Secrets
Secrets
I could hear the tall dirty-blonde one, who I supposed was some sort of leader amongst them, talking to Spot, but I couldn't make out his words. I knew no one had noticed me yet, so I silently walked towards Spot's back. A couple of the boys in the group he was talking to noticed me, but I put my finger to my lips to signal they should keep quiet. Finally I was right behind him, and I put my hands over his eyes.
"Guess who!" I said through my giggles.
"Hey_Sarah, dat ain't funny! Eavesdroppin' ain't vehy nice ya know," Spot told me. A couple of his friends snickered, because I obviously wasn't Sarah, whoever she was. I was also very surprised by his incredibly strong accent.
"Who is Sarah?!" I asked removing my hands from his eyes and putting them on my hips. He turned around to face me. How he had changed! What six years can do to a boy. I almost melted, half from how handsome he was now, and half from how the anger in his eyes just made him look even more handsome. But, that anger melted away as soon as he recognized me.
"Sweets?" The surprise on his face was very funny. I couldn't help but giggle.
"The one and only! I originally went to Brooklyn, because everyone told me you lived there, but someone there told me you were in Manhattan for the week. Because of some strike or something. Anyway, your friend over there, I believe his name was, well I forgot his name, kindly directed me over to you. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" I pointed over to another crowd of boys containing the boy who had told me which was Spot's head. I was talking a lot, which I do when I'm excited.
Spot on the other hand was speechless.
"How long it been Sweets?" Spot asked.
"Nearly ten years!" I told him.
"Ya," he said looking away, in a direction in which there was nothing to see.
"I'm afraid I've embarrassed you," I said, because even as a child he would look away when he was embarrassed. Always trying to be so tough.
"Not at all!" On of his friends piped up. "Ain't ya gonna introduce us to dis charming lady, Spot?" I blushed.
"Oh yeah. Hey dis is Jack Kelly," he told me pointing to the tall dirty blonde one.
"Da head of da show 'round here, ya can call me Cowboy if ya wish," he said with an enchanting smile, and a kiss on my hand and then one on my cheek.
I curtseyed, but before I could say anything Spot interrupted me.
"Cut it out Jack," Spot told Jack, touching the sling shot that hanged from his belt. This made me very angry, because I was only a year younger than Spot, but he always found it his place to protect me.
"Spot, it ain't nice to interrupt a lady, ya know! I__" Jack began, but I interrupted before he could continue, because every word Jack said, Spot got a little more edgy.
"Spot, I'm not your 'little sister' anymore. You can't boss me around. I'm all grown up, and I don't need your protection!" Some of the boys cheered at my remark. Spot simply scowled, not letting his hurt show through. Spot didn't understand my anger, and I'm not quite sure I did either. I just remember my childhood being sort of, well, boring, because Spot would never let me do anything. Crystal told him to treat me like a little sister and never let me out of his sight, so I would be protected. But, I didn't need his protection anymore.
"Dis is Crutchy," Spot said, obviously trying to overcome that little incident. He pointed to a tall, skinny boy with not too dark curly hair and a crutch. I knew his name would be easy to remember.
"Nice ta meet ya!" He said waving at me and keeping his distance. Spot obviously had a tough image!
"Very nice," I said, also keeping my distance.
"And dis would be__" But the boy he was introducing interrupted Spot. A brave boy, but all of them seemed so rude, interrupting and yelling all the time, yet some were charming all at the same time.
"I'm Racetrack Higgins, de, uh," Racetrack searched for the right word.
"Idiot of us all," Spot said with a smile. I had to smile too, because I saw a Spot I remembered, and that was reason enough to smile.
*~*
After I got to know most of the boys, there were many, many boys, I noticed all of them seemed to love me! It was somewhat flattering, yet surprising and a little annoying a the same time.
"You would think they have never seen a girl before!" I told Spot in a whisper.
"Most of dem haven't seen one dat isn't taken," Spot whispered back.
"Taken?" I said to myself, but figured out what it meant as soon as I said it.
"Huh?" Spot asked.
"Nothing," I smiled. He smiled too. I giggled. This just kept getting better, and I could wait to tell him the secret, the big reason I had come for in the first place. But, I would have to wait until he and I were alone. It was afraid it might embarrass him in front of his friends, considering what a tough image he had obtained.
"So, Sweets, how do ya know Spot here?" Mush asked giving Spot a pat on the back.
