Chapter 3: Poker Night
"Ah Jacky-boy. Glad you and your boys could finally make it." Spot said as the Manhattan newsies approached the Brooklyn Lodging House an hour early.
"I told you Spot." Jack said as the two spit shook. "I told you Race was going to drag us here early." He said while giving Race a look of annoyance.
"Hey what can I say nothing gets me more excited than a poker game." Race said with a grin on his face. He was more than anxious to start up a game and collect his winnings. Race always had a problem when it came to gambling but everyone knew that. He claimed it was in his blood. It even put the newsie out of the lodging house a few times because he didn't have enough money.
"Well don't get too excited because at the end of the night your money will be mine." Spot said with a smirk pushing off the handrail he had been leaning against.
"Ya we'll see about that." Race said as he entered the lodging house to get the games going. His two friends just gave him a laugh to humor him.
"So Spot, where are all the angels you were talking about yesterday?" Jack asked as he saw five tables set up for poker games and the Brooklyn boys lounging around waiting for the others to come.
"Ah don't worry Jacky-boy, they'll be here in a bit." Spot said as he smirked again. He knew tonight was going to be a fun one. "And my offer still stands Jack. You're more than welcome to one of them. I don't want to see you alone and miserable, it's a party!"
"Once again Spot I have to decline." Jack said. He did consider it though. Things with Sarah weren't that good and was thinking of calling things off. Doing something wrong would give him the perfect reason; he couldn't just call it off without an actual excuse.
The party was a noisy one. Over 100 newsies were packed into the lodging house. Every inch of the house had something going on. Whether it was a game of poker or alcohol or the mere pleasure of opposite genders pleasuring each other. It was no doubt an average poker night in the newsies lodging houses.
"Ah come on Race, I know you could do better than that." Spot said. Race was taking awhile on deciding to call or fold. Spot sat across the table not even bothering to watch his opponent. Two girls sat on either side of his lap occupied most of his time. They would on occasion giggle as he whispered in their ears.
"Call." Race said. Everybody started talking as the two opponents looked at each other. Everyone thought Race would for sure have folded. Not only because the Brooklyn leader was beyond readable but it was also well into the night and they were the only two left.
"Are you sure you want to do that Race?" Spot asked. "Because since I'm nice guy and you're my friend I'll give you a chance if you want to back out."
"Nah. I'm sure Spot. I have a good feeling about this." Race said with a smile as the two looked at each other.
"Alright. You first Race." Spot said as he pushed the two girls off his lap.
Race flipped over his cards to reveal a three of a kind of 9's.
"That's pretty brave of you Race." Spot said. "But I guess your feeling was right." He said as he revealed two fours. He gave him a smile as they both stood up and shook. "Good game Race."
"Spot. Spot!" A newsie said trying to get through the crowd.
"Let him through." The Brooklyn leader said. "What is it Sly?" The newsie reached him and whispered something in his ear. "How long ago?" Spot asked above a whisper.
"About fifteen minutes ago." Sly responded.
"Alright. Thanks Sly." Spot said before turning to Jack. "It looks like we're going to have company in about a minute."
"Harlem?" Jack asked and Spot gave a nod.
"Sly, Hook, Sharp and Shade come with me." Spot said. "You might want to come too Jack." Spot headed towards the front door and pulled his cane out of his belt loop.
"Come on Race. Get your winnings." Jack said to Race as he nodded to Blink and Mush to follow.
As the nine reached the front door Harlem was already waiting.
"What are you doing in Brooklyn Johnny?" Spot demanded to know.
"Well I heard there was a party going on and decided to join the fun. We figured our invitation got lost in the mail or something." Johnny the leader said. He was slightly taller than Spot and just as good looking. But his brown hair and green eyes didn't have the same charm on the girls as Spot's dirty blonde hair and blue eyes did.
"You never got one because you aren't welcomed here." Spot said becoming more alert as the seconds went by. Tensing the muscles in shoulders to make him appear stronger.
