"Phew, that was too close. You should grow some mold or something, and then people won't want to eat you."
"I know. That was scary."
They sat for a while, watching. Jack was talking about their next plan for the strike, which seemed to involve refusing to sell newspapers, and David was graphing out equations on a napkin and babbling about how long it would be before Pulitzer gave in. A while, apparently.
"Let's go, this is boring." said Spark, shifting slightly.
"All right. We should go at least tell the other girls that you are a cheeseburger." Basket picked her up, earning her a very strange look from Dutchy as she put a cheeseburger in her pocket. "What are you looking at, Blondie? I'm saving it for later!" Dutchy put his hands up and backed away.
They went on their way, and Spark was glad she didn't have a real mouth, because being in Basket's pocket made her rather nauseous. They got to the lodging house and saw Kloppman at his desk.
"Spark, we should tell Kloppman! He'll have good ideas for what to do!"
Before Spark could speak, Kloppman looked up.
"Who are you talking to? Do you have brain fever?"
Basket froze, looking around for anyone else. She tried to shrug and pass it off, but she had spoken quite loud and clearly.
"Well, Mr. Kloppman…" She took Spark out and set her on the desk. "Spark here got turned into a cheeseburger… To help us with the strike. But we can't really figure out what to do." Kloppman examined Spark closely, and then gasped.
"Why, it is her! I don't know how she got like this, or how it is going to help the cause, but it is incredible. Wait, can she talk?" He prodded her gently.
"Ow! Yes, I can!"
Kloppman smiled widely. "Then I know exactly how you can help! We will deliver you to Mr. Pulitzer, and you can spy on him by sitting in his office!"