“ He don’t live here no more.” Skweeks went to shut the door.
“ Wait,” Spot stuck his foot in the door, “ Who’s da leader now?”
“ It don’t matter.”
“ Yes it does, now who is it?” Spot forced his way in .
“ Ummm well she aint in.” Skweeks blocked the way to the bunk room.
“ She?” Spot stopped and looked at her. She looked familiar, “ Do I know you ?”
“ NO.” Skweeks answered.
“ You look like dis goyl I knew but she jumped off a bridge.” Spot shook his head, “ Look , its really important I meet the new leader.”
“ You can’t cause we all da leader here and one of us is gone so the leader aint here.” Skweeks obviously had no idea what she was talking about.
“ Yeah, “ He gave her a funny look. He knew he’d never get in there. He finally gave up, “ When she, he, it, whatever gets here, tell em ta meet Jack in Manhattan. Than once he meets the leader he’ll send em my way. Okay?”
“ Yep.” Skweeks nodded her head quickly.
“ I’ll see ya around kid.” Spot headed back out the door. This was too weird. He need to find Dice and quick.
******
“ Monroe?” Spot, was in shock, “ You shot craps fer da lodgin’ house wit Action Monroe?! Are ya stupid er were ya drunk?”
“ Look, I ain’t too proud o’ what I did, but she didn’t cheat, it was a fair game.” Dice was sitting on a bunk in Brooklyn now, his gang was forced to disperse throughout New York until they could find a new place to stay.
“ How do ya know she didn’t cheat?” Spot was looking into the top of his cane.
“ She used my dice, and I don’t cheat, else I would o’ won.” Julio shrugged.
“ Listen, you can stay here till I fix everything,” Spot stood up and headed for the door.
“ So where ya goin’ Spot?” Julio called after him.
“ I’m gonna go welcome Action back to the neighborhood. Spot walked through the doors and headed down the street. Action had really done it this time. He warned her not to come back and she did, this time with a whole band of liars. They’d suckered Cowboy and his Newsies out of money, they had taken over the Bronx….what next? Is she going to try something with Brooklyn? Spot almost wanted her to, just so he’d feel justified for throwing her out again. She was a street rat and didn’t belong in New York. She belonged in jail. He kept thinking of ways to teach her a lesson and was in such heavy thought that he almost walked right by where he was going. He would of kept going if he didn’t here all the laughing coming from the house. Action was already back to her old ways….running a crap game in the middle of the night.
******
“ So he rolled you down Main street in a trash can?” Sinner laughed sitting on a top bunk facing the rest of the group. She was now wearing the same thing they all were: little tank tops with guys pants on. Action had her button down the front, long sleeved collared shirt tied securely around her waist. Her dirty blond hair lay neatly on her shoulders. She sat sprawled out on the floor , while everyone else was on the bunk beds.
“ Yep. Ain’t seen him since.” Action smirked. The whole incident to the rest of the world was absolutely hilarious, but had now , for the first time, struck her as funny.
“ Oy, “ Shinner said, “ I tell ya , guys can be either da sweetest thing in da woyld to ya, er da biggest pain in da ass.”
“ Someone sounds bitter.” Sinner laughed. She had changed a lot. She wasn’t insecure or hung up on things like before. It was like something had finally sat her free.
“ Yeah,” Skweeks sat up, “ Why you so ‘ men are demons’ all da time?” Skweeks had changed some. It was like she was finally content where she was. She didn’t have to steal or get drunk or cheat anymore. Even if they had to do all that just to get where they could be normal.
“ Well , “ Shinner sat up, “ I was datin’ Oscar fer about……5 months. We’s was supposed ta get married.”
“ 5 months? “ Action’s eyes bulged, “ How’d ya manage ta stay wit one person dat long?”
“ When yer in love, yer in love, “ Shinner shrugged, “ He was great fer a while, den he jist started getting real over protective. He’d send his boys out wit me where ever I went. He had people watchin’ me all da time. But when he started hittin’ me….that was when I realized it was time ta go.”
“ Wow,” Baby was impressed, “ I don’t think I could ever handle that. I’d of killed him by now.” Everyone turned and looked at her. Soon the room was filled with laughter.
“ So what about you Action?” Shinner turned to her, “ You ever gonna settle down?”
“ You kiddin’ me?” Action stood up, “ Love is for morons. It makes ya look stupid.”
“ No it ain’t, “ Skweeks rolled her eyes , “ I bet you jist aint met nobody.”
