Ok, so, I didn't get to write this immediately after publishing the last chapter, but that's only cause it was late and I had school the next day. -_- do I even have to describe school? Anyway, here's the next chapter! And remember, reviews are lovely =)
Disclaimer: You know the drill, I don't own Newsies, Outsiders, Muse, Bear, Berlin, or Jax.
Dally looked in shock at the old, aging man before him. He remembered hearing about the infamous Spot Conlon, while in New York, but he'd never met the man in person. Spot's smirk grew, "Now, am I allowed ta finish me story, or am I gonna have ta soak Winston over there?" They all shook their heads, and Spot grunted, nodding his head and sticking his cane in the loop of his suspenders, crossing his arms and looking at all the young men, nodding his head and continuing the story.
"So after that, I'se thought, thought and thought and thought. I had three of me newsies, Doll, Muse, and Bear 'elp me out. Bear was one of me boids, but he could fall asleep at anytime, anywhere. Now Muse, god she was a pain in the a**. Sure, she was Doll's friend, but I'se swear I could push her off the roof of the lodge everyday and she wouldn't stop givin' me s**t. I'se told them to prepare me men for helping. Doll had reported that the World was gonna-"
"Wait, the world? Why would the world be on your back?" Sodapop interjected. Spot looked agitated.
"The New York World! Ya know the newspaper!" he groaned, "They really don't teach ya anything at all! Now, as I was sayin', the World was gonna send some graftahs down to try and beat up Cowboy's kids. So, me men and I lined up on the roofs where the fight was goin' on, and BAM!" he took his cane and banged the bottom on the floor, making a loud thud! "We'se took them from the skies, and soaked 'em so bad they didn't know what happened."
Now, much to the surprise of Darry, every single person in their gang was intrigued with the man. "How old were you when this happened?" he asked amused, not quite as intrigued as the others. He didn't know why, but he just wasn't too interested in newspapers and strikes.
"…I was sixteen, going on seventeen. Most thought I'se was fifteen, but most knew I was sixteen. During the strike kids figured that out, and to never judge a person by their height." Spot was a short man, roughly only five feet, five inches. Because of this, everyone back then thought the short, Irish man was younger than he stated. But now, people thought him older, since you always got shorter after you hit forty. "I'll be eighty-three years old soon, which is another t'ing I need ta ask of ya. If I live to be more than ninety, don't be afraid ta shoot me in me sleep, god knows I'll need it. Your grandmother might tell you the same thing.
"Anyway, so, on with me story I'se plan on finishin' it soon. So aftah that, we went down to a restaurant that's cheap in 'Hattan. Tibby's. I'se amazed I remember the joint. There we'se decided to have a rally. Newsies came from everywhere to Irving Hall; Bronx, Queens, Harlem, Long Island, Midtown, everywhere. There wasn't a newsie in New York that didn't get to that Rally. We was broken up though, after a performance by Medda, the Swedish Meddowlark. We'se went ta the court, and we found out that Cowboy's real name wasn't Jack Kelly, it was Francis Sullivan. Da lousy scab."
His eyes narrowed at the memory, "We'se got out cause of a reporter who paid our bail, but Cowboy joined da scabs. I'se woulda killed 'im if da bulls hadn't stopped me. But, he teamed back with us at the last minute, and printed da Newsies Banner, spreading the word about child labor and such. Aftah that, Teddy Roosevelt found out, and we brought down child labor. Even got ta ride his carriage too." Spot smirked.
"Wow, Teddy Roosevelt? ….Who's that?" Sodapop asked, not quite remembering who he was.
Spot was dumbfounded, "He was da governor of New York, became president in nineteen-oh-one. Didn't cha learn that in class?" Sodapop shook his head.
"I dropped outta school cause I'm-"
"Don't even finish that sentence," Spot cut in, narrowing his eyes, "No one in me family is dumb. Yer only dumb if ya don't try ta learn. Yer grandmother isn't dumb, but it was hard for her to learn when she never got the education you have da chance ta get, and the fact that she's got what doctahs call now dyslexia. Other than that, no one's stupid. Sure, ya make the occasional stupid mistake, but that's it. Now ya gotta at least try ta get an education, got it Sodapop?"
Soda nodded, almost understanding what he said. He thought he was stupid, but Spot had it set in his mind that no one was dumb unless they made the occasional stupid mistake. "So that's all that happened?" he asked, "Did the World change the price back?"
Spot shook his head, "Nah, they kept the price, but now we'se could return whatever papes we didn't sell. Pretty fair, but not what we aimed for, I'm surprised Cowboy didn't demand more money. He almost left his men for it too, wanted ta go down ta Santa Fe." Ponyboy listened, and now, instead of fearing the man with the cold eyes, he just thought him a person with a story. Looking over at the others, he noticed how they looked; Johnny looked at this man with a respect he showed Dally, he knew the man before him was tough, and cold, but would stick up for what was right, Steve looked like he wanted to learn more about Spot, wanted to know about the stranger before him, Two-Bit for once wasn't making a remark, but more over seemed a bit interested, and Dally…
Well, if Dally could have, he would have hero worshipped Spot Conlon right there and then. But he didn't, he didn't want to look like a wimp. But, Dallas Winston had admit to himself, never in his life had he thought he would meet the infamous Spot Conlon, the man the cops wouldn't mess with, and the one other thugs on the street tried to be like. The man was a King, and that's how it probably would always be. "Now," he heard the old man say, getting up from his seat, "I'm hungry. Anyone else?" Darry nodded his head.