"Uh, I'm bad at stories, I always make them too long. Ask Spot," I said putting my arm around him as an encouragement to tell them, if he wished. I was so afraid that at any moment I would ruin the image he had worked so hard to get. I decided I would let Spot do the talking.
"Latah," he told them. There were a few groans in the crowd.
"Just tell me why ya heah den Sweets," Mush told me. I wasn't quite sure how to explain without explaining how I knew Spot.
"There's something very important I have to tell Spot, but I would rather tell him alone." There, that explained it! Yet, more groans.
"Fine den," Jack said with another one of those enchanting smiles. "Well, Ise gotta be goin'. I'll see ya lata guys. You too Sweets!"
There were a lot of "see ya"'s and "carryin' da bannah"'s as he walked off. I simply said "good bye."
Spot leaned over to whisper in my ear "A secret, eh?" his voice extremely intrigued. "What is it?"
"Latah," I whispered back, trying to imitate his New York accent. I failed badly. "That didn't seem to sound right," I told in a low voice him making a disgusted face.
He smiled, I melted...again. "In time, in time," he told me, and put his arm around me. Then to everyone he said "How's about we all get sometin ta eat?!" There were many cheers. I just smiled. I didn't care. All that mattered was I had my Spot back.
*~*
Even though Spot said we would get something to eat it was taking quite a while to organize everything. Soon everyone forgot and started socializing again. After a while a girl a little taller than me with mid_back length medium brown hair walked up to the crowd of boys. Her clothes weren't as nice as mine, but they were still acceptable. Jack walked with her, and I waved to him.
"Heya Sweets," he called over to me.
"Hello Jack," I said getting up from where I sat on a wall to talk to him and meet the girl.
"Dis be my pal Sarah Jacobs, Dave's sistah. And Sarah, this is Sweets" Jack told me introducing the girl. Sarah gave Jack a short scowl... I guess she didn't like being called a "pal."
"Hi," she said to me. She didn't put out a hand to shake or anything! How rude.
"Very nice to meet you," I said, sounding very dignified, and I curtseyed to show that I was a higher class than her and that proper girls curtseyed when they met someone. I hoped she got my message. Just then Spot walked up and put his arm around me.
"I see ya met Sarah," he said waving his hand towards Sarah.
"Yes, we've met," I told him. I decided it would probably be proper for me to make small talk with Sarah, slowly walking away and allowing the boys to talk. However I didn't want to leave Spot. I pondered over this for a moment. I suddenly realized I was very hungry, but before I could ask Spot when we would be eating, Sarah beat me to it and started making small talk herself.
"So, where are you staying tonight?" Sarah asked. The question took me by surprise, since I hadn't really thought about it.
"Uh.... Well I did leave my things at the lodging house in Brooklyn," I told everyone in the small group that had gathered as we talked. "This does create a problem."
"Ise will get someone ta go get ya stuff," Spot told me. "And you're always welcome to stay with my family until you make other arrangements," Sarah said. At least the girl had some class.
"That would be wonderful. Right now I'm famished, is it possible we could get something to eat?" I turned to Spot.
"I fergot! Ise sorry, ya must be stahvin'," Spot looked very sympathetic, the first time he hadn't looked incredibly tough the whole day. "Come on guys, let's go ta Tibby's!" I followed Spot as he led the giant group of boys towards wherever we were going.
*~*
We soon arrived at a small restaurant and I'm surprised all thirty something boys fit in there, but everyone did. Spot sat next to me with Sarah and Jack on the other side.
"I really love your outfit!" Sarah exclaimed. I looked down at the sky blue, mid_calf length skirt with my untucked sun yellow shirt over it. I remembered I had a matching sky blue hat on. I'd thrown on an old outfit, not wanting to ruin anything on my trip. But, I decided she didn't need to know this was one of my worst outfits.
"Thank you. I really wanted to make an impression when I saw Spot again," I told her.
"How do you know him?" Sarah said, taking a sip of her glass of water. I wasn't sure how I should respond to this. It was fragile ground.
"Well, we knew each other as kids," I told her. That was such a small amount of detail I knew it wouldn't upset Spot.
"Really? Very interesting," Sarah said, obviously wanting more details, but polite enough not to ask for more. Spot tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hey Sweets, dis be Vinnie," Spot said motioning towards a tall skinny boy, with dirty blonde hair and thin face. His face was very angular and the shadows that his features cast upon his face made him look very solemn.
"Very nice to meet you," I said standing up, curtseying and sticking out my hand. He hesitated and then kissed my hand and grunted something in reply. I sat back down.
