Something To Wake Me Up

 

Disclaimer ~ Yes, I know how many of these you can read before you actually notice that no one is making any money off of these characters, and no matter how much we want to we don’t own any of the newsies from the movie.  Please Disney people who are looking at this sue me, because I don’t have much that you can have and I promise that your copyright over these characters are not being violated, only bringing them to more and more fans that love the movie that Disney is so ashamed of.  Thank you for not suing me.  By the way the rest of you please do not use Laces, Bottle Cap, Pixie, James, Bullseye, Pockets, or any of the other original characters without asking me first or at least mentioning it to me.  Thanks so much. 

 

 

 

Something to Wake Me Up

4^th story in the Sunny Days Series

By Laces Kai

 

June 31st 1900

 

“Damn that Peach, damn Spring, damn those Kai’s,” Pepper grumbled though his teeth as he clenched his fist and hit the wall. 

 

“Damning them ain’t going to get you out of here any faster,” Bobby, his brother, grumbled from his bottom bunk. 

 

“Shut up,” Pepper snapped back. 

 

“It’s your own damn fault getting caught.  That was just stupid,” Bobby said. 

 

“You got caught too,” Pepper said to him. 

 

“I was half drunk,” Bobby said.  “I still don’t believe you killed Peach.”

 

“Get over it ya bastard.  I don’t see what you ever saw in her anyway,” Pepper spit in disgust. 

 

“She was beautiful, she was my goyl.  Found her in that park pretty, innocent little thing,” Bobby grinned as he remembered. 

 

“She two timed you, she never loved you.  She loved that little pretty boy, that Kai,” Pepper said.  He regretted saying it as soon as he did because Bobby got up and threw him against the wall. 

 

“Let me give you a lesson about being in jail little bro, you don’t say stupid things like that because here you won’t live long.  You ain’t in charge of those stupid orphans anymore.  No more thugs, just you,” Bobby snarled. 

 

“You two in there, stop your bickering,” the guard shouted from his post.  “I know you must be enjoying this family reunion.”

 

Bobby put Pepper down and went back to his bunk.  He had been in jail a long time and Pepper had only been there for a few months now and it was driving him insane. 

 

“Someone is going to get that Kai one day, that kid.  The girl, not Caroline, she was never much of anything.  The other one she’s the key.  She’s like Bryan, looks like him, acts like him.  Trouble follows her around.  One day someone is going to get her and I want to be there and see that little bitch go down,” Pepper said. 

 

“Shut up already,” Bobby tossed to his side and stared at the wall of the jail cell. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“That’s where she lived,” Gerry pointed out. 

 

“Yeah, Forty Fourth and Second.  Think that Cookie and Mike are there with the brat?” James asked.  They stood across the street from the large apartment building. 

 

“I think so, I saw Cookie walking in there earlier.  They have to have the brat, who else would have her?” Gerry asked. 

 

“That bitch.  Conlon or Kelly,” James said disgusted. 

 

“They might, but I think we should check here first,” Gerry warned.  James nodded and they headed towards the building.  They went up to the door that they thought it was and knocked. 

 

Tangles came to the door and opened it. 

 

“Hello Mike, enjoying life?” Gerry asked.  Tangles stood there frozen. 

 

“Gerry?” he stuttered.  “James?”

 

“Surprised to see us?  Is this anyway to welcome old friends?” James asked. 

 

“What do you want?” Tangles stammered out. 

 

“You shouldn’t talk to us that way, no matter if Pepper is around or not,” Gerry warned as he took a step closer to Tangles.  Tangles went to close the door but James stopped him. 

 

“Do you have the brat?” James asked. 

 

“What do you want her for?” Cookie asked, she was pale white and stood behind Tangles. 

 

“Wondering where she went off to,” Gerry said. 

 

“You stay away from her,” Cookie said. 

 

“We will, but we have our eyes on you.  Watching your every move.  Waiting,” James said and with that they turned and walked away.  Tangles shut the door and looked at Cookie. 

 

“We’re not safe, they want something,” Tangles said. 

 

“Revenge, that’s what they want,” Cookie shuddered. 

 

“Pixie isn’t safe with us.  We have to get out of here, but she can’t leave with us.  It would be too hard,” Tangles said. 

 

“No it wouldn’t be fair, we wouldn’t be able to anyway.”

 

“What do we do with her?” Tangles asked. 

 

“Jack or Spot, they would take her in.”

 

“She would be safer with them, James and Gerry would have no reason to hate them.  No reason to go looking for them,” Tangles said. 

