Hello! Sorry to have taken so long, I'm on three sports teams (AHHH!) so I officially don't have a life :) Here is the latest installment of A Time To Choose!

Also, Happy Newsies Day! (April 10) The Broadway Newsies cast recording comes out 4/10 (Can't wait!) Please, if you have any ideas on what I should do with this story, where you would like it to go, you recommend, I'll do it (if I like it) Dedicated to Garett Hawe- you are too cool for school my friend. Too cool.

(In Brooklyn)

Rat stood up from the table and shook his sweaty hand with Spot's. He scurried out of the room to return with the two 'prizes' he had just traded to Spot Conlon aka The King of Brooklyn.

Spot quickly brushed off his hand, trying to rid himself of the Rat's sweat. Spot hated dealing with the loathsome boy, but if it meant teaching Skeeter her place, he was more than willing to do what he had to do.

He looked outside the kitchen window onto the docks that his newsies called home, Skeeter was still sitting on the farthest edge, thinking. She had ran outside just after breakfast and had remained there for the rest of the day.

Rat quickly returned and shoved forward two crying boys. They were small, remarked Spot, smaller than most newsies, they had to be around seven or so. The blonde haired one was shivering and was clutching the other one's hand. Spot grimaced inwardly on what the Rat must have done with them until now, he was a bully, The Rat. A miserable, no good bully who picked on others weaker than he for no apparent reason. (Spot was a completely different type of bully, he picked on those who upset him or he could gain something from them. Anyway, in the cutthroat world of orphaned city children, there are no rules)

Spot grinned at the two boys,

"How are ya, boys?"

The dark haired boy looked up and brushed his long hair out of his eyes,

"Where's Skeeter!"

"Ya!" The other one piped up, "Where's our Mama!"

Spot smiled inwardly,

"Shutup kid, you'll see her soon"

He beckoned to one of his newsies who quickly escorted the two boys out of the room.

"Thanks, Rat" Spot said.

He took out his pocket knife and started cleaning his nails. About a minute later he looked up to find the lean blonde haired boy still there,

Spot sighed, "What?"

The Rat looked around with his gray, beady eyes, as if he were sizing up everything in the bare kitchen,

"The price, Conlon"

Spot pushed his hat back on his head,

"Oh yes, the price. My boys won't beat on youse or nufink for two months. Now get your slimy self outta my lodgin' house"

The Rat cringed, "But you said a year, Conlon!"

"And I could instantly revoke my offer to a week, get outta here, Rat"

The pale boy looked around and then ran out the door and into the endless city, leaving the King to his musing.

Skeeter trudged up the creaky wooden stairs just after the setting sun had slipped from her view and into the Atlantic Ocean.

It had been a very long day of doing absolutely nothing.

After her little "trick" on Spot, she had spent the whole day avoiding him.

Though brave as she was, she was still smart. She knew that Conlon would try to get his revenge. But how and when, Skeeter didn't know.

She had spent most of the day on the dock, wary of the boidies that Spot had guarding her every move. Most of the time was spent deciding the best way on how to escape and get back to Manhattan. Back to Race.

She also wondered why Jack hadn't tried to rescue her yet.

She assumed that Jack would try and storm the Brooklyn Lodging House or something, but nothing had happened as of yet.

Skeeter grasped the brass door knob that led to Conlon's room (she was still clueless on another place to sleep)

And was greeted with the sight of her two youngest friends. Tinker and Tumbler were sitting on the floor gazing up at her with wide, frightened eyes.

"What the-"

Spot removed himself from behind the door frame,

"Skeeter! So nice of you to join us, I invited some of your friends over because I didn't want you to miss Manhattan too much"

Skeeter glared at him and ran quickly to Tumbler and Tinker.

"Are you two alright!"

Tinker nodded slowly while Tumbler looked at Spot warily,

"We're fine, Mama." Tinker mumbled

"Yeah!" Tumbler added, "I wasn't scared at all! I'm a big kid, just like Jack! I ain't scared a nufink!"

Skeeter smiled at the two boys, glad that her friends were safe, but then...

"How did you get here?" She stopped and then looked over at Spot, her eyes cold with fury.

"I don't suppose you two just decided to pay me a visit"

Spot motioned the two boys to talk, ignoring Skeeter's hate filled glance,

"Actually… We kinda did. Wese was tryin' to find youse cuz Jack said youse weren't comin' back for a liddle whilse. We wanted to bring youse back ourselves! We'd be heroes!" Tumbler grinned happily,

"And wese wanted to bring youse dis, Skeeta!" Tinker reached into his pockets and proudly pulled out Skeeter's sling shot.

Skeeter kissed both the boys on the cheek and lovingly held her sling shot, a gift from Emma last Christmas.

"That's real touchin, honest, but Ise gotta talk to Skeeter poisanally. Smalls!" Spot yelled for his trusted second in command,

The mammoth sized boy lumbered into the room,

"Take 'im"

Smalls grasped the two boys and carried them over his shoulders and slammed the door all before Skeeter could stop him.

"Wait! Spot, what are you-"

"Come wid me" he ordered.

Alright, hopefully I'll be better at reposting. Any ideas, comments, suggestions, jokes, just want to say hi,

comment and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Please check out some of my other stories, and remember, headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes!