Copyright 1998
Fox was a newsie, a normal newsie. He sold papes like the rest of the guys, of course. He always wore brown slacks, a gray shirt, black shoes, a brown newsie hat, and blue suspenders. His suspenders were usually hanging down off his shoulders though. Fox didn't like them on his shoulders, but he did love suspenders, so he let them hang below his waist. He had brown eyes and brown hair; not that you could really tell what color his hair was. He always had it tucked up under his hat. Some days it was neater than others, but it was ALWAYS up there.
"Fox, ya comin'?" Race called from the door of the bunk room.
"Yeah, be right dere," Fox called back. He splashed some more water on his face and dried it off with a nearby towel. Then he ran out of the washroom to catch up with Race, his best friend.
"I was beginin' ta think I needed ta send a soich pawdy," Race joked as Fox walked up to him.
Race and Fox walked out of the Lodging House and to the circulation office. The rest of the newsies were all hanging around the statue waiting for the circulation office to open. On one side of the statue Mush was telling his story of the night before.
"Aw, ya shoulda seen 'er. She was... Oh she was... She was goigious!" Mush was trying desperately to come up with a way to describe the girl he'd gone out with the night before.
"Who was, Mush?" Race asked as he and Fox walked up to the bunch of friends.
"Dis goyl I met last night, Race. She had dese blue eyes 'n' dis blond hair. Boy, was she goigious," Mush answered, reveling in his memory of the girl.
Fox thought it was all extremely boring, so he yawned. "Ya got a date wit' 'er tanight, Mush?" Race asked, ignoring Fox.
"Of coise, maybe I'll bring 'er by so you'se guys kin meet 'er," Mush replied. "Hey, Fox, what's wrong? Ain't ya neva had no goyl before?"
Fox laughed. "Sorry ta disapoint ya, Mush, but nope, never," he said.
"What?! But yer 17!" Race exclaimed.
"Never found one I liked." Fox tried to explain his reasons, but he couldn't tell them the truth.
"We'll hafta fix dat. I know dis goyl; she's got a friend. Maybe we'se could double," Race started.
"No!" Fox said quickly. Then he noticed the looks the others gave him. "I mean, I don't like gittin' fixed up, ya know," he added. He looked away from them and tried to avoid their gaze.
"I kin undastand dat, but ya gotta git a goyl sometime," Race said.
"Tell ya what, Race, when I do, you'll be da foist ta know," Fox said as he patted Race's shoulder.
"Okay, dat'll woik jist as good," Race said.
Mush didn't like the attention being taken away from him. After all, Race and Fox had come into the conversation in the middle. "Anyway, ya shoulda seen her. She's as pretty as Dragon!" Mush said. (Dragon's Spot's girl by the way)
"Dat ain't no compliment," Fox said. Then he realized that he'd said it out loud.
"You don't like Dragon much do ya?" Mush asked.
Fox rolled his eyes. "Ya catch on quick, Mush," he said. "Real quick."
"Back ta me goyl. Her name's Jackie, but she goes by Jax. She could shoa hold her own in a contest wit' Dragon, verbally at least," Mush said.
"Oh come on, Mush. I'm shoa yer goyl Jax is prettier 'an Dragon. Almost ever'one is. I'm better lookin' den Dragon. That should tell ya somethin'," Fox said, gesturing with his hands. Then he laughed a little.
"What'd ya say, Fox?" came a voice from across the square.
Fox spun around, as did several of the other newsies, to see who's voice it was. "Oh, hi, Spot," Fox said calmly.
"Did I hear what I thought I hoid?" Spot asked as he crossed the square, holding his cane firmly.
"I don't know. What'd ya think ya hoid?" Fox asked as Spot came closer to him.
"Dat ya don't think me goyl Dragon's good lookin'. Dat true?" Spot asked as he walked up. He stopped only a foot from Fox's face.
"Dat's what I said, ain't it boys?" Fox said. He looked Spot square in the eyes. When no answer came, he turned and saw no one. "Hey, ya cowards!" he yelled.
"Sorry, Fox, but we ain't aimin' ta get soaked by Spot any time soon," Blink said from atop the statue.
"Yer all a bunch a cowards. Dat's what ya are," Fox said again.
"And YOU ain't?" Spot asked.
Fox turned back around and looked him in the eye again. "I ain't afraid a ya, Spot Conlon," he said.
"Ya should be," Spot answerd.
"'N' why's dat? Cuz ya runs Brooklyn? Cuz ya kin git any goyl in da city if ya want? Cuz yer da best in da city wit' a sling shot? Cuz yer so much a coward dat ya gotta send yer boys ta do yer fightin'?" Fox said.
