They had moved to a table after a few glasses each of Johnny's dark brown magic trick. Mitts was on his sixth. He was getting particularly sloppy, something the rest of the boys found hilarious because they usually didn't see him wasted. Spot gripped both the boy's shoulders as he walked, trying to keep him from falling. However, Mitts aside, Spot was probably the most drunk of them and Vin thought it was a little of the blind leading the blind. They both swayed as they moved across the bar, stumbling into chairs. Vito laughed openly at them.
"Youse guys are one too many sheets to tha wind." He toasted them.
"Vito, ya know dat don't make no sense, right?" Soap drawled re-lighting his cigar. "Youse is always doin' dat."
"What d'ya mean?"
"Well, ya used two different phrases. Either one'd work jus' fine, but together-" Soap exhaled thick smoke and glanced at Vito who was staring at him open-mouthed. "Nevamind. It's easier to jus' call youse an idiot."
Vin laughed and Vito elbowed him in the ribs, grinning.
"Alrigh' what 'bout youse and tha cigars?" He asked looking back at Soap.
"What 'bout dem?"
"I don't understand how youse smoke dem. It's like inhalin' factory smoke."
"Well, youse ain't supposed ta inhale dem, idiot." Soap retorted.
"Well den, what's tha point?" Vito asked lighting a cigarette and inhaling deeply.
"If youse don't get it, youse neva will." Soap replied, blowing smoke rings.
Vito clapped him on the shoulder and they both grinned at each other.
"So, Vin. Youse know how ta play poker right?" Vito asked, scooting his chair closer to Vin's.
"Sure." Vin replied.
"I was thinkin' we's could have a little game. Say, two bits buy-in?"
Vin nodded once and then caught Soap waving frantically at him from behind Vito's head. He was mouthing the word 'No' over and over.
"Maybe lata. Why don't youse tell me how ya got dat shina for now." He said, seizing on the yellowing bruise beneath Vito's eye for a quick change of subject.
"Oh, dat was Finch's boys. Marcus actually. See, I know a lot of tha newsies."
"More den 'a lot'." Soap put in. "Seems like every newsie in Brooklyn knows youse."
Vito inclined his head a little and shrugged.
"Guess it's my winnin' smile." Vito grinned and Soap laughed. "Anyways, afta Soap hea argued with Finch, dey all came ta me, wantin' ta know what happened. Marcus didn't like it, I guess."
Soap shook his head, frowning.
"It's all my fault." He said in a low voice. "Ya eye, Mitts' pretty face."
Mitts glared at him from across the table from where he and Spot had been talking, clearly hearing his name in the conversation.
"What 'bout my face?" He slurred.
"It looks like meat." Soap said without hesitation. "But seriously, I neva shoulda said dat stuff to Finch."
"Yea, but youse weren't wrong. He's a prick. He ain't no leader." Vito put in.
"Yea, dat's what makes me so mad. A leader's supposed to look out for the rest of dem. Supposed ta do what's best for dem. Not turn his back when dey're getting' soaked on tha streets and line his pockets while dey bleed." Soap spit on the ground, a frown on his face.
"Line his pockets?" Vin questioned.
"He's takin' kick backs from tha leader a tha Queens Newsies ta turn a blind eye." Soap sighed. "I mean, it ain't ever been a worse time ta be a Brooklyn Newsie. We got Queens newsies sellin' in our best spots. We got dem soakin' us in our own territory. We got Brooklyn boys soakin' otha Brooklyn Boys. And we gots a leader who ain't doin' shit 'bout it." Soap slammed a fist down on the table making all their glasses rattle and slosh rum.
"Hey easy, Soap." Spot's blue eyes looked sober at his friend's outburst.
He laid a hand on Soap's shoulder and Soap leaned back in his chair and puffed on his cigar.
"Ya know, youse should do somethin' 'bout it." Vin said suddenly.
"Yea, I did. All dat came a it was a coupla bruised ribs, Vito's black eye and us movin' into an abandoned warehouse."
"And now, Mitts' meat-face." Vito added to Mitts' displeasure.
