"Spot Conlon! I've been looking all over for you! Where have you
been? And why is your arm around HER?"

Before Spot could answer, Saff jumped up and started
screaming at Amy.

"He's been wit is goilfriend, dat he loves, all day and night, and
youse got no right bein' ere! Dis is a pawty foa me best friend and
youse aint welcome hea. Ise suggest youse toinin' yoa skinny, prissy,
hoity-toity, holya-den-dow butt around and go right back da way youse
came cause youse aint Spot's goil anymoa! Pallet is!"

"Saff sit down. Spot can take care of it." Jack whispered pulling
Saff down on the chair.

I grabbed hold of Spot's hand.

"Spot are you going to let her talk to me like that?" Amy asked.

"He can't stop her from sayin' anythin'. No one can." I replied
smirking.

"Shut Up! I wasn't talking to you!"

I jumped up out of my chair, but before I could do anything
to Amy, Spot stood up and told me to sit down.

"See, he likes me. Otherwise he would've let you TRY to beat me up."
Amy said giving Spot a hug.

"No I don't like youse Amy. I just don't want me goil ta ave ta soak
anybody on er boithday." Spot said pulling away from her and smiling
at me.

"Ha! Her? soak' me? I'd like to see that!"

Spot knew she was getting me angry so he sat down and held my
hand to calm me down.

"See… She's scared. She won't hurt me." Amy said smirking.

"No, I'm not scared of YOU. I jest don't feel like gettin' my hands
dirty." I replied smiling.

"She might not hoit youse tanite but if youse don't beat it I will.
It aint me boithday so I wont mind." Saff said standing up slowly.

"You'll be sorry Spot… All of you will be sorry." Amy yelled going
out the door.

After she was out the door we all just laughed. The rest of
the night was perfect. Spot and I left the party before everyone
else, they wanted to stay and listen to Medda, and Spot and I wanted
to be alone. So we headed back to the Lodging House and talked until
everyone started coming back to go to bed. As everyone headed to bed,
Spot and I went up to the roof so we could talk without bothering any
one. We fell asleep watching the stars.

Early the next morning, Spot and I awoke to a bunch of
giggling and snickering. I looked up and saw some of my girls, Jack,
and some of his boys standing there looking at us. Then I looked up
at Spot and smiled.

"Can't a guy be left alone wit is goil?" Spot asked smiling at me
and glaring at everyone else.

"Round ere? No one can eva be alone Spot. Maybe in Brooklyn you can
because yoa da leadah but not ere." Jack said smiling. " Anyways
youse two were alone all last night. And it's time ta go woik. So
youse two bettah get up or you'll be late."

"Yeah, yeah. We're comin'. Go ahead witout us. Ere Jackey-boy go buy
us our papes an' we'll meetcha dere." Spot said handing Jack some
money.

"Alright Spot. See-ya latah." Jack said going down the fire escape
with everyone else.

"So Pallet, Sleep well?" Spot asked.

"Yup. You know what? You make a good pillow." I said smiling.

"A'course I do." Spot replied smirking.

"Oh shush." I said standing up. "Come on we better go
change, especially me. I wanna get out a this dress."

"Why? You look pretty cute in dat dress." Spot said smiling as he
stood up.

"Thanks, but I'm not too fond of dresses. Plus don't wanna get this
dress dirty."

"Alright." Spot replied as we headed down to the bunkroom window.

We climbed inside. I walked to where I had put my clothes and
noticed they weren't there.

"Oh Great!"

"What? What's wrong Pallet?" Spot asked walking over to me.

"I think Saff or Melody borrowed my clothes. There always borrowing me
clothes or Cherry's. And I can't wear Mel's clothes cause there too
small and I don't know where Saff's clothes are. There not where they
usually are."

"Oh… Well we can fix dat. Jest a minute." Spot replied walking over
to his things.

He walked back over to me and handed me one of his shirts and
some pants.

"Thanks Spot." I said taking the clothes and kissing him on the cheek.

I went into the washroom and changed. I brushed my hair and
washed my face. Then, walked back out to the bunkroom.

"Your pants are a lil long but othah then that they pretty much fit."

"Yea, and ya don't look dat bad in dem edah." Spot said hugging me. "Dere's one ting missin' doe. Where's yoa hat?"