"Hey, uh, Vinnie's gonna go get ya things from the lodging house," Spot told me.
"That's wonderful! Thank you very much for doing this for me," I said throwing Vinnie a quick smile.
"Sure thing, sweet face," Vinnie replied. His voice was deep and raspy. It sounded far away, almost like a whisper, except easy to understand.
"Sweet face? Hey is that how ya got da nickname Sweets?" Jack asked, jumping into the conversation out of now where. That made my blush.
"Naw, it's also cuz of her sweet personality," Spot told Jack. I’m sure that I began to blush a deep crimson.
"It's no wonder they love you so much. It's unfair how gorgeous you are!" Sarah said in a low voice that only she and I could hear. I was probably redder than ever thought possible by this point.
"Well, I'll be goin," Vinnie said and walked out the door.
"Heah's da drinks!" One of the waiters announced, handing out drinks to Spot and me first.
Spot whispered in my ear, "how's bout a toast ta ya secret and us gettin' back togeddah," Spot said. I lightly tapped the edge of my cup against his and took a sip. But he was smiling so big I had a hard time not choking on my drink from giggling.
*~*
For dinner I simply had soup. It wasn't the best soup I ever had, but it wasn't dreadful. Sarah talked most of the time, but I wasn't really listening to her. I had a lot to think about. The whole secret thing was starting to worry me because I was afraid of what it would do to Spot. It would definitely affect us both greatly. And as I write this, and if you're here right now, then I know someone is reading this, you're probably wondering what my big secret is. So, to avoid confusion in the future, I will tell you the main part, you'll find out the details later when I tell Spot, anyway: I'm betrothed to Spot. We have to get married. Now do you understand why I had so much on my mind? I've always loved Spot and as kids we would pretend to get married. I would day dream about it. Spot, in his fancy tuxedo and myself in a fancy white gown. I had already planned every little detail, but I knew it was only a silly fantasy. I was willing to accept that it would never come true. But it has, and I'm not sure if I want it to accept it. I've spent my whole life telling myself "NO!" and now it's hard to say "YES!". Okay, now, on with the story.
Vinnie still hadn't come back with my stuff, most of the people were gone, and Sarah had to take her little brother Les home, so Spot stayed with me at the restaurant, along with a few other boys including Racetrack and Kid Blink (I found out he was the one who told me who Spot was) and a some I didn't know. I was getting antsy, since I had nothing to do but wait because Spot was over talking to the group of boys. I thought it would have been rude to interrupt their conversation, so I simply sat quietly studying the quaint restaurant. I looked out at the sun set, which was very beautiful. The clouds had parted slightly to let the last bits of sunlight through and casting a purple_red glow across everything. The changing color of the leaves, since it was fall, just added to the beautiful colors.
"Whatcha thinkin' bout?" Spot said sitting next to me and startling me. I gasped slightly.
"You startled me. I was just looking at the sun set," I told him.
"Ise sorry," he said. "Ise neva really looked at a sun set."
"It has very brilliant colors," I said, still slightly lost in the whirl of color.
"Ya," Spot said, also sounding a little lost.
"You know what I feel like doing?" I turned to him with a smile and flipping my hair out of my eyes.
"No. What?" Spot said imitating my smile and pretending to be as enthusiastic as I had sounded.
"Dancing!" I said, being overly enthusiastic as a joke. Spot looked scared by my idea. "You do know how to dance don't you?" I said laughing.
"No," he admitted. "Do I hafta loin?" He said, looking scared again.
"Of course! It'll be fun!" I said helping him up. "Don't look like you're about to be killed! It's not that bad," I said leading him to a open area of the restaurant.
"Ya it is," he said dryly. I gave him a sarcastic smile and showed him where to put his hands and told him the simplest way to dance.
"Just move your feet," I told him. "Like this... There you go!" He didn't seem as happy about this as I did.
"Deah ain't no music," Spot told me. "Really?" I smiled. Pretty soon Spot had the hang of it and I laid my head on his shoulder. We danced to the imaginary music. Even though Spot would, and will, never admit it, I know he didn't have a bad time.
"Woo! Look at Spot dancin'!" A couple of boys teased him.
"Ya well at least Ise got someone ta dance wit," Spot shot back. I just smiled.
"Ooooh," a couple of boys commented, laughing, but soon went back to their original conversation.
"Ah ya eva gonna tell me ya big secret?" Spot asked.
"Yes. But not now," I told him looking over at the group of boys as a well of telling Spot they would listen to it too.
