Meeting Spot Conlon

Lucky led Cecile up a couple stairs. He stopped in front of a boy sitting on a chair, which Cecile assumed to be Spot Conlon. A couple of the boys whistled as she walked by.

"Well. Well. Lucky you brought me a nice catch this time." He said looking her up and down from head to toe.

"We found her sleeping in an alley near Brooklyn Bridge and decided to bring her to you to see what you thought." Lucky pushed her closer to Spot and went to stand next to him. She gave him a dirty look as he passed by her.

"What's your name?" Spot asked her as he pulled out his slingshot and shot at a bottle. She looked behind her as the bottle smashed, then turned to face Spot.

"Cecile."

"Got a last name?" he asked.

"Cecile Cunnigham."

"Nice name."

"Thank you." She retorted.

"We have a feisty one here boys." Spot said and turned to face a crowd of laughing boys.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen and I'll be eighteen in a couple of months." She replied, getting annoyed by all of this questioning.

"Same here." Spot said.

"How interesting." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Where are you from?" Spot questioned again, ignoring her sarcasm.

"Well, I was born in Boston and lived there until I was thirteen until my parents died. After the funeral, I was sent to live in Manhattan with my grandfather. After a while he sent me to live in France and England with my mother's parents. I just got back to the States about six months ago."

"You lived in Boston?" Spot asked suddenly interested.

"Isn't that what I said?"

"Did you know Cecile Pulitzer?"

"Why?" she asked her face turning pale.

"Because I'm her brother." He said hitting another bottle with the stone in his slingshot.

"You're her brother?" she gasped her face turning as white as flour.

"Yes. I am her brother, for the hundreth time. Now did you know her or not?" he asked again, getting annoyed by this girl's lack of cooperation."

"Yes I knew her well." She replied shakily.

"So tell me. How is she? What does she look like?" he eagerly asked sitting down on his throne.

"You tell me." She said, acting a little bit stronger.

"What?" Spot asked confused.

"Well, you're looking at her." She said, as she looked him straight in the eye. This time it was his face that paled.

"Cela?" he asked, as he looked her over again. She nodded. He walked over to her, putting his arms out to hug her when she punched him in the stomach. "Ugh." He gasped.

"Why did you leave us Cedric? Why? Do you know the pain you caused us? The pain you caused me? For a while I thought you were going to come back, but after a while I finally faced reality. But Mom, she always thought you were coming back. Do you have any idea how painful it was to sit and watch her go through it all? Every day, Cedric, every day. She would sit at the window looking down the street, looking for you. You weren't there to watch them suffer. And Dad, he started working all the time after you left. They always thought that if they became better people than God would send you back to them. By that time, James was already married and Lucas and Josh were away at college. I was the only one left and watched our parents suffer. Do you know what Mom's last words were when she was dying? Do you know Cedric? Do you? Of course not, but I'll do the honor of telling you. I love you Cecile. And please find Cedric for me, please. And when you do, tell him I still love him and tell him to come home. I hate you for doing all of this Cedric! I hate you!" She turned around and ran down the dock, tears streaming down her face.

"Stop her!" Spot cried out. The Newsies on the dock sprang up and ran after her. Canyon caught her and held her tightly. She struggled but Canyon was too strong for her. He held her until Spot caught up with them.

"Cela, I'm sorry for leaving all those years ago. I can't change the past and if I could I would still leave. I had to." Turning to Canyon, he said "Take her to my room and stay with her until I come. Don't let her escape."

"Ok Spot." Canyon said, walking towards the Brooklyn Lodging House.

"I'm sorry, Cela." Spot whispered under his breath as he watched the two retreating figures.