“ Oh,” Action walked over to where she was, “ And have you?” All eyes were now on Skweekers. She shrank in her seat a little.
“ Maybe,” Skweeks answered quietly, “ I’m tired now. I’m gonna go ta bed.”
“ Oh no you ain’t,” Shiner said as they all crowded around Skweeks, “ You don’t say somethin’ like dat and den go ta bed. Who is he?”
“ I dunno.” Skweeks admitted.
“ What does he look like?” Baby asked.
“ Italian, short, real sensitive eyes.” Skweeks imagined the boy from the pub the other night.
“ See , “ Action got back up, “ It makes ya look stupid.”
“ Hey, “ Skweeks stood up, “ I don’t look stupid.”
“ Italian, “ Action mocked, “ Short. And those sensitive eyes.”
Skweeks was soon chasing Action all around the room hitting her and telling her to shut up.
“ Hey cut it out.” Spot Conlon’s voice brought them both to a deadly hault.
“ Oh boy,” Action said under her breath. She looked around the room. There was a certain panic in everyone’s eyes. She walked up to Spot , “ Long time no see Conlon.”
“ Not long enough, “ Spot glanced around the room, “ lets take dis little matter outside.”
“ No,” Skweeks spoke up, “ You got sometin’ ta say, say it here.”
“ He’s right Skweekers,” Action turned to her. She never called her Skweekers unless it was serious, “ I’ll be back in soon. You guys go to bed, we got woyk ta do tomorrow.” With that she and Spot slipped out the door.
*****
“ So,” Spot said as they walked down the street.
“ So.” Action couldn’t think of anything to say to him. She hated him and had since he through her out.
“ So jist what the hell do you think yer doin’?” Spot exploded turning to her, “This aint jist some big crap game you can bow out of at any given time. Yer messin’ wit lives.”
“ What?” Action turned to him, “ I’m messin’ wit lives? You ruined two lives when ya through me and Skweeks in the orphanage. You don’t even care what it did to us. I dreamed of comin’ back here every night.”
“ Well you shouldn’t of cheated.” Spot argued.
“ Ferget it Spot, yer impossible ta talk to,” Action started to walk away, Spot grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“ Action, “ He made her look him straight in the eye, “ I don’t care about what happened than.”
“ Oh, dats why you brought it up.” Action pointed out.
“ I mean, as of right now, what yous did den don’t count. But if yer gonna be in da Bronx, hell even in New York, yous gotta fly straight from here on out.” He let go of her arm.
“ What do ya mean ‘fly straight’? “ Action gave a suspicious glance at him.
“ I mean, no more gamblin’.”
“ What?” Action’s eyes were huge, “ In da city dat never sleeps, I’m supposed to? No. Unt huh. No dice.”
“ Look, what I mean is, no gambolin’ like yer used to. No cheatin.”
“ Alright.”
“ Also, you gotta be a Newsie.”
“ A what?”
“ Don’t give me dat dumb ass act. You gotta earn a livin’ like da rest o’ us.”
“ What about da others?”
“ They wanna stay in da lodgin’ house theys gotta be Newsies too.”
“ Yeah but I mean, Baby and Sinner? They can’t lie. You should o’ seen ‘em the other day. And what about Shinner? She ain’t exactly dat wonderful either. “
“ Teach em.”
“ How? Look I aint even dat good. I’ve done 3 times me whole life. Skweeks is da same way.”
“ I’ll show ya.”
“ What about fighting? Ain’t nobody gonna take girl Newsies lightly.”
“ I’ll show you how to.” Spot said it as though it were really simple.
“ But yer already a leader-“
“ Den I’ll lead you.” Spot was looking at her straight in her eyes with a gaze so strong it seemed to go through her.
“ But…..but….” Action gave up. There was nothing to say but, “ I’m in.” Spot spit on his hand and held it out to her. She spit and shook his hand.
*****
“ We’re gonna do what?” Skweeks asked sitting up in her bed. Spot gave Action the ‘ tell her da whole thing, I’m goin’ ta bed’ look and went off to a separate bunk room.
“ We’re gonna sell papes.” Action shrugged.
“ How?” Baby was upset. She was terrible at selling papers. She’d never have any money.
“ Spot’s gonna show us,” Action said quietly, “ He’s gonna lead us.”
“ HE’S GOING TO WHAT?!” Sinner yelled out.