 

“Something tells me they don’t need reason, but she would be much safer with them,” Cookie nodded as they agreed. 

 

“We will go down to the Manhattan Lodging House soon,” Tangles stated. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

July 13th 1900

 

It had been a while since the last incident with Laces had happened, not to say that nothing had happened since she had locked Spot, Spades, Angel, Jack and herself in a basement to stop the fighting between the cousins, but nothing of that much importance had. 

 

Laces was walking in Manhattan, she passed the place where Buttercup’s family dress shop had been, still nothing had been heard of her.  Spot and her had sent the letter to her through the mover, but there had been no response yet.  Laces missed Buttercup.  She had always been someone to talk to, that she could always depend on being in the same place whenever she needed her.  Laces had been staying in Manhattan for the past three days because she didn’t like staying in one place forever, she liked to hop.  She had sold all her papers for the day and had nothing to really do, so she was wondering the streets in search of something entertaining. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Cookie and Tangles were walking down a Manhattan street with Pixie inbetween them both.  It had been some time since they had come anywhere near Manhattan or Brooklyn.  They had been avoiding the areas as much as possible to mourn Peach, they didn’t want to be reminded of it all with the presence of Spot, Jack, Bottle Cap and Laces.  They hadn’t been able to handle it, they still weren’t really up to it, but they need to see them now. 

 

“Look there’s Laces,” Cookie said pointing to a girl looking in through a store window down the street a bit. 

 

“So it is, but there’s no Jack or Spot anywhere near her.  Those two are already letting her roam these streets alone,” Tangles said. 

 

“Well, it was almost four months ago or something like that, it was a while ago,” Cookie said. 

 

“I want to see Spot, and Jack, and Bottle Cap, and Spades, and Angel,” Pixie whined. 

 

“We will, later though Pixie.  Be patient,” Tangles said. 

 

“Hey!  Laces!” Cookie called out.  Laces looked down at them and smiled, she skipped over to them. 

 

“Cookie!  Tangles!  Pixie, we haven’t seen you guys around here in a while!” Laces exclaimed.  Pixie hugged Laces. 

 

“Where’s Spades and Angel?” she asked.  Laces looked down at the little girl and sighed. 

 

“They ain’t around ‘ere anymore.  But ya know what, they will be coming back any day now,” Laces smiled to make Pixie feel reassured.  Tangles and Cookie glanced at Laces. 

 

“Why don’t we go to the Manhattan Lodging House where ya can play with Snipes and Tangles and Cookie can talk with Jack and Spot, who happens to be here with me cause Ise heading back to Brooklyn today,” Laces smiled.  Tangles and Cookie agreed, they needed to talk to Spot and Jack.  They walked all the way to the lodging house, Laces saying something or another the entire way and if it wasn’t her then it was Pixie asking questions. 

 

They entered the lodging house in no time, they all walked in.  Laces went to the stairs and called out. 

 

“Snipes!  JACK!  SPOT!” she yelled. 

 

“Laces, don’t yell up the stairs like that, what if someone were asleep,” Jack said from the parlor.  Laces turned and grinned at him. 

 

“It’s too early to be sleeping,” she replied. 

 

“What did you want?” Spot asked. 

 

“Is Snipes here?” she asked.  Jack nodded.  “Well there are some people here to see you and so I am going to go find Snipes.  Come on Pixie,” Laces said, as she picked up the little girl and headed up the stairs.  Spot and Jack a little surprised to see Pixie didn’t piece together that Tangles and Cookie were there too until they came walking into the parlor. 

 

“Heya Jack, Spot!” Cookie said.  For a second the boys didn’t react and then they stood and greeted Cookie with a hug and a kiss.  They shook hands with Tangles and soon sat to talk. 

 

“What brings ya two round these parts, ya rarely come around ta visit us,” Jack said. 

 

“Well, we were a little hesitant ya know after all that happened.  And Pixie wasn’t doing well after that and all,” Cookie said. 

 

“How is the kid holding up?” Spot asked. 

 

“Oh she is doing much better now,” Tangles said. 

 

“So what is it ya two have got on your mind?” Jack asked, knowing well enough how people looked when they wanted something.  Tangles and Cookie looked at each other and then at the ground. 

 

“Well, we were wondering.  I mean this is a lot ta ask, but we didn’t know anyone else ta ask.  We just, I mean we’re all ta young ta be doing this and all but we can’t just leave,” Cookie started to say. 

 

“Stop beating around the bush and ask already,” Spot said, he was always the type to get annoyed with beating around the bush responses. 