"Uh…I dunno." I replied looking around the room. "One of the girls
must of taken it. Oh well. I don't really need one."

"Heah, wear mine." Spot said placing his hat on my head.

"Thanks Spot. We better get goin', Cowboy's not gonna wait too much
longer."

We walked downstairs, out the door, and to the Circulation
desk where Jack and Saff were waiting. Sure enough Saff was wearing
my pants and shirt and Jack's cowboy hat.

"Nice clothes Saff." I said sarcastically.

"Oh yeah I foagot ta ask ya. Can I wear yoa pants an' shoit?" She
replied smiling.

"What would you do if I say no right now?"

"Youse really want me to strip down right here?" She said jokingly.

"Noooo… Thank you. That is ok." I said.

"Good cause I wouldn't have done it anyways."

"Well Saff, we bettah go stawt sellin'." Jack said handing me and
Spot each 100 papers.

"Hey, see youse latah guys. Oh and Pallet, I need to talk to youse
latah. It's important." Saff said walking away.

"Ok. See you later."

"Come on Pallet, we bettah go too." Spot said taking my papers and
taking my hand.

We both set our papers down when we got to my selling spot
and started selling. When most of our papers were gone, we started
talking.

"So Pallet…, I've been wonderin'..what's yoa real name?" Spot
asked.

"Ashleigh Pauline Scharem. What about you Spot?"

"Peter, Peter Shirley Conlon. An' don't be sayin' anyting bout me
middle name. Yoa da foist and only poisen I've eva told dat ta."

"Hey I thinks it's kinda cute. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Ok t'anks."

We also talked about how we became Newsies and how we got our
nicknames and lots of other stuff. When we were finally done selling,
we headed to Tibby's to meet everyone else. We were the first ones
there, so we sat down in a booth and cuddled and talked while we
waited for everyone else. About 5 minutes later, everyone started
coming in. No one came over to talk because I guess they figured Spot
would get angry if they didn't leave us alone. Considering this
morning, the only people that weren't afraid were Jack and Saff. They
were the last ones to show up at Tibby's and they came right over and
sat down at the booth.

"Hey guys. Why are you so late?" I asked.

"We had a lot a papes ta sell taday." Jack answered.

"Oh ok… So anyways, Saff what did you need ta tell me that was so
important?"

"Um…Well. You know how Jack wants ta go ta Santa Fe?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, he finally has da money foa it. So he's goin'…"

"That's great."

"…And I'm goin' wit 'im Pallet."

"What!"

"I'm gonna go wit im. I loves Jack so Im goin' wit im. But dere's
one problem…"

"What's that Saff?"

"Well ya see dere isn't enough money foa Midge ta go rite now and she
won't wanna leave Shorty so I was wonderin' if youse two could
watch er foa me till we can figure sumtin' out. Please oh please
Pallet."

"I guess Saff. She'd have ta move ta Brooklyn with me and Mel. I'm
goin' ta stay with Spot. Mel's gonna be movin' back an' forth between
Manhattan and Brooklyn ta be with Racetrack. But yeah, you're my best
friend."

"Yeah an' Shorty's one a me boys. He lives wit me in Brooklyn. He was
jest visitin' wit everyone wit me." Spot added in.

"T'anks Pallet. Yoa da best. I'm gonna miss ya." Saff said giving me
a big hug.

"Me, too. When do you leave?" I asked.

"Tamarra mornin'." She replied.

"That soon!"

"Yeah. Dat's why da rest a da day, Jack an' I are spendin' time wit
me lil sis."

"Oh… we're gonna miss you two."

"We'll miss all youse guys too, well we bettah go. I still gotta tell
Midge. See-ya latah."

"Bye."

Saff and Jack told everyone else, then left with Midge.

"I can't believe it. Saff's leavin', there both leavin'. It's not ever
gonna be the same." I said leaning up against Spot.

"Well Jack's been plannin' dis foa a while and Saff loves im.
An' if ya love someone like dey do, youse can't bear bein' away from
dem." Spot replied kissing my forehead.

"I know…That's why I'm goin' ta Brooklyn with you." I said
smiling up at him. "I jest can't believe it."

"Yeah I know. I'm gonna miss dem. Well…it's getting' late we
bettah get goin' ta da Lodgin' House." Spot said standing up and putting his
arm around my waist when I stood up.