“ Look, you like it here?” Action was answered by four nodding heads, “ Than shut up and do it. I talked wit him and he’ll only be here fer a while , den he’s goin’ back ta Brooklyn and we get da Bronx to ourselves.” Action walked out of the room, only to find Spot leaning up against the door, “ Hope you know what yer doin’ Spot.” And with that she continued to where she was going.
*****
“ Hey,” Spot shook Action, “ Get up, we got woyk ta do.”
“ Gimme another hour, “ Action rolled over in her bed.
“ Nope, yous gots papes ta sell.” With that Spot lifted the mattress of the bunk bed, and Action toppled to the floor. She just laid there for a moment than forced herself up. Spot laughed and continued to wake the girls up, of coarse none of them ended up on the floor.
“ Okay, here’s what’s goin’ on taday,” Spot called in to the wash room, “ We are goin’ to Manhattan ta sell taday. I know some boys who’d love ta see ya again.” Spot snickered at the thought of all his love sick ( and drunk sick) friends in Manhattan. This should be good.
“ Again?” Baby asked coming out of the wash room. She had her collared long sleeve shirt on, along with the pants she was wearing last night.
“ Hey, “ Spot stopped her, this was something he’d been meaning to ask them all last night , “ Where did you guys get da clothes ?”
“ Oh,” Baby smiled, “ We found them in the storage closet.” She continued to walk into the bunk room.
“ Huh.” Spot smiled as the rest of the girls piled out wearing virtually the same thing (just different colors). Then , last as always, came Action wearing her tank top, a hat and her collared shirt unbuttoned the whole way down. He rolled his eyes at this, “Action, yer sellin’ papes not yer chest,” Spot immediately started buttoning up her shirt than he got an evil grin across his face, “I’d be glad dat you aint cause frankly hun, you’d starve.” Action swatted his hands away and finished buttoning her shirt. She cut him a look and continued to dress herself.
“ Alright, Lets go,” Spot called as the girls filed out of the house. Action now had the button down the front shirt tied around her waist…again, “ Action.”
“ What now?” She turned around looking him straight in the eye.
“ Look what yer wearin’ kid.” Spot took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair.
“ Its clothes aint it?” She turned to walk away.
“ No,” Spot grabbed her arm and pulled her back, “ Its yer poor excuse fer clothes.”
“ FINE .” She said through gritted teeth as she untied the shirt from around her waist and through it on the ground, “ IS DAT BETTER?” She continued to walk to Manhattan, the other girls reluctantly followed. Spot stood there for a second, looked around, and, while cursing and swearing about Action, he picked up the shirt and followed.
“ HEY BOYS!” Spot said walking into the lodging house. Not everyone was up yet, but the people he had come to see were already staggering for the door.
“ Oh hey Spot.” Jack yawned as he stretched.
“ What are ya doing back here?” Mush asked. Spot smiled and told them to get Racetrack and Blink and meet him at the distribution office. They looked at each other, puzzled, and agreed.
“ Dey should be out soon.” Spot took a look at the girls, they were a ragged army but they had potential. His eyes fell upon Action, the defiant one. He couldn’t believe she was wearing that. He hated her, but he felt this kind of respect for her too. She had the ability to manipulate him, she’d proven this when he was going to throw her out of New York. Something about that kid….he shook off the feeling and waited for the boys.
“ Okay we’re out here now what did you ….” Jack stopped, he didn’t recognize any of them or he wouldn’t have been so excepting, “ Well well, what have we here?”
“ Well Jack,” Spot smiled. This would work. Nobody remembered anybody so they wouldn’t start off hating each other, “ These are me goyls. I want you Race, Blink and Mush ta show dem da ropes."
“ No problem here.” Jack said under his breath. Just than the other three exited to building. Race saw Skweekers and she saw him. They knew who the other was, but kept quiet.
“ Who’s dis?” Race asked. Skweeks shrank into herself, if he remembered her she was dead.
“ Oh dats Skweekers Mc Cain .” Spot slapped her on the back….this was getting fun, “ Skweeks this is Racetrack Higgin’s. He’s gonna help you sell today.”
“ He is?” Her eyes were huge.
“ I am?” His eyes were bigger.
