spot stopped and stood up and
helped me up. Then hugged me and gave me a kiss.

"We'd bettah get goin' Saff and Jacky-boy will be waitin'." Spot
said smiling.

So we headed to meet Saff and Jack. The whole way there,
Spot's arm was around me and mine around him, while we talked about
everything that happened over the week. We arrived to sell papers
about 15 minutes later.

"Hey guys what took ya so long? And Spot why are ya all wet?" Jack
asked.

Spot and I started smiling at each other.

"Well…uh…Pallet got me a lil wet, but Ise got er back."
Spot said smiling.

"Oh…ok..Well we bought yoa papes fer youse two." Jack said
handing us each 100 papers.

"T'anks Jackey-boy." Spot replied.

"No problum. We'll meet youse guys at Tibby's latah. See ya." Jack
replied and left with Saff.

"Let's go get stawted Pallet." Spot said taking my papers and his.

"OK."

So we walked to my selling spot and Spot set the papers down.

"Hey Ise got an idea. Lets see who can sell dere pile foist. I'll go
down ta da ottah street an' youse stay ere. The winnah decides what
we do lattah tanite. Ok?"

"O.K. I better start thinkin' of what we should do tanight." I said
smiling.

"I don't tink so. I'm gonna win."

"That's what you think."

So Spot picked up his pile, kissed me, and walked down to the
other street and we started. By the end of the morning, I had one paper left when Spot
strolled over empty handed. Just as he approached I sold the last paper.

"Done finally. How bout you?" I asked.

"Yep all done. Looks like Ise beat ya." He replied smirking.

"Only by one paper!"

"So Ise still beat ya." He replied smiling.

"Yeah, Yeah. Don't have ta rub it in. So what are we gonna do tanight?"

"It's a surprise." Spot answered smirking and putting his arm around
me to walk to Tibby's.

"Come on…Please tell me."

"Nope. You'll find out tanite."

The whole way to Tibby's I tried to figure out what we were
going to do tonight. When we arrived at Tibby's, everyone was already
there waiting for us. Saff and Jack waved us over to their booth to
sit down. I sat down at the booth when Spot whispered something to
Jack. Jack got up and they walked to the far side of Tibby's where I
couldn't hear. Something was up and I was going to find out.

"Hey Saff, what's up with Jack and Spot? Why'd they go sit on the
opposite side of the room?"

"I dunno." She answered nervously.

"Yes, you do. I can tell by the sound of your voice."

"I really dunno anyting."

"Yeah sure."

Just then Spot and Jack walked back over to the booth, sat
down, and started talking like nothing was going on.

"Spot… what's goin' on? Why are you all the sudden so secretive?"

"Nutings goin' on Pallet. I'm not bein' secretive, I was jest
twakin' ta Jackey-boy bout sumtin I hoid sellin me papes taday."

"Yeah…Sure…Spot could you please tell me what we're gonna do
tanight?"

"If Ise told ya it wouldn't be a surprise…" Spot replied kissing
my forehead.

"Jest a hint…?"

"Pallet…" Spot said.

"Sorry…I'll stop."

"Ok"

Saff and Jack just looked at us laughing.

"What? What's so funny?" Spot and I asked.

"Nutin', jest youse two are so cute tageta." Saff replied smiling.

"A course we are." Spot replied kissing me. "Hey Jacky-boy, what time
is it?"

"Um…almost four." He replied.

"Oh, we'd bettah go Pallet. We gotta go pickup sumtin for tanite."

"Oh, ok… see-ya later guys."

"Bye" said Saff and Jack.

"Bye" replied Spot as we left Tibby's.

"So, what do we need ta pick up, Spot?"

"You'll find out." He replied smiling.

We walked about three blocks before we came to a building
called Nancy's Clothing. We went inside and up to the lady at the
counter.

"Hello, Ise had an ordah undah Conlon.."

"Yes…Here it is." The lady said handing Spot a wrapped package.

"T'anks." He said handing her some money.

Then, we walked out the door and headed to the Lodging House.
When we got there, we went upstairs to the bunkroom. Spot opened the
package and pulled out a light blue dress.

"A dress?" I asked.

"Yep it's foa youse ta wear tanite."

"Thanks Spot…" I replied kissing him on the cheek. "I'll go put it
on. Be right back." I said taking the dress into the washroom to
change.

A dress? Where would we be going that I needed to wear a
dress? I thought to myself. And where was everyone? They were usually
back by now. I put the dress on and looked in the mirror. Wow, I
almost look like a girly-girl. If I did something with my hair I
would look like a girly-girl.

Then I thought of something. I took a blue ribbon from
Melody's box of hair things and grabbed Saff's curling iron. I curled
my hair all over and tied half of it back in a ponytail with the
ribbon. Then I walked out to the bunkroom.

"Oh my gosh Pallet! You look beautiful." Spot said smiling.

"Really?" I asked blushing.

"Yeah really." Spot replied hugging me. "Hey, we bettah get goin'
soon. Foist, Ise gotta go get cleaned up, den we can go."

"Ok, Hurry up."

So Spot went into the washroom and cleaned up. He put on his
nicest clothes, a blue shirt, cute red suspenders, and black pants,
and washed his hair.

"OK. You ready ta go?" Spot said walking into the bunkroom.

"Yup"

"Ok. Let's go den." Spot said putting his arm around my waist as we
walked out the door.

We walked down the street talking. We must have walked at
least 4 blocks before we arrived at Irving Hall. We went inside.
Everything was dark and quiet, until I heard some giggling.

"Spot..what's goin' on?"

He looked at me and smiled before he turned on the lights.
When the lights turned on, all my friends jumped out and
yelled "SURPRISE!"

"Oh my gosh! What's all this for Spot?"

"Yer birthday Pallet."

"Oh my gosh! I totally forgot with everythin' that been goin' on! How'd
you know it was my birthday?"

"Saff and the girls told me."

"Yep, he wanted ta do sumtin' foa yoa boithday so he planned all
dis." Said Saff.

"Oh Spot…Your the best person in the world." I said giving Spot a big
hug and a deep kiss.

"Wow, maybe I should surprise ya moa often." Spot replied with a big
grin.

Saff and Jack started laughing. I just smiled.

"If youse two are done floitin, can we please get dis goin'?" Saff
said smiling.

Spot, Saff, and Jack led me over to a table and sat me down.
Then, Medda came out and sang Happy Birthday when Blink and Cherry
brought out a cake. I cut the cake and we ate.

After everyone had some cake, they handed me the presents
they got me. After I opened them, everyone sat and listened to Medda
sing. Then Melody went up on stage and joined Medda.

When Melody was done singing, she went and sat with Racetrack. Saff
and Jack were sitting in the corner cuddling, Blink and Cherry were
sitting with each other talking and the rest of the girls were
sitting with their guys. Spot and I were sitting, next to Saff and
Jack, cuddling and talking, when in the door bursts Amy.