The next day was like any other day. Selling papers going home and relaxing. Well it was a normal day till I got home. I saw the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island newsies crammed into the main room with all the bunks. I saw Spot. He waved me over.
"Hey Faith." He said.
I sat down next to him on the bunk.
"Hey Spot. What is everybody doing here?" I asked.
"War council about Steel. Jack didn't tell you?"
"No." I said shaking my head.
Jack hadn't told me! I felt a little bothered by that. Spot put his arm around me.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah I'm fine..."
Jack sat across from us next to Toss. He put the serious expression on his face that he used in every one of these war councils. I was starting to get used to the serious faces.
"So when are we going to head into the Bronx?" Jack asked.
"I think we should hurry and head out this week." Toss said.
"I think so too." Spot said. "The faster we get rid of Steel the better."
The image of Steel came into my mind. His pale skin, his black hair and black eyes. I felt my stomach churn. I took a deep breath. Jack nodded his head in understanding.
"Yeah, what day?" Jack asked.
They looked at each other. They all spit out some days.
"Wednesday is good for me." Spot said.
"Not for me." Toss mumbled. "How about the day before Tuesday?"
Jack shook his head. Soon they finely managed to come to an agreement on the day after tomorrow (they basically sprung it on us).I was nervous about this. When I thought about it I felt sick and scared! The newsies started to file out slowly. Spot held me for a minute. He nuzzled me and kissed me.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too."
"I'm going to get out of this okay." He reassured me.
"Promise me that."
"I promise." He kissed me softly. "I have to go."
"Goodbye." I said.
He kissed my hand. "Goodbye."
I watched him walk to the door. He looked back at me and gave me a wink. I felt heat go to my cheeks. I blew him a kiss and winked back. He walked out of the door. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Race.
"Oh hi Race." I said.
"I'm going out tonight."
"Again? You won't be staggering home later will you?" I joked.
He laughed.
"No, I think I know my limit now."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"Are you going with your factory boy friend?"
"Yeah Runner will be there."
Race laughed again. He looked down at his shoes.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked.
"No..." he said shaking his head.
"Okay." I said.
I was pretty sure I knew why he seemed a bit upset suddenly... I felt bad for what I'd done to Racetrack. I wish I could have been with him. But I loved Spot more and it wouldn't have been wright to him.
"Have a good time tonight." said breaking the silence between us.
"I will, don't worry."
He looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back. He left to go to meet his friends.
I took a cigarette and match went onto the fire escape. I lit the cigarette as I looked up at the sky. The sun was just starting to go down. I looked at the sunset. The sky was filled with streaks pink and blue but mostly orange. I sighed as I thought about how going to the Bronx. My chest tightened. I looked down at the ground below. I could see people passing by. I'd noticed that for some reason nobody ever bothered to look up. I took a deep breath.
What the hell was going to happen? How were we going to make it out of this? Was everything going to be alright? Questions like this swirled around in my head. Spot promised me he would be fine. I thought. He promised me.
"Stressed again?" I heard from behind me.
I turned to see Jack standing there.
"Yeah." I mumbled.
"I wouldn't worry so much if I were you." He told me.
"Well I don't want it to be like the rally."
"It won't be like the rally. This time everything will go right. They'll never see it coming." He said.
"I don't know..." I said. "Something just keeps telling me that this won't turn out well."
Jack shrugged. "I think that it'll be good."
I sighed. He didn't understand. Jack gave me a pat on the back.
"Lighten up a little! It's going to be fine, just wait and see." He smiled.
I put on a fake smile. "Yeah..."
Jack went back inside. I stared down at the people below. They all seemed worry free. I could hear laughter and joy. It was usually not this crowded on the street below. They just never seemed to look up.