“ Yep.” Spot smiled. He looked at Action, she just leaned up against the wall fiddling with her dice calmly. He rolled his eyes and continued, “So listen up everybody, Sinner I want you to go wit Blink,” He saw a puzzled look on both their faces and went on, “ Jack you got Shinner, “ He almost busted out laughing with that one, the two had been so drunk that night that they couldn’t remember each other, “ And Mush.” Mush looked up, “ You get Baby.” Baby smiled innocently and Mush just stood in shock. After a moment of nobody saying anything Spot got irritated and yelled “ Well get yer papes already!” they all left….all but Action and Spot.
“ Oh I know yer not takin’ me ta sell papes.” Action had a ‘ like hell I need you ta teach me how to lie ‘ look on her face.
“ Yer right,” Spot smiled, “ I aint taken you to hawk headlines. You can do dat on yer own fer all I care.”
“ So whats goin’ on?”
“ I’m teachin’ you ta fight dats what.”
“ Fight?”
“ Like you said, nobody’s gonna take girls fer newsies lightly.” He smirked. Action could tell this would be a long day.
***
" Oh shit, " Action said ducking a punch and throwing one into one of two big guys stomachs. Great, he was down , but his friend was still up. She heard Spot yelling in tips from his "seat" on the Brooklyn bridge as he watched her.
" Ya know," Action said being choked in a headlock, " You can jump in at any time." She threw her body weight into him, hopping that it would faze him. He fell flat on his ass and Action took this time to take a deep breath.
" Nah, you go ahead with out me, its much funer dis way." Spot laughed as the guy Action had first knocked down jumped on her from behind, knocking her to the ground.
****
" SO" Race said as he and Skweeks walked to their selling spots, " Do you like hustling drunks and lovesick jerks in bars?"
" Dats it," Skweeks stopped right there, " You don't say a word to me all mornin' and when you finally does its to ...to.."
" To ask a simple question about yer line o' woyk?" Race gave a smart ass grin.
" Look I know what we did was wrong but...I ain't gonna waist my time explainin' myself to ya." Skweeks started to walk off but Race grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He was now starring to those eyes she had been going on about just the other morning, and they were even more mezmerising up close, but he shook it off and gave an icy glare.
" I dunno much about ya kid, but I'm warnin' ya if you and yer girls even think o' pullin' a stunt like dat again I'll soak ya myself. Got it?" Race felt bad being this stern , but he had to...it was the only way to get his point across.
" It ain't gonna happen again," Skweeks pulled her arm away, " Ever heard o' desperate times callin' fer desperate measures?" She rubbed her arm where his tight grip had been.
" Yeah?" Race saw that he hurt her and now felt EXTREMELY bad.
" Well lets jist say I seen my fair share o' dose kinda times and I ain't in no hurry to see no more. Things are much better den dey were when we did dat to you boys, and believe me, we're sorry. All we need is a fair shot at this Newsie thing and we may never have to steal again." Skweeks had a pleading look in her eyes.
" Lemme guess , the only way you'll get yer fair share is if I don't squeal on ya?" Race raised an eyebrow. Skweeks nods her head " Yes " as innocently as possible. He sighed, " Well, den I guess I ain't got no choice." The two exchanged smiles and continued on their way.
****
" One time I got so drunk, I was talkin' to alley walls. You would not believe the hang over I got from that little experience." Shiner said taking a drink as she and Jack sat on bar stools at Medda's. They had stopped in there so he could introduce her to his friend Medda and when he mentioned drinks she agreed to go. They had just finished talking to her and were now enjoying the better part of the day relaxing and drinking.
" Sounds a lot like what happened to me. I bet some dame I could out drink her and passed out once I had drank more den me weight in beer. Here's da kicker dough, I woke up wit all me money gone." Jack took a drink. Shiner, while guzzling now realized who Jack was and spit her drink across the room.
" Hey you okay?" Jack asked worried as he sat his drink down.
" Yeah," Shiner's eyes were huge. She couldn't let him know it was her, he'd flip and turn her in to the bulls in a heartbeat, " I jist swallowed wrong." She gave a nervous laugh but Jack didn't seem to notice.
" Oh yeah? I hate it when dat happens." He took another drink from his cup and Shiner put her head in her hand in disbelief. This day was gonna be hell.
******
" I can't believe you let dem do dat to me?" Action was in tremendous pain. She'd gotten her ass kicked by two huge newsies from Brooklyn, who had been taught years ago by Spot and were now lethal weapons.
" Well, did ya loyn anything from fightin' 'em?" Spot asked cleaning the blood off the tiny cuts on her arms. It was nice and cool up on the roof of the Bronx lodging house , especially at sunset. Action sat exhausted on one wooden crate while Spot sat facing her on another.