Spot began to get angry. "I ain't no coward," he stated.
"Oh yeah? Prove it," Fox challenged. By now, Spot and Fox were right up in each other's faces.
Spot looked at Fox angrily. "I'se busy right now-"
Fox laughed. "Ha! Yer busy. Da mighty Spot Conlon's afraid a a little kid. Ain't dat a great headline. Little Kid Frightens da Mighty Spot Conlon! Extra! Exrta! Ain't dat somethin'." Fox hawked his headline. He was playing with real hot fire here.
"Look kid, you'll git what ya desoive. I'll make shoa a dat, but now I gots ta visit Dragon. 'N' I'll be shoa ta give 'er yer compliments," Spot retorted as he turned to leave.
"Ya do dat, Spot. 'N' ya tell her dat Spot Conlon could shoa do better 'an her," Fox shouted after him
"Whatta ya mean by dat, boy?" Spot asked as he started back for Fox.
"Din't ya hear me?" Fox asked.
"Yeah. But from what I hear, ya ain't even had a goyl. So ya cain't be tawkin' 'bout it," Spot said.
"So? What's dat gotta do wit' anythin'?" Fox asked.
"Ya cain't tawk 'bout what ya don't know. Whatta ya got 'gainst 'er anyway?" Spot asked. He was actually curious, and Fox knew it.
"I jist think da mighty Spot Conlon could do a bit better," he answered.
"And I suppose ya think you could do better, too," Spot said.
Fox laughed. "Better 'an you? Dat's a laugh," he said.
"Ya really think ya could don't cha?" Spot asked.
"Naw, I din't say dat. I jist gots better taste 'an ya," Fox said. He turned to leave; the circulation bell was ringing.
"Hey, I ain't finished wit' you yet," Spot called.
"Too bad, Spot. I'm coitenly finished wit' you. You'll jist hafta find someone new ta play wit'," Fox said with a laugh. Then he went into the circulation office and stood in line.
A few minutes later Jack walked out to greet Spot.
"Heya, Jackey-boy," Spot said. He was sitting on the statue.
"Heya, Spot, new view?" Jack asked as he walked over to him.
"Yeah. Say, dat kid a yers, Fox, he dat much trouble wit' you?" Spot asked.
"He's givin Spot Conlon trouble?!" Jack laughed; he couldn't believe it. "I taught dat kid good," Jack said.
"What?" Spot said.
"Nuthin', Spot. Say, whatta ya doin' here taday anyway?"
"I'se meetin' Dragon. She's got da day offa woik, so we're spendin' it tagedda," Spot said with a shrug.
"Dat's nice. Dragon's a real nice goyl," Jack said.
"Whatta ya mean by dat, Kelly?" Spot demanded as he jumped off the statue.
"Nuthin'. I jist said she was nice," Jack said as he put his hands up in defense.
"Sorry, Kelly. I'se jist get real jumpy afta I tawk wit' dat kid a yers. He's da rudest, most annoyin'... bravest kid I'se eva seen. Too bad I'se gonna hafta soak 'im; he coulda been a real great fighta," Spot said.
"He IS a real great fighta, Spot. Ya evah seen 'im fight? Da foist day he came, he knocked ME out. He's a real good fighta I'd say," Jack said.
"Yeah, whatevah, Cowboy. Oh, dere's Dragon. See ya lata, Jackey-boy," Spot said as he walked over to Dragon. She had long red hair and green eyes. They called her Dragon because she had a tendency to speak with a lot fire, and her hair kinda looked like fire, too.
"Hey, Spot," Dragon said as he walked up to her.
Spot gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Heya, Dragon," he said.
"Spot, what's wrong?" she asked when she noticed the change in his tone of voice.
"I gots one word fer ya. Fox," he answered.
Dragon nodded. She and Spot left the square. They went off to spend the day together.
"Hey, Fox!" Jack yelled into the circulation office.
"Whatta ya want, Cowboy?" Fox yelled back. He walked out to see what Jack wanted.
"I wanna tawk wit' ya," Jack said.
"Obviously," Fox said under his breath, rather sarcastically. "Okay, Jack," he said as he walked up to him.
"Ya gotta quit makin' Spot so mad at cha. It ain't healthy ta get da leada a Brooklyn mad at cha," Jack tried to convince him.
Fox rolled his eyes. "Is dat coward makin' ya do dis? Is he makin' ya do dis so he don't hafta fight me?"
"No," Jack said bluntly. "Why d'ya call him a coward?"
"Cuz 'e is," Fox stated.
Jack shook his head. "Ya got some tongue dere kid. But ya gotta quit usin' it when yer 'round Spot," Jack said.
