------Tinker------

Tinker ran into Mush as he was leaving the Lodging House. "Hey Mush. I sweah if ya make any sorta joke right now I'll soak ya," she told him quickly.

Mush took in her beaten appearance and quickly lost his jocular attitude. "Don't worry, Tinkah. C'mon lets get ya upstaihs, all right? Jack's still up der," he told her.

"All right, thanks Mush."

Tinker used Mush as support and the two made their way upstairs, just as Jack was coming down. "What da hell?" Jack asked, seeing Tinker.

Tinker gave an explaination similar to Wish's as Jack and Mush helped her into her bed.

"It's all right Tinkah. Don't worry 'bout nothin'. I'se not gunna let anyone hurt ya no moah," Jack promised her. "I'se gunna go see Spot 'bout dis rigth away," he told her.

"Don't bothah," came a voice from the doorway. "I'se right heah."

"Good, I'se glad yer heah. Hey Cards. Did ya both heah what she jest said?" Jack asked her.

"Yeah, an' we got da story from Wish an' Bittah, too. So what are we gunna do 'bout it?" Spot asked.

"Well, its obvious. We got ta soak dem," Jack said.

"I guess dat's true. I got word dat Queens, Harlem an' da Bronx leadahs are all meetin' taday at Queens. So, what are we gunna do? Jest name a time an' place an' have da biggest newsie fight dis town has evah seen?" Cards asked.

"I'se all fer it. It ain't like we'se da ones dat are startin' dis fight. Dey're da ones dat are stupid enough ta think dat dey can beat Brooklyn an' Manhattan. Dey'se da ones dat are antaganzin' us," Spot pointed out. "You'd think dey woulda realized not ta mess wid us aftah what happened last time."

"Yeah, Spot's right. We'll send one a me boys ovah der right now ta give dem da time an' place. What time an' place should it be?" Jack queried.

"Well…what if we say tomorrah at 3 so we can sell papes. An' remembah dat secluded part a Central Park? Der wont be any bulls der, den," Spot suggested.

"Good idea. I'll go get someone ta take da message. Dey's gunna be sorry dey evah laid a hand on Tinkah, Wish or Bittah," Jack declared.

------At the Queens Lodging House----

"It's nice a ya all ta come," Gloves said. "So, I guess dat you'se all heard da story from youh goils?"

"I got it already," Marker agreed. Patrick nodded to show that he had also heard it.

"So what are we gunna do 'bout it?" Gloves asked. "We cant jest let Spot get away wid dis. He cant jest go 'round beatin' goils up fer bein' friends wid his ex goilfriend."

"I say we all take dem on. C'mon da Bronx, Queens, an' Harlem can take on Brooklyn an' prolly Manhattan," Patrick said. "If we work tageddah we can teach Spot a lesson 'bout how ya treat people."

"I think dat he's right," Marker decided. "I can't jest let dis go. Tunes was supposed ta be undah me protection an' he jest ignored dat."

"All right. So, what do we do?" Gloves asked. "Are we gunna have all our boys in da fight?"

"I don't think I could leave me boys out," Marker said. "Dey all are as willin' ta fight fer her as I am."

Just then a new boy walked in and whispered something to Gloves. Gloves nodded and said, "Bring him in heah."

A few minute later he brought in another boy. "Dis is da guy from Manhattan," he told Gloves. Gloves nodded an the boy disappeared leaving the Manhattanian alone with the three boys.

"So, what's yer message?" Gloves asked.

"I'se supposed ta tell da leadahs a da Bronx, Queens an' Harlem dat Spot an' Jack say deys angry an' are ready fer a fight. Dey say at 3 in Central Park an' ta bring yer boys or yer gunna be grossly outnumbahed."

"All right, tell him dat we'll be der," Gloves confirmed.

The boy nodded and walked out of the room and towards Manhattan.

"If dey want a fight den dey'll get one," Gloves avowed, looking very determined.

-----Girls in the Queens Lodging House-----

"Can anyone in hear us in heah?" Tunes questioned, looking around the room.

"Nah, no one is around," Jess told her.

"So, how did things go wid you goils, den?" Tunes inquired.

"Not so good fer me. I came in an' Gloves was in heah wid his old goil friend. I shoah hope I ain't losin' it," Jess joked.

"Bettah den how it went fer Bittah," Black Rose joked. "It's kinda harsh findin' out dat he cheated on her wid Molly."

"It's kinda harsh findin' out Molly has been lyin' ta us all dis time," Jess pointed out.

"Yeah…ya start ta wondah who else she's sleept wid an' what else she lies 'bout," Tunes pointed.

"Oh, c'mon, it ain't like she's dis really horrible, secretive person. So she had a secret we all got our own skeletons in out closets," Black Rose pointed out.

"Yeah, dat's true…" Tunes agreed.

"Well, no mattah what, she was good fer somethin'. Her plan is workin' out perfect," Jess decided. "Tamarrah da boys are gunna get da surprise a der lives."

The girls laughed and looked anxious for the following day.

-----Molly----

"Hey boys," Molly greeted Cards, Spot, and Jack. "What can I get ya?"

"Jest three beers," Jack ordered. "We ain't heah fer drinks we'se here fer infermation."

"Information? On what?" Molly asked, busying herself with getting the drinks.

"We know dat yer prolly jest as informed on newsie activities as we are…even more so prolly…so we want ta know what's goin' on wid da Bronx, Harlem, an' Queens."

Molly handed them the beer. "I'm sorry I don't know what yer talkin' bout," she told them.

"Don't give us dat crap. Ya know what's happenin'. Jest tell us so we can get da fuck outta heah," Spot demanded, glaring. He was still upset for what she had done earlier, and hadn't even wanted to come.

"Well, I would tell ya anythin' I knew but I don't. You boys should talk ta Jess an' Black Rose an' Tunes. Dey live der now," she offered them.

"Yeah, no kiddin'," Cards commented. "Dey'r helpin make da trouble."

"Trouble? What trouble?" Molly questioned, looking very interested.

"Why don't you go ask Jess an' Black Rose an' Tunes?" Spot countered.

"Well, I would but dey wont talk to me aftah someone had dem beat up in a jealous rage," she informed him. "I haven't talked ta dem fer a few days now."

"C'mon, lets go. I don't think she knows anythin'," Spot decided.

"All right. Hey, Molly if yer lookin' fer a fight tomorrah stop by. We could use ya," Jack told her.

"I'll keep that in mind," Molly promised. "Maybe I'll stop by an' nurse ya all back ta health," she joked.

"Da only people dat will need nursin' is dose joikes dat hurt Wish an' Bittah," Cards stated.

Molly rolled her eyes. She patted Cards on the head, "You keep sayin' dat," she teased. "Jest don't drink befoah da fight."

"Ya bettah not be alludin' ta what I think yer alludin' ta 'cause dat don't count. I was holdin' back 'cause ya were a goil," he told her.

"Shoah ya were, Cards. No, really I believe you!" she joked.

Cards glared at her for a few minutes before laughing. "Fine, I'll jest let ya think yer a good fightah. Maybe den I'll get some a what Spot an' JB get."

Spot glared even more right then. "All right, dat's it I'se leavin' now. I'm gunna get back ta Bittah," he stated, looking straight at Molly.

"See ya Spot!" Molly called out cheerfully and waved.

Spot looked ready enough to shoot fire out his mouth but just turned and left. Cards and Jack said their goodbyes and left quickly. Molly contained her laughter until they were down the street then busted out laughing, startling some of the customers.

'Tomorrow is gunna be one a da funniest days a me life.'

------Central Park at 3:00 P.M.------

The groups all assembled in Central Park at exactly 3. The Bronx, Queens and Harlem stood intermixed, with the leaders and Jess, Tunes, and Black Rose in the front. Brooklyn and Manhattan stood together with Spot, Jack, Cards, Wish, Bitter and Tinker in the lead. For a few minutes there was an uneasy silence where there was no fighting, no one wanting to be the initiator. Suddenly, without warning, there was a stone flung from a slingshot from the Brooklyn/Manhattan side. No one knew who was responsible for the shot and no one really wondered. The shot was enough to commence the fight

The two groups ran at each other full force, everyone searching for someone to fight with. As soon as the real fighting began Tinker, Jess, Black Rose, Tunes, Wish, and Bitter all removed themselves inconspicuously from the fight and headed to a hidden place in the trees where they could watch.

They had to laugh when they saw Hades, the quick tempered girl that they suspected had shot the first stone, jump on top of Mush. Mush looked frightened as hell when he was landed on, knowing Hades reputation. But soon relaxed when she smirked mischievously and started kissing him. They, too, had soon disappeared from the fight soon.