"Must be some big secret," Spot muttered. But, I don't think he was truly mad.
~*~
After a while Spot and I were simply rocking back and forth. I was in heaven! Lost in our thoughts we made up for lost time by being completely silent. Vinnie soon arrived with my bags, and broke us from our dream worlds. I noticed we were the only people left, except a few employees. I didn't mind Vinnie intruding, the few moments of heaven were just enough to suit me.
"Heya Spot" Vinne called over from the other side of the restaurant. He seemed a little embarrassed trying to break us up. "Ise gots ya bags, Sweets."
"Fabulous!" I told him, walking over an picking up the smallest bag. I was expecting Spot would pick up the two larger ones. "Thank you very much, Vinnie!" I gave Vinnie a small peck on the cheek. Sure enough Spot walked over and picked up the two larger bags, but he looked a little jealous.
"Ise gonna go back ta da lodgin' house," Vinnie told Spot as he walked out of Tibby's sleepily.
"Come on Sweets, I'll walk ya to da Jacobs' place," Spot said motioning with his arm toward the door. I just walked out the door behind him, with nothing to say.
The night was cool. The slight breeze felt nice on my bare arms. I looked up at the sky, but it was too cloudy to see many stars. As we walked into the wind it blew the hair out of my eyes and made my skirts ruffle.
"It's a beautiful night," I whispered to Spot, afraid to break the silence.
"Sure," Spot said in agreement. He stopped in front of an apartment building. "Here we are," Spot said motioning towards the building. We went inside and up some stairs. We winded through the dimly lit corridors until Spot stopped again in front of the Jacobs' apartment.
"I had a really nice time, Spot," I said feeling awkwardly like this was a date.
"Yeah, me too," Spot admitted, smiling. I leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss on his lips, and then knocked on the door of the apartment.
"I gots a long way back ta Brooklyn. See ya Sweets," He said, he set the bags in front of the door and began walking down the long hallway to the stairs. I gave a slight wave to him and whispered "bye" as he looked over his shoulder. Then the door opened, interrupting my thoughts.
"Sweets!" Sarah said. "Come on in!"
"Thanks," I said smiling politely. "Hello." Sarah helped me get my bags inside.
"So, you're Sweets," Sarah's mother said from her place at the dinner table with the rest of her family. They weren't eating dinner, it was too late at night, so I guessed they were just talking.
"Yes ma'am," I nodded. "I'm so sorry for coming so late! But, I do thank you for your hospitality!"
"It's alright," her father said. "You're welcome here anytime!"
"Come sit down," her mother said, encouragingly. Even though my body ached with need of sleep I sat down.
"I'm Mrs. Jacobs, obviously. This is Mr. Jacobs, Les, Davey and you know Sarah," her mother said, motioning towards each person as she introduced them.
"Nice to meet you," I said.
"You must be very tired from your traveling today, and all this excitement. Would you like me to show you where you will be sleeping?" Sarah asked.
"That would be wonderful," I said, relieved greatly. I stood up as Sarah began walking towards one of the rooms.
"This is my room, you may sleep on the bed tonight, and I'll sleep on the cot," she told me. "We can alternate every other night." She started to help me move my things into the bedroom.
"Sounds fine to me," I said drowsily. I didn't feel I needed to tell her I wouldn't be staying here more than one night because Spot said that after tonight he would arrange for me to stay at the Brooklyn Lodging House. There was no need to make her think I wasn't thankful for her family being so nice, because I truly was.
"I'm gonna go back out with my family, go ahead and sleep," Sarah told me.
"Okay, good night," I smiled.
"Sweet dreams," she said jokingly, shutting the door. I changed into my nightgown and laid down. The mattress felt so nice to lay upon after my past few days of constant riding in a bumpy wagon from Maine. I was practically asleep before my head hit the pillow.
~*~
The next morning I awoke to a tap on the window by the bed. I opened my eyes reluctantly to see Jack outside making faces at me. I laughed and got up to open the window.
"Heya Sweet face," he smiled.
"Where's Sarah?" I asked, while rubbing the sleep from my eyes and smoothing my hair (editors note: because not all of us wake up with perfect hair like SARAH).
"Ah, she's at work," he told me. I didn't feel like asking what she did for a living. It was irrelevant and a waste of my energy, of which I didn't have much at the moment. "Spot told me ta come get ya, he wanted to show ya some of New Yoik."
"Really? Do you think it's early enough?" I asked dryly, noticing it was only a little after dawn.
"Get use ta it, goil," he said laughing.