" Yeah, I loyned dat tough as you thought I was...did you see the size of those guys? I'm surprised I'm still breahtin'...well out o' at least one my lungs dat is." Action crenged as the water went into her cuts.
" You didn't do so bad, " Spot laughed, " You didn't do so good either but fer yer first Brooklyn Newsie battle ya held yer own out dere."
" Woah, " Action got a weird look on her face, " did we just carry on a civilized conversation wit out fightin'?" Spot thought about it for a minute.
" Yeah, " His face now held the same expression, " Dat's pretty scary "
" Tell me about it, " Action slouched, " lets never do dat again alright?"
" Sounds good to me Roller. " Spot went back to washing out the cuts.
" Roller? Is dat cause I'm so good at craps?" Action smirked.
" Naw, " Spot shook his head, " Cause I ain't never seen nobody roll down a hill in a trash can faster than you...it was like you was runnin' away even while flyin down Main Street."
" Oh see now ya done it, " Action stood up, " Now ya had to bring up that damn trash can experience, " She started to walk back in the lodging house, " I swear Conlon, I can't have one conversation wit you with out dat whole thing comin' up.." She mumbled some more about him, but was soon out of earshot of Spot.
Spot now sat there laughing to himself. She had spunk alright, and would make a great Newsie , if she didn't gambol so much. He shook his head. What was he thinking. Monroe was no good. The only reason he was helping her was because of the three people that were depending on her. Spot took his cane and headed inside.
*****
" Is it jist me or does seven O' clock in da mornin' seem to come a little earlier each day?" Action mumbled putting on her usual Newsie out fit, receiving Spot's usual "I can't believe yer wearin dat" speech, followed by an argument than the stomping off in different directions and meeting up at the same place. All in all the first week hadn't been that bad. Action got her ass kicked at least once a day, Skweeks was out sellin' Racetrack on a regular basis, Shiner and Jack went out every night, Baby Doll Blue and Mush were shyly holding secret crushes on each other ( which were obvious to the rest of the world, yet neither one of them seemed to pick up on it), and Sinner and Blink were having a blast with each other. They did everything together as "just friends". Things couldn't get any better...but they sure as hell could get a lot worse.
" Hey Spot, " Action called to him as he read the paper on the bridge, " How's about ya let me earn some money today? Take a brake form getting' me ass kicked fer once?"
" What for?" Spot kept right on reading.
" What for? So I can have some fun tonight...go out scare up some action and be ready to get bruised up the next mornin'." Action pleaded for Spot to let her sell papers. She figured if she could get Spot to leave her alone long enough she could skip the whole selling of the papes ritual and go straight to Craps. She had some money left over from the lodging house bet and figured it couldn't hurt to play some.
" Well, " Spot thought long and hard about this. He wasn't stupid, he knew she wasn't even going to sell papes at all. She'd probably go spend all day in some Alley playing craps. He rolled his eyes, knowing he'd regret his decision later, " Alright. Take da day off from fightin' and go do what ever it is yer gonna do."
" Thanks a million Spot." Action was quickly off to the Bronx to play some craps.
***
" So ya wanna be a singer someday? " Blink asked Sinner as they sat in Central Park relaxing.
" Yep. Some day I'm going to own my own place...just like Medda." Sinner said proud.
" Yeah, 'cept you'll call yer place Sinners," Blink thought for a moment, " Ya know I once heard dis song that would go great with yer place. It called 'Sinner' Jist like you."
" What?" Sinner snapped into panic, " How do you know that song?"
" I heard dis girl sing it once at a bar I was at. I ended up broke cause one o' her buddies picked me pocket." Blink shrugged. Sinner sat there uncomfortable now. She couldn't believe that Blink was the guy..which meant Mush was the guy, Jack was the guy and Race was the guy. This could be bad...real bad. Hopefully, none of them knew.
***
" Looks like I win again, " Action laughed swiping up her latest victim's money. It was a pretty nice where house for craps. There was gamboling all around. She saw at least two or three poker tables sat up in the joint, even a place to make bets. Action surveyed the room to see who all was there. They called this place Crap Game Alley, and she'd give anything to run it. Than her eyes fell on something that could damage her rep. as well as her face. Julio and his gang, "Well it was nice playin' but looks like I over stayed me welcome." She started to go but when she turned around, there was Julio.
" You wouldn't be leavin' wit out playin' wit yer favorite player Dice now would ya?" Julio popped his knuckles and Action sat down. This was bad...real bad.