"Tsk tsk. Why so hostile Spot?" Johnny asked walking closer to Spot.
"You stop right there Johnny. Turn on back around and get Harlem out of Brooklyn now." Spot said as calm as ever. Both leaders stared at each other. Everyone could feel the tension rising between the two.
"Alright. Alright Spot." Johnny said walking backwards. "But remember you'll regret denying Harlem to join the party."
"I highly doubt that Johnny." Spot said as they all watched the retreating backs of Harlem.
"I wouldn't be too sure of yourself Conlon." Johnny yelled over his shoulder. It was silent for a moment as the nine newsies watched Harlem disappear into the blanket of darkness.
"Sly." Spot called. "Follow them and make sure they're out of Brooklyn. Hook, Sharp and Shade go with him."
"Ya Spot." Sly said as the four took off.
"Well we better get going Spot. It's getting pretty late." Jack said.
"Ya. Alright Jacky-boy." Spot said entering the lodging house. Once all of Manhattan was round up everybody from the different boroughs took Manhattan's lead and decided it was time to take off as well.
"Just give it time Spot." Jack said as he made his way over to the door. "All this will eventually blow over." He said trying to reassure Spot.
"Somehow Jacky-boy I don't think this will." Spot said. "Well have a safe trip and be on the look out."
"Bye Spot." Jack said, as he was the last one to leave. Spot turned to walk up the stairs but was immediately stopped by a brunette with a dangerously low cut dress.
"And how can I help you?" he asked as his eyes roamed her body. His infamous smirk appearing on his lips as she walked down the steps closer to him.
"I think I'm a little lost." She said as she played the collar on his shirt. "And I can't find anybody strong or brave enough help me." As she gave him a playful little pout.
"Well here's your problem. You're asking the wrong boys. They don't know to take care of a women like you." He said stepping up to the same step as her. "But fortunately for you I do." He said as his lips attacked hers.
The Manhattan gang had split up across the Brooklyn Bridge. The boys in the front were in a hurry to get back and while the boys in the back could care less when they got back.
"So how much did you get Race?" Jack asked as he enjoyed the quite night. It had been pretty loud at the Brooklyn house and was glad for a few moments of peace.
"Almost wiped Spot clean of everything he had." Race said with a smile on his face. They continued walking in silence. The darkness was so thick they could barely see anything ahead of them. "Do you hear that Jack?" Race said quietly as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder. They both stood listening.
"No." Jack said. "What was it?" keeping his eyes opened for anyone on the bridge.
"I thought I heard crying." Race said and they stood there for a second longer. "O well." And they continued walking in silence. Jack knew something felt wrong and decided to look back. For a split second he thought he saw the outline of figure huddled next to the rail.
"Hold on Race." Jack whispered as he doubled back. He could see clearer now through the thick blanket of the night. "Are you alright?" he said to the figure, as he got close enough. The figure looked up and Jack could see clearly. He stared into the eyes of the young girl from a week before. Race also realized who the girl was.
"Do you need help?" Race said as he bent down next to her. She just stared at them not answering. "Look, you might not answer us but we're not going to leave till we get some answers."
She just stared between the two and turmoil appeared on her face as she decided what to do.
"I don't need help. I'm fine thank you." She responded quickly.
"Then can we walk you home? It's not safe for such a pretty girl like yourself to be out here alone." Jack said. She just looked at him. She realized who he was. Jack Kelly, Sarah's boyfriend. And the guy who saw her breakup with Joshua.
`"No thank you. I don't even have a home to go to." She said looking away from Jack. Sarah had often talked about how Jack was a sucker for homeless girls. Often offering them a place to stay and unfortunately it was his act of kindness that was putting a strain on their relationship. The girls he helped seemed to think he was their knight in shining armor. She hated to take advantage of him but she had no other choice. Jack and Race looked at each other.
"Well you can stay at the lodging house for newsies if you would like." Jack offered. She nodded her and she moved to get up. Jack offered his hand but she ignored it and three made their way to Manhattan.