 

“Well, Cookie and me, we’re going to go out west.  We’re leaving in a week on Thursday.  There is better opportunity and everything out there and we even already found ourselves a good place out there and everything.  But we can’t take Pixie with us.  She’s too young and we just can’t deal with her and the jobs that we got at the same time,” Tangles said.  Spot and Jack looked at them waiting for the rest. 

 

“We were wondering if you would maybe take her in, take care of her?” Cookie said. 

 

“We can’t take care of a four year old little girl, not in this place.  It ain’t right, we can’t.  What are we suppose ta do with her, we have to make a living ourselves, there is no way that we could take her in.  We can’t use her as a newsie, she’s so small and that is no way for Peach’s kid to grow up,” Spot said. 

 

“Well, we don’t know what else to do with her.  We could take her to the orphanage, but we all know that ain’t always the best place,” Tangles said. 

 

“But well maybe it is, maybe she could get a better life there then she could get with us,” Jack said. 

 

“At least sleep on it, please think about it,” Cookie said, not wanting to leave Pixie in an orphanage. 

 

“We will,” Jack said, not really thinking that he really would because then he might just want to take Pixie in and he knew that wouldn’t be for the best.  A newsboy lodging house was no place for a little girl.  Cookie and Tangles got up and let out a sigh. 

 

“Well we’ll be seeing ya soon,” Cookie said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces had been standing outside of the parlor listening in on the conversation.  She could not believe that Jack and Spot did not want to take Pixie in after what they had been through in the orphanage.  She could not believe that they would turn their backs on Peach’s baby.  She was thinking about all of this when Cookie and Tangles were saying their good-byes. 

 

Laces quickly moved away from the door and went up the stairs a little so it looked like she was coming down the stairs and not like she had been listening.  Cookie and Tangles walked out. 

 

“Where’s Pixie?” Cookie asked. 

 

“Oh she’s playing with Snipes, are you leaving so soon?” she asked trying to act surprise. 

 

“Yeah, we only came by to discuss something.  We will come back in a little while.  PIXIE!” Tangles yelled up the stairs.  Pixie came screaming down the stairs with Snipes chasing her the whole way down.  Pixie jumped into Tangles arms and buried her head into his shoulder. 

 

“What’s this?” Tangles asked. 

 

“He’s it!” Pixie giggled.  “And he can’t get me!” she said. 

 

“I can to!” Snipes said.  Laces pulled him back to keep him from trying to tag Pixie. 

 

“Well bye everyone.  We will be seeing you,” Cookie said. 

 

“We leaving?” Pixie asked. 

 

“Yeah, we’re coming back tomorrow,” Tangles said. 

 

“Okay, bye bye!” Pixie said.  Tangles smiled and the three walked out of the lodging house.  Laces stood there for a second.  Snipes walked back up to the bunkroom where he had left a game of poker.  Spot and Jack still sat in the parlor talking over some other things, almost as if nothing had happened.  Laces walked into the parlor and glared at them.  Jack looked up at her. 

 

“What Laces?” he asked, not really looking at her. 

 

“I can’t believe you two.  If you won’t take her in, I will,” Laces said.  Spot and Jack looked at her. 

 

“No,” Jack said. 

 

“What do you mean no, I want to and I will,” Laces said. 

 

“No you won’t Laces, you can’t have her,” Spot said. 

 

“I can too and no one else wants to take her in.  The poor baby, you want to send her to some awful orphanage,” Laces said. 

 

“Laces, it’s better for her, she’s only four years old.  She will get used to it.  She will be better off, a newsboy lodging house ain’t no place to raise a little girl,” Jack said. 

 

“Neither is an orphanage.  After what happened to Fiona and everything,” Laces said.  Spot glared at her. 

 

“That was different Laces, she got sick,” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah Spot, I know,” Laces said not wanting to get into another discussion with Spot. 

 

“Laces, promise me that you won’t interfere with this,” Jack said.  Laces looked at him for a second. 

 

“I promise,” she said.  Spot glared at her, he knew she wouldn’t keep to her word, but maybe, just maybe this time she might.  Laces turned on her heel and walked away from them heading up the stairs to find the other boys. 

 

“Do you think that she won’t?” Spot asked. 

 

“No, I don’t think she won’t.  But it was worth a shot to have her promise,” Jack said.  Spot nodded and again they continued their talk about going out to find where Spades’ gang had gone off to. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The week passed and Spot and Jack still thought it better for Pixie to go to the orphanage.  They were planning to leave Manhattan and start traveling New York City for the areas that Spades’ gang might be at after they said good bye to Cookie and Tangles.  Jack and Spot had planned to take Pixie to the orphanage, but Laces had pointed out that they might be recognized and it would be an awkward position to be in.  So Laces had volunteered to do it, but Jack demanded someone go with her because he didn’t trust her to do it.  So Skittery volunteered to do it. 