"Well, tha problem is, youse ain't got tha numbers." Vin said, speaking to Soap.
Soap stared at him, narrowing his eyes.
"I mean, you got tha right idea. And youse already convinced me. Youse jus' gotta convince a few more."
"What d'ya mean, like take over?"
"Yea, I mean, dat's what youse is talkin' 'bout, right? Throwing Finch out?"
"Well, yea, but-"
"Well den, make it happen."
"It ain't dat easy."
"No one is sayin' it is."
All four of the boys at the table were staring at Vin now. Vito and Mitts had an incredulous, disbelieving air to their expressions. Spot and Soap, however, looked serious and thoughtful.
"Ya said yaself, ain't been a worse time ta be a Brooklyn Newsie. Youse guys can't be tha only one's thinkin' like dis. Vito, youse know a lot a people. Why don't youse talk to dem?"
"Sure, but-"
"What d'ya think it's gonna take to win, though?" Soap cut across Vito.
"I dunno, what do youse think it's gonna take?" Vin shot back. "A fight? Youse got tha best fighter in Brooklyn on ya side already."
He pointed at Spot who shook his head a little modestly, but they all knew it was true.
"But what 'bout Queens?"
"One step at a time. First Brooklyn, den Queens." Vin said firmly.
Soap crossed his arms and glanced over at Spot. Their eyes spoke silently to each other for a moment. Vin knew he had said nothing they didn't already know, but it had been hearing it from someone else that had done it. The wheels had begun to turn.
"Lemme think 'bout it." Soap said quietly.
Vin nodded and for a time it was quiet around the table. Then music swelled through the bar.
"Oh, sweet Lord, it's 'bout time." Vito said with a grin.
He elbowed Vin in the shoulder and pointed to the stage. Sam was on it, dressed a little more richly now in a pale pink, floaty thing that swayed as she walked. The music filled his ears and his eyes feasted on her. Her voice was rich and full as she sang.
I had a dream, dear.
You had one, too.
Mine was the best dream,
Because it was of you.
Spot put his fingers to his lips and whistled. Vin saw her eyes glance their direction and a smile warm her face. He felt her eyes linger an extra second on him and he grinned.
Somethings gotta give,
I don't know how.
But there's just no way
we can turn back now.
Vin stared. Her dress floated around her like pale pink clouds chasing a subtle breath of fresh air, which was just what she was. In the drab gray and brown surroundings, she was the sun. She lit up the place. Her smile was warming; her voice more intoxicating than all the liquor in the bar. Each tilt of her head, each wave of her hand, each glance of her blue eyes was unearthly. He realized he was leaning far back in his chair, his lips parted slightly and his eyes unfocused. He was a captive to her mesmerizing spell and the other four boys at the table looked the same way.
Come, sweetheart, tell me.
Now is the time.
You tell me your dream,
And I'll tell you mine.
As her song ended, the room exploded with applause, cat-calls and whistles. It was clear she was the reason that most of the people in the room came to this bar.
"God, she makes life worth livin'." Mitts sighed theatrically.
"Her voice is like an angel's." Vito nodded. "She ain't bad on the eyes either."
He elbowed Vin in the shoulder again with a smirk. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Soap staring at them and Vin remembered seeing her kiss him on the cheek.
"She's cute." Vin admitted. "She ain't my type, though."
Vito let his head roll back on his shoulders in exasperation.
"What is ya type den? Men?"
The rest of the boys chuckled into their drinks.
"Nah, I jus' usually go for goils dat are a bit prettier. I mean, she's cute, but she don't knock you off ya feet."
It was not an untrue statement. She was not the prettiest girl he had ever seen, still he had been just as entranced as the rest of them had been. There was something about her, though he was not going to admit it just yet.
Vito stared at him disbelievingly.
"What are youse outta ya mind? Did you not see the way she looks from the back when she walks?"
Soap backhanded Vito across the chest as he sat up.
"Hey, easy."
"I'm sorry, man, but she is a fine lookin' goirl."
None of them argued the point and as the music started up again, they turned their heads back to the stage to watch Sam.
