Copyright 1997
A girl stepped onto the platform at the train station and looked around. She didn't see anyone she knew. She thought to herself "I'm home." She picked up her carpet bag and left the train station. She stood for a moment and looked around. She saw someone she knew and walked over to him. "Hey ya, Race. How's it hangin'?" she said to a guy with brown eyes, tightly curled brown hair under a hat, and a cigar in his mouth.
"Hey! When'd ja git back?" Race said to a girl with long loosely curled auburn hair that fell to the middle of her back. She had emerald green eyes with little specs of gold. "We'se all thought ya left fer good."
"Naw, I just got in a few minutes ago. How've ya guys been doin'? How's Jack?" the girl said to Race.
"We'se all been fine. Jack's fine too. He missed ya lots dough," Race smiled at her.
"Yeah, I missed him too, and all da rest a ya. Wanna come wit' me ta Queens?" She asked.
"Shoa, Boidie," Race answered. They walked on to Queens.
"Hey, Race, who's da most powerful in New Yawk now?" Birdie asked nonchalantly.
"Brooklyn. Dey won da fight wit' Stripes last year," Race answered.
"Geez. I leave fer two years and dey crumble. Did I teach 'em nothin'?" Birdie responded as she shook her head in disgust.
"Naw, dat ain't it Boidie. Stripes just ain't no good at fightin' no more. He kind a liked ya, but when ya left, he just didn't have nothin' ta fight fer no more. Jist don't tell him I said so," Race said.
"Don't worry, Race, I won't. Stripes, how'd he ever git ta be da leada a Queens anyway. Afta we see me goyls in Queens, I wanna see dose boys dat beat Stripes. Wouldja show me da boy dat beat him?" Birdie said. Race nodded reluctantly.
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They came to the building where Birdie lived. It was six stories and housed twelve girls, and one guy. The "Palace Newshouse" as they liked to call it, was for girls who either wanted to be newsies but didn't want to live in the Lodging House with the boyz, or girls who had no home. They hadn't any new tenants in a while. So far everyone had a room to themselves. Birdie lived in the biggest one on the top floor, she owned the building so she got to pick. There was also a nice lobby right inside the main door, and a small room off to the side. The lobby had nice seats, a table, and a counter where the girls kept track of the rent. The rent wasn't very much, but they all had to make it somehow. Some of the girls were newsies, others worked in factories; Birdie got money from the rent and she had a lot of money from "family." No one could get into the building without permission. There was always someone at the door, and you had to wait outside, or in the lobby depending on the weather, if you asked for someone and you weren't announced. Birdie had made sure the girls did it that way, it was much safer.
"Here we are," Race said as they approached the building.
"Looks just da same as it did befoa. Come on, Race." She motioned Race to follow her. She knocked on the door and a girl opened it. The girl looked at Birdie amazed.
"Boidie! Hey goyls, Boidie's back!" the girl opened the door wider and Birdie and Race walked in. "Race, why didn't ya tell us she was comin' back?"
"I didn't know meself. She ran inta me in Manhattan, at Grand Central" Race said to the girl who had opened the door. Her name was Vix, she had light brown tightly curled hair that fell to her shoulders and beautiful sapphire blue eyes. Race thought she was real pretty, but she was with his best friend, Mush, and Race already had a girl.
Just then Ruby, Dice, Abby, Angel, and Spice can down the stairs. Ruby had long dark auburn hair, blue eyes and ruby red lips, which would explain her name. Dice had brown eyes, short brown hair that he slicked back, and he's with Abby. He loves playing craps, Race started calling him Dice and it stuck. Abby has straight brown hair to her shoulders and beautiful brown eyes, she and Birdie have been best friends for years. Angel has shoulder length white-blond hair and ocean-blue eyes. All she has to do is to put a halo on her head and she'll look like an angel. Spice has hazel eyes and wavy brown hair with blond streaks. She has that name because she was a little spitfire, she's only four and a half feet tall and she's Race's girl.
"Boidie! It's great dat ya came back. We missed ya," Ruby exclaimed as she stepped off the last step.
"Yeah, Boidie, it's nice dat ya came home," Abby said as she walked over to greet her friend. "Dis here's Dice, me boy," she said as she pulled Dice forward.
"Nice ta meet ya, Dice. You treat her right, or I'll git ya fer hurtin' her," Birdie said. Dice nodded and inched behind Abby. Birdie laughed.
Spice walked over and hugged Race. "Boidie, dat dere's Angel. We found her in da gutter few months back. We call her dat cause if we put a halo on her, she'll look dat way, her hair kinda glows like dat," Spice explained with a smile.
