July 31, 1899

Day 11 of the strike

"What if we organized a rally on the Brooklyn Bridge?" said David. "Get every newsie to meet on the bridge and clog it up. No one comes in or out of New York. That oughta get their attention!"

"Yeah, yeah," Race nodded. "That's perfect, Davey! First we gotta spread the word."

"I got Harlem again," said Blink.

Race smirked. "Any excuse for this kid to go to Harlem."

Blink grinned. "At least I got myself a girl, unlike you poor oafs."

"Skitts and Aide, you two want Brooklyn?" Race asked.

"Not particularly," said Adelaide. She sat in a corner booth, watching everything.

Skittery looked at her, his brow furrowed. "Since when do you pass up a chance to go to Brooklyn?"

"Since I've gotten tired of Spot Conlon and his…escapades." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, I'm sure Spot will be in town today anyway. Race, you talk to him."

The other newsies went on claiming parts of the city where they would go. They left the restaurant one or two at a time, off to spread the word.

After the boys had left, the bell over the door rang again and Charlotte walked in.

"Hey Charlotte," said Adelaide, looking up.

"Hi," Charlotte said. She walked over to David's table. David stood up quickly when he saw her approach, bumping his knee on the table.

"Ouch…hi Charlotte."

"Hi David," She gave him a small smile. "Are you busy?"

David shook his head. "Nuh-uh." He walked around the table.

"Would you like to go for a walk?"

"Of course." David grabbed his hat. He offered her his arm and they walked out of the restaurant.

Adelaide and Skittery looked at each other. "Nuh-uh!" they mimicked David, before laughing. Adelaide leaned against Skittery as her giggled abated.

"Looks like that poor boy's dreams are about to come true," said Adelaide

"Finally," said Skittery. "It was exhausted watching him moon over her."

"Well, now that Spot's out of the picture."

Skittery looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "They broke up?"

Adelaide nodded. "I guess after he got soaked, Charlotte went to Brooklyn to patch him up. Violet was there, and Charlotte figured out he was cheating on her, so she broke up with him. Then Spot goes and breaks up with Vi to try and get back together with Charlotte, who now will have nothing to do with him."

Skittery shook his head. "Women." He sighed. "Too much trouble."

"Hey!" Adelaide poked his side.


"Sounds like an effective way of getting attention," said Charlotte after David told her about his idea of a rally on the Brooklyn Bridge.

"You don't approve?"

"I think it's gonna get you a lot of negative attention."

David shrugged. "It's a lot more attention than we have now. Ever since Jack turned scab, I just…I don't know what to do anymore."

"Well, you're doing a great job." Charlotte gave him an encouraging grin.

"Thanks." David watched the ground for a bit as they walked. "I haven't seen much of you lately."

Charlotte nodded. "I haven't had my head on straight the past week or so."

"Since you saw Spot." It was not a question. Charlotte nodded.

"I know I've been sort of ignoring you, and I'm sorry."

David shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

Charlotte grinned and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

David felt a grin spread across his face. He turned toward her. It took him a moment to gather his courage. He slowly began to lean in when something behind her caught his eye and his grin faded. "Oh no." He turned away.

"What's wrong?" asked Charlotte, following his original gaze. She saw George and his posse walking by, but it was too late. They had already spotted David and Charlotte.

"Is that David Jacobs?" George asked, pretending to almost not recognize him.

David sighed and turned around. "Hi George," he said.

"It is!" George grinned. "Little dopey David!" The group laughed.

Charlotte frowned. "Get lost, George."

"Where've you been, David?" asked one of the other guys.

"Looks like he's been workin'," said Peter.

"Oh, I don't think he's been workin'," said George. "The newsies are on strike, remember?"

The group laughed.

"Come on, Charlotte," David mumbled, grabbing her hand and starting to walk away, but Charlotte stayed put.

"That's right. Run away, little boy!" laughed one of the boys.

"Hey!" Charlotte barked.

"Charlotte, don't," said David, pulling on her arm. "Let's just go."

"Aww, little dopey David's gotta have a girl stand up for him," said George.

"Stop calling him that!" Charlotte yelled.

George bent a little so he was eye level with her. "Little. Dopey. David." He tugged her braid with each word.

Charlotte took a step in, and cocked her arm, but a hand grabbed her fist before she could clock him.

Charlotte turned quickly and saw Spot holding her fist.

"Easy, girl," he said. "Don't want to get suspended again."

Charlotte glared at him. "What are you doing here?"

Spot ignored her question and looked up at the group. "Is there a problem here?"

George stared down Spot, meanwhile his posse's attention was focused on the group of Brooklyn newsies who stood behind Spot.

"There might be," said George, stepping forward.

Spot moved Charlotte to the side, so she was no longer between him and George.

"Spot," said Charlotte. She wanted to tell him to go away, leave them alone, they could handle it, but she felt a huge sense of relief having someone else deal with the bullies.

"You boys are gonna turn around, and leave these two alone," said Spot.

"Or what?" George asked, but Charlotte heard his voice falter.

Spot jerked forward to throw a fake punch and George flinched back. Spot and the Brooklyn boys laughed.

"Get out of here," said Spot. "And if I hear of you bothering Charlotte or David again, you'll be sorry."

"We ain't scared of you," said Petey.

Spot looked at Petey with a stony glare before Petey averted his gaze.

"Come on, guys," said George, glaring at Spot. "Let's get out of here."

George and his posse wandered off, throwing glances over their shoulders at Spot and Charlotte.

"You okay?" Spot asked, looking at Charlotte.

"Yeah," Charlotte nodded. "Thanks."

"Fellas, why don't you head on over to Tibby's," said Spot. "I'll meet you boys there."

Charlotte glanced over at the Brooklyn boys.

"Come on, David," said one, clapping him on the shoulder. "Let's get some lunch."

"Fellas, we were in the middle of a conversation," said Charlotte.

Spot looked at her for a beat. He looked over at David, and then back at Charlotte. "Okay." He nodded. "I'll see you around."

"Maybe."

Spot and his boys walked off in the direction of Tibby's.

Charlotte turned back to David and gave him a smile. "Shall we?" She slid her arm through his and they walked away.