"What if I don't want to?" I asked playfully.
"Den I'll soak ya," Jack said looking playfully angry. I looked confused.
"Soak?"
"Beat ya up," Jack explained.
"Oh," I said. "I need to get ready," I told him, trying to hint that he needed to go away.
"Right. I'll be waiting outside for ya," He said walking down the fire escape stairs. I closed the window and the drapes and changed into my favorite blue dress. It wasn't fancy, but I loved the color, and the dress overall. I walked over the Sarah's vanity and inspected myself in the mirror. Same waist length dark brownish reddish hair. My same blue eyes, with green tints. Same long slender face and high cheek bones. I looked the same, so why didn't I feel the same? I put a small gold chain around my thin neck. Everyone at my school when I was a small girl used to comment on my skinniness. Many people thought I was malnourished. But, in fact I was probably the wealthiest girl in the state, because my father was the governor. But, now he's passed away, and even though I'm only 14, my mother said it would be best for us to go to Pennsylvania to live with her sister. But, a few months before we were to leave, I received a letter from Emerald, the girl that now runs the orphanage Spot and I went to, saying that their records showed that Spot and I were betrothed. And, so I was to go back to New York in a bumpy wagon from Maine.
I admired myself in the mirror and remembered how yesterday Sarah had commented on the fact I was so pretty it was unfair. I contemplated the fact that I acted so upperclass and stuck up, and that wasn't who I used to be...back when I was Sweets. I brushed my hair and did it up in a fancy bun, I had become very quick at doing this. And while I looked in the mirror, I recognized Sweets again, the girl from New York. Not Victoria, the governor of Maine's highly respectable daughter. Spot and I had something in common, we both had an image to uphold, except mine, from now on, can be whatever I say it is.
I think the only reason my parents adopted me was to show Maine that my parents cared about kids...only to get votes. I would be so ashamed if I did something like that. Suddenly I came out of my thoughts and remembered I needed to meet Jack outside. I ran out of the apartment before I could get caught up in a discussion with anyone and quickly said "bye" just in case there was anyone there to listen.
~*~
I met Jack outside and he started walking with me to the square type thing where I originally found Spot. We didn't talk much. Partly because I was too tired to hold up a conversation, and also because it was a beautiful morning. Most of my thought was absorbed in taking in all the details. I always knew that the newsies weren't the only kids who worked, but child labor and the horrible things about it don't really sink in until you see it happening in front of your nose. And your thoughts are about "what if this was me? someday it could be!" I guess that was why the newsies were going on strike. It was to show that anyone can stand up if they believe hard enough. That took courage I wasn't sure I had in myself to have done on my own.
When we arrived at the square I saw Spot leaning against the base of the statue in the middle of the square. He was inspecting the sling shot that hung from his waist.
"Spot!" I called out to get his attention. He looked up and squinted into the sun. But, as soon as he recognized me he smiled and started walking towards me.
"Sweets, didn't tink ya'd be dis poiky in da mornin'. Didn't tink ya wer used ta gettin' up eoily," He said putting his arm around me.
"Well, it is too early...but I'm just happy to see you!" I said.
"Um...Hi," Jack said.
"Sorry!" I said laughing.
"Heya Kelly," Spot said.
"Heya Conlon," Jack replied, spit shaking with Spot. I personally thought it was pretty disgusting, but it wasn't my place to say what they were allowed to do and not to do. "Jo should be heah any minute," Jack said looking around.
"Jo?" I asked looking for an answer from either Jack or Spot, but no one answered me.
"Deah she is," Jack said walking towards a group of three girls in front of a small fruit stand. Two were blonde, but one blonde was short and one was tall. There was also a brunette, who was in between in height. Jack walked up to the brunette and give her a kiss. As Spot and I got closer the other two girls giggled, and I'm guessing it was probably because of Spot. I think Spot enjoyed all the girls and power. I moved a little closer to him, over protectively.
"Hey Jo," Jack said to the brunette, obviously Jo.
"Heya Jack, an' Spot," she said smiling. She seemed nice, but not too nice like Sarah was. She seemed like a better person to be friends with. But, I was confused. I had always thought that Sarah and Jack were the boy friend and girl friend. I guess I was wrong. "An' who is dis?" She said looking me up and down.
"I'm Sweets, and you're Jo?" I said curtseying. Even though I was trying not to act stuck-up, I think I had to show her first off that I was a higher class girl. I think girls show their power by what social class they're in, while boys show their power by who's more tough.
