Chapter Five

"Molly, I got a question for you," Blink popped into the backroom and started breaking molds.

"Hmm?"

"Do you know much about Brooklyn?"

"Brooklyn?" She laughed.

"There's this guy, name's Spot Conlon, he's kind of the leader of the Newsies out in Brooklyn, and we need his help for the strike an' all. Thing is, some of the guys are a little nervous, and I was wondering if you could…help us out?"

"Help you out? Don't tell me you're scared of some Irishmen." She turned with her hand on her hip and smiled.

"I'm not scared, but I don't wanna offend someone like Spot Conlon. I just figured he might be a little more easy if we had someone who spoke the language."

"Irish or no, Spot Conlon's not gonna respect you guys for taking a girl down to the docks."

"He wouldn't have to know you're a girl." Blink smiled sheepishly.

Molly raised her eyebrows.

"There's no way this works." Molly pushed the last bit of hair up into the hat Blink gave her. His clothes were baggy on her, and they had to borrow shoes from one of the younger kids.

"We just have to dirty you up a bit." Blink wiped his hand on a nearby window and smeared some soot on her chin and the side of her face. "And slouch a little." He blushed and looked down the street, looking for Jack, Davy, and Boots.

Molly had wrapped some linen around her breasts to flatten her chest, but it was still a little obvious. The bagginess of the shirt helped to disguise her. "If they can tell, there's no way this'll work."

"There they are." He examined her quick. "Just do as we do, and you'll be fine. And don't be so polite."

"Ahoy, Blink." Jack slapped him on the back.

"Jack Kelly, I want you to meet my friend Seamus O'Malley. He's gonna give us a hand out in Brooklyn." She had chosen her father's name for the familiarity. "Seamus, this is Davy and Boots."

"Nice to meet ya," Jack Kelly spit in his hand and held it out to her, flashing a smile. Before Blink had time to worry, Molly quickly spit in her hand and shook Jack's as firmly as she could. "Let's get ourselves to Brooklyn!"

"We're in it now, boys." Molly kept her voice low.

Davy, the one with the curly hair, looked nervous, "They don't look happy."

The five of them were walking down by the docks. It was a hot Sunday afternoon, and there were a lot of men swimming. Molly averted her eyes as men pulled themselves out of the water and watched them walk past. The swimmers were wearing their underwear, and the wet fabric was leaving little to the imagination.

Jack seemed to know a little of where he was heading, and eventually they made it to a group of boys and men milling around on wooden crates.

"Well if it isn't Jack Kelly. And Blink and Boots too, if it isn't a whole gang you've brought with you today." He flashed his eyes towards Davy and Molly, but didn't acknowledge them.

"Hey, Spot," Boots stepped forward and made an offering of marbles to him. "I got some nice shooters for you."

Spot rolled the marbles in his hand and pulled a slingshot out of his pocket. He took aim, "I'm hearing some rumors Jack. Rumors about a little game you're playing." He let the marble go and it shattered a glass bottle 20 feet above their heads.

"It's not a game." Davy's hands were clenched.

"Oh really?" Spot picked up a black cane and pointed it towards Davy. "Who's the mouth, Jack?"

"This is Davy, and you should listen to what he has to say."

"The Newsies are going on strike, but we need your help if we're going to win." Davy's voice grew more confidant, "If Spot Conlon joins, then all the Newsies will join, and we'll be unstoppable." His voice rose, "So, well, you just gotta."

Spot smiled and put his cane over his shoulder, "Your man speaks sense, Jacky-boy. But, how do I know you guys are in this for the long haul? Are you gonna be ready when a scabber comes at you with a club?"

"We'll be ready." Jack frowned.

"You say that, but I'm gonna need proof that you guys are serious. And one more thing, Jack." Spot Conlon sent a marble shooting towards Molly, and it took off the hat. Her dark hair came tumbling down and she glanced at Blink, who looked grim. Davy and Boots had their mouths open, but Jack looked unfazed. "Molly O'Malley, you're a sight for sore eyes."

Blink's mouth dropped open and he closed it quickly. Molly was saying something in that harsh tongue that he couldn't understand. He looked around, wary. Spot's men remained impassive, but Spot was grinning. He said something back to her and she smiled. She picked up the hat from the ground and set it on her head, letting her hair stay down.

Molly said something else and he laughed. Spot turned to Jack, "Alright Jack, I'll say you got guts for this. You continue to be this ballsy, and I'll back you up. Till I'm convinced, I'm staying on my side of the bridge."

They turned to leave and Spot called out something to Molly. The men around Spot laughed. Molly turned, and although Blink couldn't understand her, the look on Spot's face said enough. The men around him were laughing even harder. Blink was starting to worry that they wouldn't be leaving. He saw Spot crack the smallest smile, and Molly led them out of there.

"You brought a girl down to the docks? What were you thinking?" Davy was shocked and was reprimanding Blink as they walked back over the bridge.

"Okay, standing right here." Molly pushed her hair back in the hat and folded her arms over her chest, suddenly self-conscious in Blink's clothes.

"It was dangerous enough for us to be down there," he continued.

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "I say it worked out pretty well. How come you didn't tell us you knew old Spot?"

"He's an old friend of the family. I honestly didn't think he'd recognize me."

"Should have known we wouldn't fool him. Nice try though, Blink." Jack started telling Boots dirty jokes and ignored Davy when he objected to them being inappropriate with Molly there.

Molly fell back and walked with Blink behind the other three. He still had a grim look on his face. "That went pretty well, considering." Molly said hesitantly.

Blink snorted and Molly's forehead wrinkled, "What?"

"What's all that stuff he was saying to you?" He lips were pressed in a thin line and he adjusted his vest.

"He was asking me about my family, pleasantries and the like."

"Pleasantries," Blink said in a low voice. "Men don't laugh like that after hearing pleasantries."

"Are you angry?" Molly whispered.

"How do you know Spot Conlon?"

"Like I said, he's an old-"

"'Friend of the family's'" he cut her off angrily. "Come on."

Molly's mouth dropped open, and she suddenly realized that the three young men ahead of them were quiet and listening to their every word. She closed her mouth and looked away from Blink to the water below.

After awhile, Davy, Jack, and Boots resumed talking about the strike and Blink whispered, "Well?"

Molly glared at him and then turned away. He made a disgusted sound and neither of them talked as they crossed the bridge back into Manhattan.