Fox hated it when people called him kid. He was 17 for goodness sake. "Jack, why's everbody so concerned 'bout my life. If I choose ta tawk like I do ta Spot, dat's my decision. 'N' besides, I can't help it. He's jist so damn annoyin'," Fox said.
"Spot's neva been annoyin' ta me. I think ya jist don't like him cuz he gits all da goyls," Jack said with a smirk.
Fox rolled his eyes and laughed. "Why does everbody awways tawk 'bout goyls. Don't you guys ever tawk 'bout anythin' else? Geez, man," Fox said as he walked away, carrying his papes and shaking his head.
Race and Mush walked up to Jack. "He's a real handful ain't he, Cowboy," Mush said.
"He shoa is, Mush. How d'ya stand it, Race?" Jack asked as he turned to Race.
"He ain't so bad 'round me. I think he's jist got an edge 'round most people, ya know. Like dey don't give 'im half a chance," Race said.
On that note, they all went to sell their papes. Usually Race and Fox sold together, but Race thought it wise not to go with Fox today. Spot might find Fox in a dark alley at some point in the day, and Race didn't want to be in that alley with them.
Around lunchtime, all the newsies migrated towards Tibby's. It was their favorite place to eat, also the only one they could really afford. Most of the newsies were already in Tibby's when Fox got there, including Spot and Dragon.
"Afternoon boys," Fox called as he walked in the door.
"Heya, Fox," Race called back, along with a few others from his table.
Fox walked across the restaurant to Race's table. Race always saved a seat for him; they were best friends after all. After Fox sat down, a waiter came by. Fox ordered a sarsparilla and a sandwich.
"So, Fox, no papes, ya have a good sellin' day?" Race asked when he noticed Fox hadn't brought any papers in.
"Da best. Finished wit' 'em 'bout an hour ago actually," Fox replied.
"Whoa! How'd ya git done so fast?" Blink asked, astonished. He was sitting across the table from Fox.
"Hey! You got yer secreats; I got mine," Fox said to him, somewhat offended.
"Okay, okay. I was jist askin', shesh," Blink said.
"So, Fox, ya sell ta any pretty goyls taday?" Mush asked, very interested.
Fox rolled his eyes and sighed. He almost slammed his head down on the table, but the waiter had brought him his food, so he didn't. "Is dat all you guys kin tawk 'bout? Dat's all I've hoid all day. Cain't we have some odder conversation, on some odder topic? Jist maybe?" Fox said, all flustered.
"Sorry, Fox, didn't know I'd hit a noive, geez," Mush said. Fox sure was easily annoyed today.
Race leaned over to Fox. "What's wrong? Ya only been here a couple a months, 'n' yer at Spot's throat, 'n' ya hate tawkin' 'bout goyls. What's up wit' dat?" he asked quietly.
Fox looked at Race; he appeared to think for a minute. Fox had to come up with a tactful way to say it. He finished his sandwich and took a last drink of his sasparilla. "Naw, Race. I jist like it like dat. It ain't no fun when ya don't got no enemies, is it?" he said. Then he stood up and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, at Jack's table:
"So, Dragon, you guys havin' fun so far taday?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, we sure are, Jack. Thanks fer askin'," Dragon replied. Her accent wasn't quite as thick as the newsies's accents, but it was still New Yawk.
"I'd hope so," Spot chimed in.
Jack laughed. "Dat's good. You two look great tagedda. She's a nice goyl, Spot. I really think so," Jack said.
"What's dat s'posed ta mean, Kelly? All day you've been sayin' dat Dragon here's a nice goyl. What's dat s'posed ta mean?" Spot said as he started to stand up. He was getting all flustered over it.
"Spot," Dragon started. Spot looked down at her. "Sit down 'n' shut-up, ya bum," she finished.
Spot grumbled something and sat down. Jack laughed again. The all mighty and powerful Spot Conlon, leader of Brooklyn, was taking orders from his girlfriend. Jack found it hysterical.
Just then, Fox was walking away from his table. Spot noticed and purposefully stuck his feet in the aisle. Fox walked by and tripped. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending, he took Spot with him. Not quite sure how Spot found his way to the floor, but he got there nonetheless. Everyone in the restaurant laughed, including Fox. Spot, on the other hand, did not.
Fox stood up and brushed himself off; he was still laughing. Then he just left the restaurant without a word and went to lean against the statue for a smoke.
Inside, Spot was rather angry. He hated it when he was made a fool of. He wasn't too fond of Fox either. He stood up and brushed himself off. He then left, too, but not in a good mood. Dragon and Jack noticed that Spot was angry. They followed him out. Most of the other newsies did, too.