"She's me own lil' duchess," Spot said commenting about my curtsey. I smiled proudly.
~*~
We walked over to Tibby's, for a little breakfast. A special treat according to Jo. I don't think I could live without a good breakfast every morning...but I was of course spoiled compared to them, so I didn't say anything.
"I love ya hair," Jo commented as soon as we were seated. I had let my hair down, and she was toying with it. She was putting the pins in and creating all sorts of styles. Jack and Spot kept laughing about "goil stuff" but soon were planning the rally for the Newsies, leaving Jo and I with peace.
"Very nice," I told her after she'd done about the fifth thing to my hair. I felt like I should compliment something about her. I really liked her large brown eyes that made her look so wise in the ways of the world...hard to explain in words I guess.
"You have very pretty eyes, not to sound awkward or anything" I said smiling.
"Ya tink so?" She asked looking in the hand mirror I had handed her.
"Dey ah da most beautiful eyes out dere," Jack told her, cutting into our conversation. She blushed. Spot looked over at the restaurant clock and notified us we should get going. I gathered up my stuff and walked out of the restaurant with everyone else.
~*~
"What are we doing today?" I asked Spot. Jack and Jo (Went up the h...no wait) were walking ahead of us talking.
"Ise was tinkin' we could jist walk 'round," Spot told me. "Jist show ya 'round, ya know, mebbe go inta Brooklyn. I dunno exactley, jist do wut evah we's wants."
"Sounds nice," I said smiling,"in a sort of vague way."
"Mebbe Jack has a bettah idea," Spot said cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Hey Kelly!"
"Yeah Conlon," Jack said stopping to turn around.
"What's we gonna do today?"
"I dunno, mebbe go see Medda," Jack suggested, starting to walk again. "And dese goils a' course'll need ta buy sometin ta wear for da rally tomorrah," he said with a wink. Jo and I smiled at each other.
"Finally! He undahstands wut women really tink 'bout," Jo remarked sarcastically. I laughed at this, but Spot and Jack just rolled their eyes.
"Dat's true doh. Ya goils hafta go get ya hair and all dat all fancy, or whatevah it is ya do," Spot said smiling, trying to joke about not understanding women.
"But, of course you two boys won't want to be shopping with us," I said giving Spot a playful shove.
"Coise not!" Jack said as though it would be torture. "We'll be off puttin' da finishin' touches on da plans for da rally."
"So, what exactley is this rally for?" I asked.
"It's for da Newsies strike goin' on right now," Jack explained. Now, a lot more things made sense. Like why Spot was in Manhattan and why no one was selling papers.
"I see," I said quietly. We were entering a poorer part of the city. Bums and homeless people sat on curbs, begging for money. The streets smelled foul, and orphans and poor children looked up with sad eyes and looks of hunger. All of a sudden I felt like giving up all I had, if only I could make these poor, helpless people happy again. Some children played, and some people smiled, but the drama and horror of the depressed expressions and poverty occupied every thought in your head.
"Ya 'kay?" Spot asked. I tried to shake the thoughts out of my head, and pretend it wasn't there, but I knew it wasn't a dream. This was reality.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all," I told Spot, forcing my eyes to look away and my head to turn and face him. Still, Spot pulled me closer to him, because he noticed how scared I was. Unmeasurably pain and suffering, it was a sight that wouldn't allow me to ever take anything for granted. I wanted to give all my money, every possession I owned to these kids and families. I didn't remember when I was in their place.
~*~
Soon Spot and Jack had to go off. So, Jo and I went on to shop. My mother had sent me with lots of money, money she would have never used on her own. I offered to help Jo pay for her things, and Jo reluctantly accepted after I insisted. After seeing the slums of New York, I felt selfish keeping the money to myself. Plus, I knew that being a news goil, Jo wouldn't have much money to spare with the strike going on.
We walked into Jo's favorite boutique, the one she almost always goes to when she needs nice dresses. We looked at a few dresses, but most of the ones I suggested or tried on weren't very nice. It was mostly Jo who was able to find good ones.
"Hey Sweets, do ya like dis dress?" Jo asked walking out of the dressing room wearing a lavender, V_Neck dress, with lace up to her neck, and short sleeves with lace to her wrist. It had accents of light_blue lace along the bottom.
"Very pretty," I commented looking at some rose colored hats, since I already owned many pink and red dresses. I used to hate shopping, my mother always was too picky. But, shopping with Jo was lots of fun.
"Now, if Ise can find a matchin' hat, den Ise tink Ise'll get dis one," Jo said spinning around in front of a mirror and admiring the ballooning of the skirts.