"Wow, we shoulda enlisted her in our little plan," Molly commented, walking up. "Dis is workin' out pretty well. Think Conlan is learnin' his lesson?"

Everyone greeted Molly. "I think dat Conlan is learnin' his lesson quite well," Black Rose commented, pointing out Spot trying to fight off Marker, Patrick and Gloves at the same time. It wasn't an easy task since all three were excellent fighters, being that they were all leaders.

"Jesus Christ der gunna kill him!" Molly exclaimed, seeing what was happening. "He might be a goof fightah but he wont be able ta deal wid all three a dem!"

"What da hell do you care? What does it even mattah?" Bitter asked.

"I thought da point a dis was ta teach him a lesson not ta kill him. 'Sides how is he gunna learn da lesson if he's fuckin' dead?" Molly pointed out, upset.

"Hey, it ain't our problem if he can't handle his lesson," Black Rose stated, shrugging it off.

"I'se gunna help him. I ain't gunna be responsible fer one a me friends death," Molly declared starting to walk forward.

"No, yer not," Bitter insisted, standing in front of her.

"An' yer gunna stop me?" Molly asked, laughing. "I doubt it."

"Ya've had a soakin' comin' ta ya since ya slept wid him," Bitter responded.

The other girls subconsciously backed away from the two girls, figuring they had to deal with this problem on their own.

"Bittah, jest back off. Der ain't now way dat I'se gunna fight ya," Molly stated, trying to continue her walk over to Spot.

Bitter swung her arm back to hit her. Molly ducked out of the way quickly. "Jest back fa fuck off!" she yelled.

Bitter launched at her again, landing a right hook squarely across her jaw. Molly rubbed her jaw for a moment before returning the assailment with one of her own.

Bitter took the hit and responded. Molly agiley avoided her fists and slugged her as hard as she could in the stomach. Bitter's hands immediately went to her stomach.

"I'm want ta go ovah der, now," Molly said, putting her hand to her face and running her hand over the sore part where Bitter had hurt her. "An' no one is gunna is guna stop me from doin' what I want," she stated, walking toward the fight while Bitter was still too winded to respond.

She then did hurry over to Spot who was almost to the point of falling over, due to the three boy's constant blows. He tried to shield himself and return the assailment but was getting tired and couldn't continue much longer.

Just as Spot started to drop to his knees in surrender he felt a pair of hands grab his arms and pull him up straight.

"C'mon Spot, yer not gunna give up yet are ya? I happen ta know dat stamina is one a yer strong points," came a joking voice.

"Molly? What are you doin' heah?" he asked, confused.

"Well, I heard der was gunna be a good fight an' thougth I'd stop be. Ya know…bein' dat I know ya cant take care a yerself an' all," she said. "I noticed some boys were givin' ya some trouble an' thought I'd make me rude behavior from befoah up ta ya."

"Trouble? I don't know what yer talkin' bout," he said, regaining his confidence and cocky attitude.

"Oh…well den even if ya aren't in trouble ya wouldn't mind me kickin' dese boys asses would ya? I really want to…" she persuaded, knowing that she had to word her response carefully so his pride didn't get in the way.

"Well, when ya put it like dat shoah ya can have a turn," he told her.

The other boys, who were just looking confused up to this point, started laughing. "Yer gunna kick our asses?" they asked.

"Ya don't think dat I can?" Molly inquired, looking hurt.

"Molly, we'se been ta yer bar. If ya could kick peoples asses we woulda seen it by now wid all da guys in der dat ya look like ya wanna kill," Gloves commented.

"''Cause I wouldn't get fired if I did dat…" Molly responded, rolling her eyes. "'Sides I don't have ta kick yer asses."

"Yeah? An' why is dat?" Marker asked.

"'Cause yer gunna stop dis fight right now," she decided.

"Da fight ain't gunna stop 'til Spot Conlan pays fer what he did," Gloves told her.

"Look, I promise ya all, stop dis fight an' ya'll be glad dat ya did," Molly told them all. "'Sides why da hell are all yer boys an' goils fightin' jest cause yer goilfriends got hoit? Yer goilfriends of a week!"

"How do ya know we'll be glad?" Patrick asked, intrigued.