******
" Hey has anyone seen Action?" Skweeks asked as they all piled into Tibby's for dinner.
" She's out playin' Craps." Spot said ordering his food. He knew she'd be gone all night, probably wouldn't be back till tomorrow. He shook off the anger and headed out into the night. He was tired and Brooklyn was looking really comfy about now. Spot walked in silence the whole way, admirring how nice New York could be at night. When he reached the bridge he saw the strangest looking thin. Two guys holding somebody up against the rail of the bridge while taking turns hitting them in the stomach. Normally Spot would stop to help the one being ganged up on but tonight he just didn't feel like it, so he kept walking.
******
Action could feel her ribs breaking one by one. How was she going to get out of this one alive. She felt the rail of the bridge behind her back. She pushed all her wait against it and kicked the two off her. They were completely caught off guard by her strength after everything they had done to her. Action grabbed hold of her side and tried to run but stumbled to her knees.
Now Spot couldn't help but turn around when he heard all the noise. He scanned the side of the bridge he had come from when he saw a familiar crumpled figure crawling on the ground. He stood in shock for a moment trying to get a grasp on the moment. Was that really Action Monroe lying there half dead? He figured there was only one way to find out and ran to the body. The boys must have realized just who was running in their direction because they took off as quickly as they could.
" Action?" Spot said turning the beaten body on to its back. At first she swung at him, still trying to protect herself. Spot caught the punch square in the jaw, " Oh that's Monroe alright." He rubbed his jaw and watched Action slip out of consciousness. He picked her up and carried her to Brooklyn.
*****
Actions whole body stung when she jolted awake from a nightmare. She sat up in the unfamiliar bed holding tightly to her side. It was daylight now and her eyes began to focus on thing around the room, like the chair, the cane in the corner, the hat on the hat rack , Spot shaving while looking in the mirror across the room...wait a sec.
" I'm in Spot Conlin's bedroom?? Funny, I don't feel drunk" Action said getting Spot's attention.
" Oh dats real nice of ya Monroe...first a save yer ass and you deck me, than I tak you in and you insult me." Spot said cleaning his face off and walking over to the chair by her bed.
" Really?" Action was shocked. " Yeah really, If I hadn't showed up they would of finished you off." Spot said kind of proud.
" No I mean I really decked you? " Action's smart ass smile crossed her face.
" Oh I'd say yer feelin' better." Spot rolled his eyes.
" Yep, " Action said as she started to get up, " Which is why I gotta be goin'" Sharp pains shot up through her sides but she held them in and tried to get up.
" Hunt uh, " Spot's arm forced her back down in the bed, " No dice Action, not till you tell me what all this was about." " Oy, " Action sighed, " I don't wanna talk about okay?" She slowly sank back down into the bed.
" That's too bad cause yer gonna." Spot shrugged.
" Look, its really bad , but its my problem not yers so thanks fer what you done but I gotta get back to the Bronx soon."
" Why? Their big girls dey can take care of dem selves, you on the other hand have been asleep for two days now and still aren't rested enough to go nowhere."
" WHAT?" Action shot up and jumped out of the bed. She quickly shrank to the floor holding herself and trying to suck in the pain and get up.
" WHOA!!" Spot was already on the other side of the bed trying to help her, "Easy kid, easy"
" Spot you don't understand I have ta get back I gotta make sure" Action caught herself before she said too much.
" Before what?" Spot pushed for the answers he was looking for, " Action why is so important you go back?"
" Because Julio and his boys are gonna take back the lodgin' house." Action finally said.
" What ? Why?"
" Because last night when I was playin' craps at Crap Game Alley-"
" You went to CRAP GAME ALLEY by yerself? What are ya stupid er somethin'?"
" No I'm jist a little bit slow, dats all" Action rubbed her head...why did that response seem so familiar...hmmm...she shook it off and went on, " Look the point is they were there, I tried to leave was forced into playin' craps till I was outta money den they made me bet the lodgin' house and when I lost..."
" YOU LOST?"
" Yeah I know the one time I loose is the time it counts. But you gotta believe me they forced me to play! I swear it on me mudders grave...and me fathers," Spot sat down on the bed in disbelief. Action gave in and let herself sit on the floor. She looked up at Spot, " So lemme hear it Spot...how I never should of gamboled in da first place...how I'm a screw up and how I messed up everyone's life like you said I would."

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