"I'll help you look for one," I told her, continuing to look at the hats.
"Ya should try dis on," Jo said holding up a navy blue dress, after she had finished twirling. I took the dress, and it fit well. It brought out my eyes, according to Jo. It had lace flowering accents on the collar and edges, and I remembered had a pearl necklace that would match the dress perfectly. When Jo and I went to purchase our cashier asked me if I needed a matching hat.
"I didn't see any navy ones," I said.
"We have a few navy ones over here," the cashier told me, as she led me to a back corner of the store I hadn't seen.
"Ooh, dis is poifect!" Jo cried, placing on my head a small, navy, pill_box hate with a silk white rose on the front. I admired it in the mirror.
"You do have a good eye for clothes Jo," I said smiling.
"Lots 'a practice," She said, laughing. As we walked out of the store, Jo recognized the girl across the street from us.
"West! West!" She called out, walking across the street, with me tagging along.
"Cowgoil!" West, which I was assuming was the name of the girl Jo, who I guess is also called Cowgoil, was calling to, said (heh). They both spit_shook, and I resisted the urge to cringe.
"Heya West, dis is Sweets," Jo said, as West extended her hand for me to shake.
"Nice to meet you West," I told her while shaking her hand.
"You too. Watcha two up ta?" West asked.
"Just shopping for some clothes for the rally tomorrow," Jo told her, as we started walking.
"Oh yeah. Snitch told me 'bout dat, but Ise already gots a nice dress ta wear," West said.
"Speakin' a Snitch," Jo said with a small smile, "did you two ever got tageddah?"
"Yeah! Wheah ya been goil?" West said giving Jo a playful shove.
"At the news boys lodgin' house," Jo told her. I think she noticed the confused look on my face and decided she would explain. Turning to me she said, "Ya see, Snitch and West have liked each oddah for da longest time, but Snitch was too shy a ask West out. 'N' I woulda known soonah dat dey had gotten tageddah if I'd been wit West at da news goil's lodgin' house. But Ise been spending more time at da news boys lodgin' house, ta see Jack."
"I see," I said, squinting into the sun so I could see Jo and West.
"So, ya stayin' at Sarah's 'gain tanight, or wut?" Jo said, saying the word "Sarah" as though it were the devil.
"I hope not. I'll have to talk to Spot, but definitely in a lodging house somewhere, whether it been in Brooklyn or Manhattan."
"We're gettin' real close ta da Brooklyn Lodgin' House," West pointed out, "ya wanna see if Spot's dere?" West asked, enthusiastically.
"West likes Spot," Jo said in a stage whisper to me, with a smile. West playfully shoved Jo, but Jo tripped and fell into a cart. The lady running the cart started yelling curses and something about "kids today".
"Sorry, ma'am," Jo said briskly walking away. As soon as we were a good distance from the cart we all burst out laughing.
"Nice going," I told Jo, still smiling.
"It was all West's fault!" Jo insisted.
"Let's just ferget 'bout it all, okay?" West said. "Weah almost ta da Brooklyn Lodgin' House."
We continued with small talk until we reached a large half brick, half wooden building with a sign that read "Brooklyn Newsboys Lodging House" above the door. We walked in and saw three boys standing there, talking. I recognized one of them as Vinnie. There was also a tall boy with dirty blonde hair and green eyes, who was very handsome. The other was a short, curly haired, average looking boy.
"Heya!" West called out trying to get the boys attention. They all turned around, surprised to find three girls standing in the doorway.
"Heya!" The handsome one said, smiling, his eyes shining.
"I'm West. Dis is Sweets and Cowgoil," West said, introducing us.
"Oh yeah, I know ya. Youse Jack's goil," the curly_haired boy said, as Jo nodded.
"I'm Flip, dis is Vinnie an' Split. What ya goils doin' outta Manhattan?"
"We came to see Spot," I told Flip. "Is he here?"
"Yeah, he's plannin' tamarrow's rally wit Jack, Dave 'n' Joey," Split, the handsome one, told us, pointing to the double doors next to him.
"Joey?"
"Yeah, he's from Queens," Split said, answering my question.
"Can we see 'em?" Jo asked, smoothing her dress.
"I ain't got a problem wit it," Flip said motioning towards the doors.
"See ya boys latah!" West said as she closed the doors behind her.
"Hey Jo! Whatcha goils doin' heah?" Jack said from his seat at the table him, Spot, Davey and a boy I guessed was Joey, were sitting at.