In the square, Fox was leaning on the statue smoking a cigarette. Spot walked over to him.
"Hey, Fox," Spot called from a few feet away.
"Whatta ya want, Conlon?" Fox said as he blew smoke out his mouth. He looked straight ahead and not at Spot.
"I want a apology, kid," Spot said.
"What fer? You tripped me," Fox said with a laugh, glancing at Spot loazily.
"But ya brought me down, too," Spot started.
Fox stood up and walked closer to Spot. "Shut-up, Spot," he said sternly. Spot was taken aback; no one had ever spoken to him like that before. "Yer real stupid, ya know. Real stupid. You trip me, 'n' den ya blame me fer it. Why is dat, Spot? Why don't cha tell me why dat is?" Fox said. By now, Spot and Fox were up in each other's faces, again.
Spot became angry. He didn't like the way Fox was talking to him. "Yer tellin' me ta shut-up. Why don't cha shut-up yerself. Ya tawk trash 'bout everone. Why don't ya shut up bout it," Spot said.
"I don't tawk trash 'bout everone," he said. "Jist you," he finished after a short pause.
"Ya do so. Ya tawk trash bout me goyl Dragon," Spot started.
"Dat's cause she desoives it," Fox interrupted.
"What?" Dragon asked from a little ways away. "What's 'e tawkin' 'bout, Jack?" she asked as she turned to face Jack. Jack just looked at her and then back at Fox and Spot.
"She do not. What's she evah done ta you?" Spot asked.
"Are we fergettin' dat yer sposed ta be defendin' yerself, Spot, not da goyl?" Fox reminded.
Spot thought for a minute. "Shut-up!" he finally yelled at Fox. Fox just laughed. "I'm gonna soak ya fer dis," Spot said.
Fox laughed again. "Ya haven't got da courage ta carry out yer threats no more, Conlon. Give it up," Fox said.
"Wanna bet?" Spot said as he pulled out his cane.
"Ohhh, I'm so scared now," Fox said, mocking Spot.
"Ya should be, kid," Spot said.
"Quit callin' me 'kid.' I'm older 'an you, boy!" Fox said angrily.
Spot ignored Fox's last comment and swung at him with his cane. Fox dodged, and it just made Spot that much angrier. "Git back here, kid," Spot yelled.
"Ya couldn't hit da broad side of a barn, Conlon!" Fox yelled with a luagh. He was standing on the statue and having fun provoking Spot.
"Git down here 'n' fight fair!" Spot yelled.
"Since when d'you fight fair?" Fox yelled back.
"Jist git down here!" Spot yelled.
Fox was quiet for a second. "Wit'out da cane er no deal," Fox said, in an almost order like way.
It was obvious Fox wasn't going to fight Spot if he used his cane, and Spot knew it. "Fine," he said. He'd much prefer a fist fight anyway. Then Spot tossed his cane to Dragon. Fox smiled a little and jumped down off the statue.
"Fine," Fox said as he hit the ground.
Spot lunged for Fox, who dodged again. Spot threw a few punches which Fox blocked. Fox just didn't feel like really fighting back yet; he was waiting for Spot to get tired out. When it appeared that Spot wasn't going to get tired anytime soon, Fox started fighting back. Spot didn't expect this. He was taken quite off gaurd when Fox hit him in the stomach.
"Hey, dat ain't fair!" Spot yelled.
"Whatta ya mean it ain't fair, boy? You da only one dat gets ta fight here?" Fox yelled back at him.
Spot and Fox fought for a few more minutes. Fox appeared to be winning.
"What'd ya mean by yer remark dis mornin'?" Spot asked, completely out of the blue.
"What remark?" Fox asked as he blocked a punch from Spot.
"Da one 'bout Dragon. When ya said she weren't prettier den dat odda goyl," Spot said as he threw another punch.
Fox dodged the punch. "Jist how it sounded. Dat odda goyl's probably way better 'an da goyl dat's wit' you," Fox replied. Then he hit Spot in the jaw.
"Arg," Spot moaned from the sudden jolt of pain in his jaw. "What was dat?" he said as he grabbed Fox and threw him across the square.
"Ya hoid me," Fox yelled as he hit the ground with a THUD!!! All the newsies gasped. Fox shook his head and then noticed that his hair was hanging in his face. "Oh, damn!" Fox said under his breath.
"Fox! Yer a goyl!?" Race cried from across the square. He was extremely surprised.
All the other newsies were completely silent. Up until now they had been cheering for either Spot or Fox. But now all were quiet. Race was the only one who dared to say anything.
