Chapter 3

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I followed ran to catch up to Spot, who by the way, was walking as fast as a race horse. I was out of breath by the time I caught up to him, and had to jog to keep up with his pace. "Jeez, would ya mind slowing down a little? We ain't all so in shape!" I exclaimed.

Spot came to a stop and looked over at me, "If ya wanna be a Brooklyn newsie, ya gonna have ta quit the complaining. Also ya gotta get in shape if ya want ta sell papes," he said to me with an annoyed expression.

I rolled my green eyes and looked at him, "Well, I didn't know I was signin' up for da damn army," I said sarcastically.

Spot grabbed me roughly by the bicep and pulled me to him, "Listen goil, you'se better stop sassin' me on me territory, or else I'se soak ya. I've nevah soaked a goil before, but come to think of it you'se is hardly a goil," he insulted.

I sneered at him and he pulled me along. I shrugged my arm out of his grasp and rubbed it to sooth the soreness. "So, uh, where we headed?" I asked in an attempt to end the tension between us.

He kept waking ahead of me, head forward as he answered, "Distribution Center. Have ya evah sold papes before?" He asked in a serious tone.

I looked down and kicked a few pebbles on the ground as I walked behind him, "I once sold fifteen papes. Yesterday," I said.

Spot turned his head and glanced at me over his shoulder, "Yeah? Well fifteen papes ain't gonna pay fa ya lunch, and neitha will I," he paused, "I ain't nothing like Jacky, so I hope ya didn't get used to the Hattan lifestyle."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out 10 coins, "How many papes will ten coins buy me?" I asked.

He laughed, "That'll buy ya about twenty five papes. Not like ya would be able ta sell them," he sneered meanly.

That hurt. I stopped and looked at his back. My face contorted at his insult, "Are ya always this mean? I mean, I'm tryin' me best ta be civilistacated, and you'se just puttin me down," I said, my voice dripping with anger.

He stopped and looked over his shoulder. He sighed, "Come on, I ain't got all day, and if you'se gonna be me sellin partner, we'se gonna need it."

I gave up trying to talk with Spot and followed in his path. We reached the Center. Spot bought two hundred papes, while I bought twenty. My face fell. At least we would probably finish at the same time.

Spot looked at me and said, "You get that end of da street, I get dis one, anyone gives ya trouble jist come ta me," and with that he took off. I heard him calling in the distance, "Mayor Stripped of Clothes!"

I searched through the paper and did not come across that line, but saw the article, 'Mayor Stripped of Authority,' I rolled my eyes.

I tried to lie, but my false titles were totally bogus. People just scoffed at my attempts. I sold only eleven papes in about two hours.

I looked down the street and saw Spat headed my way. He had sold all his papes already? My God….

He came up behind and looked at my stack, "Half way done! I am impressed by yoah skill, I hafta say," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I sent him a death glare before replying, "More den half way done, actually. I sold eleven papes, thank ya very much," I said not even looking at him.

After another half hour of fruitless selling, Spot groaned in aggravation. "Give my yoah papes," he said.

My face crinkled up, "Um, No? I need dis money!" I said.

He rolled his eyes, "Give me da papes, I'se'll dem, and give ya da money! I'se getting tired and hungry sitting here," I blushed as I handed him the papes.

In about five minutes, Spot have sold all nine papes, he grabbed my hand and pressed the coins in it, "Dat is da foist and last time I'se is gonna sell for ya. Ya bettah loin how ta sell, or you'se gonna starve."

I frowned, feeling once again disheartened and followed Spot to a restaurant called 'Winsley's' and Spot sat at a tabled with five other newsies.

I stood in the middle of the restaurant, alone. Spot paid no attention to me, and completely ignored my existence. I took an empty table at the corner of the restaurant.

I ordered a roast beef sandwich, fries and a soda for only 6 cents, leaving me with 13 cents extra. I sat at the table and decided to wait until Spot finished.

A waitress came up to my table, "Excuse me, uh, m'ame, but I am gonna have to ask you to leave."

I smiled softly at her, "I'm sorry," and got up and left.

I waited for at least another hour until Spot came out. He gave me a confused look, "Whadda ya still doin heah? I thought ya left an hour ago," I looked up at him.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

He laughed and said, "You do dat a lot. So much in fact I'se is gonna call ya Cross. Dat is ya newsie name. Cross," he said with a laugh. "Anyways what are ya still doin heah?"

I sighed aggravated, "Oh I don' know, maybe it's cuz I have no clue where I is?" I said exasperated.

Spot rolled his eyes and strode away. I had no other option but to follow him. There was a distance between us; about seven feet, and eventually we reached a building almost identical to the one in Manhattan.

He walked inside, and there was no payment desk. "There ain't no caretakah heah, so you'se can keep ya money," he said glancing over his left shoulder, "Come with me."

He walked up stairs, followed by me, and we entered a hall way. I saw the bunkroom and turned to go in it, "Uh, no. Are ya stupid? I'se ain't letting ya sleep in a room with forty hormone crazy boys."

I looked at him confused, "Where am I supposed ta sleep? Da floor?"

Spot gave me a look with that cocky smirk, "You'se gonna sleep wid me, in my room."

"Ha. Yea right. You an' me? In da same room?" I said laughing.

He came over to me and grabbed my arm. He pulled me to a door at the end of the hall and pushed me in. There was one bunk bed, a dresser, and a desk. Next to the bunk bed was a window that led to a fire escape.

He looked at me, "You get da top bunk," he said pointedly, "Oh and I'se suggest ya wake up about twenty minutes earlier den da otha's, bein dat you'se is a goil, at least anatomically."

I rolled my eyes and climbed up onto the bunk, "Is it alright I can sleep now?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes, "Do what ya want, you'se don sellin." And with that he closed the door, leaving me alone.

My first day in Brooklyn was rough, and I couldn't help but think it only got worse from here.

So that was Chapter 3! Review Please! REVIEW!