"I'll order a pizza." Spot nodded, and started to look around the house, trying to find something that might have belonged to his daughter. Seeing nothing, he leaned against a wall, and notice all the boys were still staring at him. Normally, if he was younger, he would have sent them off with a glare, but that would have amused the boys even more. God damn did these guys not know that hero worship wasn't what he was going for?
"God Damn, did your father not teach ya it's rude ta stare?" he stated, and all the boys quickly averted their eyes. He smirked, much better. Looking around to make sure none of the boys were looking, he pulled out an old, crinkled picture. It was taken when he was thirteen, and it was of all the Brooklyn newsies, before he became leader. Doll, and her twin brother Soldier had been next to him, Doll on his right, Soldier on his left. They had their arms on his shoulders and he had an arm around Doll's waist, and Soldier's shoulders. That had been the first time he had ever shown a bit more affection to Doll than the others. This was before Soldier died, of course, but it was still nice to see the picture.
To Doll's right were two other newsies he knew fairly well; Muse and Bear. Bear looked groggy, just like he always had, and Muse just looked happy. They were standing near Doll, Muse and her having their arms around eachother's shoulders and laughing. Bear was popped in beside the two. Then, on Soldier's left were two younger boys, Jax and Singer, along with a taller boy named Berlin. He remembered Jax because he had two different eye colors, and Singer cause he was growin' fast. Berlin had a goofy smile on, just like he always had. Trash, the old leader, was behind them. He had paid good money for a picture of all of them together, before he left. There were a couple of the pictures, and certain newsies had gotten a copy. Spot couldn't help the smile that came on his face.
After Trash had left, those were his newsies. He trained them to be tough, and they were. He remembered sitting on the roof with Doll, about a week after Soldier had died. Doll had stopped moving for a while after Soldier died, which was how she got her newsie name, and he just remembered… well, talking to her.
"Hey Dollface," a younger Spot said to the girl, perched on the corner of the roof, staring out at the city. Sitting next to her, he hung his legs off the edge of the lodge, leaning on his elbows, watching the sunset go down on Brooklyn.
"Spot," she replied, her voice cool and even, but quiet. She had gotten quieter ever since Soldier died. Dollface was something only Spot had called her, probably because, even though Muse was her best friend and practically her sister, along with Bear being like a brother, Spot was closest. There were things he knew, that others didn't. That's how they got along, he knew her pressure points, she didn't know his.
It just worked out that way.
"So, Doll," he asked lazily, "How was sellin' for you'se?"
"Fine," she replied, still looking forward like there was nothing else to look at, "Perfectly fine." Spot raised an eyebrow. Something was wrong. Sure, she was moving again, but was Doll happy again?
"Doll, look at me," he asked, nodding his head a little and looking at her. She wouldn't look at him, she kept her eyes ahead of her. "Doll… look at me," he stated slowly. She still wouldn't look at him. Her dark brown hair had greated a curtain between her dark brown eyes and his icy blue eyes. "Johanna Johnson you look at me right now." She looked over, and he could see why Doll wouldn't look at him. It was all in her eyes.
Sorrow, pain, anger, and many mixed confusions. "Why'd he hafta be a hero?" her voice cracked a little.
"Dollface we can't control fate, we don't know why he did tha-"
"But why. He had a future, I don't. That knife was meant for me and he knew it."
"Doll-"
"WHY THE HECK DID HE HAVE TO BE A HERO!?" she cried out, tears streaming down her face, "WHY DIDN'T HE JUST LET ME DIE LIKE ANYONE ELSE WOULD OF?!"
"THAT'S BULLS**T DOLL!" he yelled back, "Muse wouldn't have let you die, Bear wouldn't have let you die, I wouldn't have let ya die. He let you live because he knew you had something else to live for, Doll. He wanted you to live so that way he could go be with your dad." That was the first time Spot had yelled at her, but she needed it. He didn't know how to give her sympathy, but this was how she was gonna get it. Doll wiped away the tears that had fallen with her sleeve.
"Sorry," she croaked quietly, "Don't know what came over me."
"It's fine Dollface, just- just don't talk like that again. Ok?"
"Ok."
"You'se gotta promise."
"I promise."
"You'se swear?"
"Of course I'se swear, Spot."
That had been the first time the two had talked more than reports and whatever else happened. Looking up, he saw that they were all staring at him again, he sighed, rolled his eyes and crammed the picture back in his pocket. Ponyboy was about to say something but a knock on the door stopped him. "Finally," Spot said, as Darry opened the door and paid the delivery man, "I'se starvin'."