"Just wanted to see ya," Jo said pulling out a chair and sitting next to Jack.
"How's it coming?" I asked sitting down next to Spot.
"Pretty good, how was shoppin'?" Spot asked.
"Fun," I reported. I looked up at Jo and Jack and realized that they were holding their own conversation, and West was flirting with Joey. I laughed.
"Wha's so funny?" Spot asked, putting his arm around me.
"Nothing," I said leaning my head against his shoulder.
~*~
It was getting dark, and Spot and I agreed I would stay at the lodging house from then on. Davey said he and Jack would go get my things. As I sat on my new bunk, which by the way was a top bunk in the back corner, Split walked up to my bunk.
"Can Ise come up?" He asked.
"Uh, sure," I said, confused at why he would want to talk to me.
"So ya know Spot?" He asked, climbing up. I had the feeling he was just curious, I let out my breath I didn't even know I was holding.
"Uh huh," I said nodding my head. "I've known him since I was very little."
"Did ya go ta da same orphanage?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Jist a guess," he told me.
"So, why did you want to talk to me?" I asked, noticing this conversation was going no where.
"Jist wanted ta get my new bunkmate," he said lowering himself to the lower bunk.
"Bunkmate?"
"Ya! Dis is me bunk!" He said, as though any idiot knew that.
"Oh," I said, lowering myself down as well when I saw Spot walked up.
"Hey Sweets, ya wanna go outside?
"Sure," I said. We walked outside and sat on the front steps. We sat in silence for a moment, and I got lost in thought looking up at the moon. The sky was clear, but only one star was visible.
"Make a wish," I told him.
"Huh?"
"It's the first star," I told him, pointing up at the sky. He closed his eyes, as did I. I wished that Spot could love me, like I love him. That was before it happened.
~*~
The next day Jo and West came by sometime in the afternoon to start getting ready for the rally. I had brought all my make_up with me, since I knew if I left it my mother would throw it out. We had locked the door after about the tenth boy had come in to tease us.
"Wow, ya goils 'ave really pretty dresses!" West said as Jo spun around in the middle of the bath room.
"Dat's a pretty nice yaself," Jo told West. West was wearing a sun yellow dress with lace trim. A fairly plain dress, but it looked very nice.
"Ya goils done? We've been waitin' almost two hours!" A boy out side yelled. We giggled and unlocked the door.
"T'ankya," The two boys said as they shoved by us. We walked out and a few boys whistled. Jo smiled, West posed and I blushed.
"Hey Sweets, ya look wondahful," Spot said, as I twirled into his arms.
"You too," I smiled.
"Nervous?"
"No," he said, but I could tell he was.
"We should get goin'," Split said as he walked by, with a red_head hanging on him. Spot extended his arm, and I took it as we walked out the door.
~*~
The rally was big, and very noisy. After Spot, Jack and Dave had their little speeches on stage Spot and Dave came back to sit with me and Sarah.
"Good job," I said giving him a kiss.
"T'ankya," he said, putting his arm around me.
"Where're da rest of ya pals?"
"They went off to find a few other girls, but they said they'd be back soon," I told him.
"Ya want sumtin ta drink?" Spot inquired.
"Sure." As Spot walked off I saw Jo and West come back along with three other girls.
"Hey Sweets! Dis be Rider, who's Race's goil, Spinner, who's Split's goil and Bumlets' sistah, Owl, who's Blink's goil, Monday, who's Bumlets' goil, and Bee, who's single. Goils, dis is Sweets and Sarah," West said introducing all the girls. I recognized Spinner as the red_head hanging off of Split earlier. And the girl named Bee looked very familiar, but since I couldn't think of who I knew that looked like her, I decided to forget about it. I noticed Dave had gone away, but I'm not sure when. Each of the girls took a seat. I made small talk with Rider, who was sitting next to me.
"Where'd Davey go? So Ise stuck wit eight goils?" Spot said walking up holding two drinks. Rider moved down a seat so Spot could sit next to me, and he handed me my drink and put his arm around me.
"Poor baby," West joked. There was some random laughing.
"Ise'll live," Spot said, smiling. A few girls giggled.
"I'm so tired," I said leaning my head on his shoulder. "When is this going to be over?" Just then, Davey walked up carrying a drink and sighed, because there were no seats left.
"What's with all the girls?" He asked. Giggles.
"Jist what Ise jist asked!" Spot said. Laughter.
"Whoa, is that Snyder?" Davey asked pointing at someone in the crowds.