"Well, it explains why he, or she, whatever, don't like goyls," Blink joked with a shrug. The few newsies that weren't astonished laughed at his joke.
Fox stood up and brushed himself, er, herself off. "Yeah, so?" she said as she brushed her hair from her face.
"Why din't ya tell me? I'm yer best friend!" Race cried again.
"I don't care if he's a goyl or an alligator. Nobody tawks ta me like dat," Spot said as he started to fight Fox again.
Jack found it all rather humorous. Spot never let any big things get to him. The little things on the other hand.....
"Dat's fine wit' me," Fox said as she dodged Spot. She was rather good at dodging people.
"Cain't ya jist stand still so I'se kin soak ya," Spot said; he was getting more annoyed that he couldn't hit her. He tried to hit her again. She dodged again.
"Spot, cut it out," Dragon cut in as she threw Spot's cane at him.
"Ow! Dragon, come on," Spot protested as he started to turn towards her. The cane'd hit him in the head.
"Shut-up, Spot. She's just a goyl. Leave 'er alone," Dragon said.
"Excuse me!" Fox said angrily. "I'm a big goyl here. I kin take care a myself. I don't need no wench takin' care a my problems," she said angrily.
Dragon's eyes flared. "Why you little..." she yelled as she ran after Fox.
Dragon knocked Fox down, and Fox rolled onto her back and threw Dragon across the square with her feet. (kinda like what Jack did in Carryin' the Banner with Oscar)
"Nobody does dat ta me goyl," Spot said as he went for Fox.
"Finally, an excitin' day," Fox said enthusiastically and somewhat sarcastically. She dodged Spot again and knocked him to the ground. She held him there so he couldn't move. "Now leave me ALONE!" Fox said. Then she gave Spot what he deserved, a black eye.
Fox stood up and brushed herself off. She brushed her long hair away from her face again. She grabbed her hat and walked back towards Tibby's. She was thirsty again.
"Fox! Fox!" Race called after her.
When she didn't respond, he ran after her. The newsies that were still in the restaurant gasped when she walked in. They were surprised that Fox was a girl, too.
"Hey, Fox," Race called again.
Fox sat back down at a table and ordered another sarsparilla. She pulled one leg up to her chest and leaned the chair back so it was on the back two legs. She let her other leg dangle down to the floor. Race came to join her at the table.
"Fox, why din't cha eva tell me ya was a goyl. We was always real good friends. We told each odda everthin'. But ya neva told me ya was a goyl. What else din't cha tell me?" Race said.
Fox let the chair down so that all four legs were on the floor. She spoke softly. "Race, dis was da only thing I kept from ya. Truthfully. Da reason I didn't tell ya was because I jist wanted ta be like one a da guys. My life back home was terrible. I hated bein' a goyl dere. So I came here 'n' dressed like a boy, so ya all thought I was a boy. Now I don't even got dat ta fall back on," Fox said.
"Oh. Say, Fox, what was yer real name?" Race asked curiously.
"Anne Elizabeth McKinly. Horrible ain't it," Fox said slowly, staring off at the wall. The waiter brought her sarsparilla, and she took a sip of it.
"Naw, dat's a real pretty name. What d'ya really have 'gainst Spot and Dragon?" Race was full of questions.
Fox grinned. "Nuthin'," she stated with a cynical laugh. Then she went back to leaning back in her chair. She took another sip of her sarsparilla. Then she leaned her head back and shut her eyes. Her long brown hair hung down in the air, nearly to the floor.
"Yer gonna tell me someday right, Fox?" Race asked.
"Of coise, Race, of coise. But not taday, not right now," Fox said quietly.
Fox finished her sarsparilla in silence. Race couldn't think of anything else to say. He'd known Fox for months, but in a way, he'd only know her for a few minutes.
"Come on, Race, I'll help ya sell da rest a yer papes," Fox said after she'd finished her drink. She stood up.
Race shrugged. "Okay, Foxy lady," Race said. Fox shot him an evil look. "Sorry, sorry, I'll neva call ya dat again," he apologized as he stepped back, trying to get some distance between them .
"Ya better not," she said as she pulled her hair up into her hat.
Race laughed and grabbed his papes. He walked out the door with Fox in tow. Jack and the others were all still hanging around the statue. Dragon was fussing over Spot's blackining eye. She had gotten some ice from the restaurant and they were having an argument about how cold it was. Spot obviously wasn't winning that argument. Girls: 2. Boys: 0.
Race and Fox went off in the opposite direction, Race's decision, to sell his papes. They got the rest of Race's papes, about thirty or so more, done in about an hour. They split the pile, and Fox gave Race the money she was paid for the papes she sold.
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