We walked back to Kloppman's Lodging House.

"Hey we should get a cake or sumtin' foa Saff an' Jackey-boy." Spot
said.

"Good idea."

"A course it is, dats cause I tawt a it." Spot said smirking.

"Oh shuddup." I said smiling and giving him a kiss.

So we stopped at a bakery and got a cake for Sapphire and
Jack, then we headed to the Lodging House.
When we arrived at Kloppmans, we told him and everyone else
our plans. We spent the rest of the day getting ready for the party.
Spot sent Race & Melody to invite Medda while I helped Kloppman clean
up. It was about 7:30 when we finished. Saff and Jack would be
getting back soon, so we all ran upstairs to get changed into nice
clothes. When we were all dressed, we sat downstairs and waited. We
had been waiting about 10 minutes when we heard voices outside. Spot
and I got up and looked out the window.

"It's them, there back! Everyone quiet!" I said as Spot turned out the
lights. Everyone got in there places.

Jack opened the door and they walked in.

"Everyone must be in bed." Saff said.

As soon as Jack turned on the lights, we all shouted SURPRISE!

"Hey, what's all dis foa, guys?" Jack asked.

"Yeah… youse practically scared the crap out a me." Saff said.

"It was all Pallet and Spot's idea. It's a goin' away pawty." Race
answered.

"Youse guys are da best!" Saff and Jack replied smiling.

The whole night we danced and ate cake until about 11:30.
Then everyone started heading to bed. As Saff, Jack, Spot, and I
headed upstairs, we told Kloopman we'd clean in the morning. When we
got upstairs everyone was asleep, so the four of us headed up to the
roof. We all sat down and Saff & Jack cuddled up together and Spot &
I cuddled up together.

"We're gonna miss youse two." Saff said.

"We're gonna miss you too." I said giving Saff and Jack a hug. I
wish you would stay though."

"Youse me best friend Pallet, but Ise gotta get outta dis place. Lots
a good memories, but also too many bad ones. I want ta be able ta
foaget da bad memories. And Santa Fe is someplace dat me n Jack can
stawt ova new." Saff explained.

"I know…"

Just then someone yelled up to us.

"Saff.. Jack.. could youse come down hea? Midge is crying." Shorty
yelled.

"We're on our way down. See youse two tommarra." Jack said.
Saff and Jack walked down to the room.

As soon as they were inside, I started crying.

"Pallet, are you alright? Why are youse crying?"

"I… I'm jest… I'm afraid that I'm never gonna see Saff again"

"Oh..Pallet. Don't worry I'm sure you'll see both a dem again
sometime. I'll make shoa a dat." Spot said wrapping his arms around
me. I fell asleep in his arms.

Early the next morning, Spot woke me up to get ready to go take Saff
and Jack to the train station and say goodbye. Spot and I went down
to the bunkroom to wake everyone up. Then, we went to the washroom,
cleaned up, and got dressed. We gathered Saff and Jack's things,
while they said goodbye to everyone. Then, the four of us left for
the train station. We talked the whole way there. I stopped a few
times because it felt like someone was following us. I finally
ignored it when we were close to the station. When we arrived, Saff
and Jack got their tickets and got their bags on the train. Then, we
said our goodbyes.

"Please don't forget ta write, Saff." I said hugging her.

"Don't worry, I won't." she said with a tear running down her cheek
as she tried to smile.

"Jack take good care of her. She's my best friend in the whole world."
I said hugging Jack goodbye.

"ALL A'BOARD! NON-STOP TO SANTA FE!"

"Well, guess dats us. We'll miss youse two." Jack said.

"Same heah." replied Spot.

We said one last goodbye as Jack and Saff boarded the train.
We all waved goodbye as the train pulled away.
Spot and I headed back to the Lodging house so we could pack before
we left for Brooklyn. As we were walking I got the feeling again that
someone was following us, so I turned and whispered to Spot telling
him. We turned around, but saw no one. When we turned back around
someone grabbed me and pulled me into the alley. Spot tried to free
me but was knocked out when he was thrown against a wall.

"SPOT!" I screamed trying to get free.

I struggled to get free, but just as I was getting loose someone hit
me over the head and everything went black…..

To be continued……