"'Cause once I tell ya what I know yer gunna wish dat ya nevah had dis fight in da foist place," Molly told them. "C'mon call off yer boys, call a truce," Molly pushed. "Ya know dat if ya don't like what I say ya can always reschedule yer little play date."

The boys all looked each other over carefully, no one wanting to be the first to surrender.

"Damnit, Spot jest say it so da oddahs will," Molly de,amded.

"Fine, fine. I'll agree ta dis," Spot agreed.

The other boys nodded. They soon found Jack and stopped the fight. They all headed over to Molly's apartment, which was now empty since Soul had gone to the brawl to fight against Brooklyn.

-----Boys and Molly in Apartment----

"All right, Molly. What is it dat we would be so happy ta heah 'bout?" Spot inquired. The boys were all gathered around her living room, looking at each other uneasily.

"Well, can I jest foist say dat you boys are prolly da stupidest boys I'se evah dealt wid evah?" Molly started.

The boys all looked angrily at her. "Dis is why we stopped da fight? Ta have a whore insult us?" Gloves angrily questioned.

"Hey, be nice or I wont tell ya why yer stupid," Molly insisted.

"Don't ya have enough boys bein' nice ta ya?" he retorted.

"Funny…I have to many guys bein' nice ta me an' yer nice ta too many goils. Yeah, I hoid 'bout you an' Jess an' what ya did ta her," Molly taunted, smirking.

Gloves glared at her. "All right ya got 'bout five seconds befoah I walk outta heah," he told her. "I don' t have ta put up wid dis."

"My aren't we touchy?" she commented, smirking. "Look, I jest wanted ta tell ya dat uhh…well I don't know exactly how ta say dis but yeah da goils tricked ya all. Da whole thing was jest a plan ta teach ole Spot heah a lesson," she informed them all, taking more pleasure out of the situation then she should have.

"Teach me a lesson?" Spot queried, looking confused.

"Dat's right. Dey were pretty pissed off aftah dat fight an' decided ta teach ya all a lesson. An' so dey decided ta jest seduce all a ya guys…which dey did very skillfully might I add…an' turn ya against each oddah," she told them. "An' if der plan worked Spot would be pretty badly hurt...well or dead. Dey jest didn't plan on me interruptin' der little plans."

"Wait…why didn't ya tell me dis befoah now?" Spot grilled standing up angrily. "I even asked ya! I want ta know da truth rigth now, Molly," he commanded grabbing her arm and looking straight into her eyes. "Were ya in on dis? No jokes or nothin'. Yes or no, were ya in on it?"

Molly looked uneasy. "I guess I kinda was…well I knew dey were plannin' somethin' but I sweah I didn't think it would go dis far an' den in da park I saw what was goin' on an' I had ta stop it."

"Jesus Christ Molly. You'se gone way too far now," he told her clenching his hand into a fist. "I really ain't gunna let ya get away wid dis."

"Hey, Spot, back off," Jack intervened. "She's ain't da one dat did dis. 'Sides if I remembah correctly she jest stopped dese boys from killin' ya."

"Look, Spot, I'm sorry. It's jest…well at foist I thought dat ya kinda needed da lesson but den…well I jest couldn't let it go any farther an' I tried ta tell ya…but den I couldn't," she told him.

"Why da hell should I believe ya?" Spot asked, glaring at her.

"Why da hell would I lie now?" she asked.

Spot thought about it for a moment before releasing his grip on her arm. "All right. So why are ya tellin' us all dis now?" he inquired, still fuming.

"'Cause I think what dey's doin' is wrong an' I thought dat ya desoived ta know what happened," she told him. "What are ya gunna do ta da goils doh?" she inquired, looking a little worried.

"Dey's shoah as hell gunna pay De'll learn a lesson a der own," Patrick stated, appearing very hurt.

"Well, ya can't jest go beat dem up or somethin'!" Molly told them.

"An' why is dat?" Gloves asked.

"What would be da fun in dat? I thought ya said ya wanted ta teach dem a lesson, not get yer pitiful little revenge," Molly told them, smiling evily.

"Whatevah," Spot said. "So ya got a plan?"

"I might have a plan…it would take a lot of work doh…an' plannin'."

"I like dis. Strategical plannin' fer der "lesson"," Marker said, grinning evily.

"All right den…let's get started," Molly decided, smiling evilly.

'Dese people are jest way too easily ta play wid…Molly thought, thinking up her newest plan. Well…a goils gotta have a hobby…'

The End