"Well, Angel, dey been treatin' ya nice?" Angel nodded, not sure what to say. "Ya git enough ta eat?" she nodded again. "Abby, what's wit' dese new people? Dey don't got nottin' ta say." Abby laughed and nodded. "Great, now yer doin' it too. Oy! Hey, Vix, ya look good. Last I saw ya, you was dis little tiny thing. You look much betta." Birdie put her carpet bag in the corner and told the girls to watch it for her. She had some things to take care of. She and Race left the building and walked to Brooklyn.
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When they reached the edge of Brooklyn, Race stopped. He wouldn't go any further. "Boidie, um, do I hafta go wit' ya inta Brooklyn?" he asked, his voice wavering.
"Race, ya gotta come wit' me. Ya gotta show me who runs da place," she said and laughed at him.
"Awright, but I want ya ta know dat I object ta dis," Race protested and continued..
Birdie rolled her eyes and shook her head. They walked to downtown Brooklyn. Race looked around for a while, after a few minutes he pointed out a guy with dirty brown hair tucked under a blue cap. He had a black cane with a gold top on his belt loop. He wore brown trousers, a white button down shirt with light blue stripes, and red suspenders. Birdie couldn't see his eyes from where she was standing, but Race told her they were blue.
"I'm gonna git a betta look," Birdie said as she walked closer to where the guy was, Race followed her. Birdie studied his movements and stature for a few seconds. "You say his name's Spot Conlon?" Race nodded. "He don't look as tough as ya made him out ta be." Just then, three boys walked up to them.
"Hey, Race, I thought we toldja ta stay outta Brooklyn," said the first boy, acting all tough.
"Yeah, Snakes, we'se did. Why didn't ya listen ta us, Race?" said the second one, imitating the first. The third remained silent.
"Guys, I was just showin'--" he was cut off when the first boy backhanded him into a wall. He slammed into the wall and fell to the ground. Birdie went to help him up.
"Hey boys, ya be nice ta me friend," Birdie said annoyed.
"Oh yeah, whatta ya gonna do 'bout it goyl?" retorted the second boy. A crowd was beginning to gather around them.
"How'se 'bout dis," she said as she punched him in the stomach, he doubled over and fell to the ground. The third grabbed her arms and held them behind her, she struggled. Race went at the first boy and they were fighting for a few minutes. After which, Race promptly fell to the ground. Birdie was still struggling against the third boy, she wasn't trying very hard because she needed a reason to confront Spot, and this was perfect. Then Spot walked up.
"Hey, hey, hey, break it up, break it up," Spot said entering the circle the crowd had created. He helped Snakes up and told AJ to let the girl go. AJ did it quickly and she went to help Race up. Spot looked at her, she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen in his life. He couldn't help it, he was staring at her, after a few seconds he hid it and said, "Race, I thought ya was smawter den dis. Ya shoulda known betta den ta bring such a nice goyl wit' you ta Brooklyn."
"I was just carryin' out a request she made," Race answered wiping blood from his lip.
"What?" Spot started.
"He was just helpin' me out," Birdie interrupted annoyedly. "I asked him ta show me who was in charge here. He didn't wanna come, but I brought him here. I'm da one you should be tawkin' wit'." Birdie stood almost right in Spot's face.
Spot looked back at her and removed his hat. "What's a pretty goyl like you doin' standin' up fer him?" Spot replied in his usual suave attitude.
"I'm standin' up fer a friend a mine," she said as she looked right into Spot's eyes. Race was right, they were blue. But more of a light sky blue that sparkled like crystals. "Ya got a problem wit' dat?" she asked, up in his face.
"Naw, I ain't got a problem wid it. Who're ya anyway?" Spot asked.
"Boidie Kelly," she answered after a short pause.
"And why'd ya wants ta see me?" he asked, still trying to hide his feelings.
"I wanned ta see who beat me boyz afta I left," she answered.
"Yer boyz? " Spot raised an eyebrow. "And who beat em?" he asked.
"Yeah me boyz. And YOU did," she stated.
"Me?" Spot said, almost astonished. "Where ya from?"
"Queens," she said as she turned to leave. "Come on, Race."
"Wait, ya ain't going nowhere." He grabbed her arm to stop her.
She glared at Spot with angry eyes, trying to frighten him. It didn't work the way she'd planned though. "What is it now, Spot?" she emphasized t.
"Me boys, dey's sorry 'bout messin' wit' Race, right boys," he looked over his shoulder; the boys ducked their heads to avoid Spot's eyes. Birdie laughed for a second and then left with Race in tow.
"Ya know, Race, I was right. He ain't as tough as he looks," Birdie commented, loud enough for Spot to hear. Spot watched her leave, he had to see her again. "Let's go see Jack now, hmm," she said quietly when they were out of range of Spot's ears.
"Right," Race said. "Let's git ta Manhattan." Race hurried his way out of Brooklyn. He didn't want to be there too much longer, and certainly not without someone else.
Go to Part 2
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