 

Laces, Skittery, Jack and Spot stood at the train station.  Cookie and Tangles were saying goodbye to Pixie, all three were crying. 

 

“Now Pixie, ya know that we would take ya with us if we could, but we can’t.  So please be a good goyl and as soon as we come back then we will go get ya, promise,” Cookie was saying as she hugged the little girl.  Pixie nodded and hugged Cookie back. 

 

“Pix, don’t get into no trouble, understood?” Tangles asked.  Pixie nodded and Tangles picked her up and gave her a hug. 

 

“Don’t forget us,” he said to her. 

 

“Ise won’t,” she replied.  At that Tangles and Cookie went to say goodbye to the rest. 

 

“Bye Laces,” Tangles said. “Bye Skittery.” Then he got to Spot. 

 

“Patrick,” Tangles whispered, “check on the kid will ya, and take care of yourself.” Spot nodded. 

 

“Ya too, don’t let nothing happen ta ya nor Cookie,” Spot said.  Tangles then stood in front of Jack, someone he had known his whole life. 

 

“Francis Sullivan, who would have ever guessed that ya would end up as the leader of Manhattan?” Tangles said. 

 

“The same person who guessed that ya would go west b’fore me,” Jack said. 

 

“Well old fellow, one day Ise hope ta see ya out there.  I will be waiting,” Tangles said.  They shook hands and Tangles stood by waiting for Cookie.  Who said goodbye quickly to Laces and Skittery but almost started crying again when she got to Spot. 

 

“Patrick Spot Conlon, I still blame you for all those times we got in trouble,” Cookie said.  Spot smiled. 

 

“Never able ta fess up that it was ya,” Spot said. 

 

“Well it wasn’t, it’s a good thing that ya the leader, cause if ya weren’t ya would be in trouble all the time,” Cookie said. 

 

“Sure I would be,” he said.  Cookie hugged him tightly and she whispered into his ear. 

 

“Be careful and take care of yourself.  Bye Patrick, I’ll never forget ya,” she said.  Spot nodded and hugged her back. 

 

“Bye Cookie, hope everything works out,” he said.  Cookie nodded and wiped her tears, only for new tears to start when she turned to Jack who smiled his charming smile at her. 

 

“Jack,” Cookie was about to break down again.  Jack just held her a moment in his arms. 

 

“Everything will be fine, ya going out west, ya seeing the world before meself.  Ya making sure that it’s ready for me,” Jack said trying to be humorous. 

 

“Oh, I am going to miss you,” Cookie said.  Jack nodded. 

 

“Don’t cry, ya don’t cry about getting better things.  Ya don’t even cry when things get bad,” Jack said. 

 

“I know,” Cookie said.  “Bye Francis,” she said.  Jack smiled. 

 

“I’ll be seeing ya later Cookie,” he said.  Cookie nodded as the conductor called out one last time for boarding and Tangles and Cookie boarded the train waving to everyone when they sat down and the train started moving away from the station.  They all stood there for a moment.  Pixie was clinging to Laces and Jack and Spot were just staring after the train.  After the train had disappeared completely from sight, Jack and Spot started to move. 

 

“Laces don’t forget to remind Blink that he’s in charge and that we’ll be back in three days most likely.  Stay out of trouble,” Jack said. 

 

“Maybe it’s better if ya stay in Brooklyn, Bullseye won’t let ya run a muck,” Spot said. 

 

“I can take care of meself, I’m a big goyl,” Laces said. 

 

“Yeah well, if ya do go ta Brooklyn don’t go around walking by yourself, it ain’t safe,” Spot said. 

 

“Okay, go already.  The faster ya leave the faster ya can come back ta yell at me,” Laces smiled. 

 

“Yeah,” Jack mumbled. 

 

“Well see ya, bye Pixie,” Spot said. 

 

“Bye,” Jack said.  Pixie was to busy crying into Laces shirt to reply to the boys and so they left.  Laces and Skittery stood there trying to calm Pixie down. 

 

“Pix stop crying baby,” Laces was saying to her. 

 

“But I don’t want to go ta an orphanage, I want ta stay with ya and Spot and Jack,” she said.  Laces looked at Skittery. 

 

“Well, we will visit,” Skittery said.  Laces bit her lower lip, she hadn’t planned on Skittery coming with, she wanted someone with less intention of actually watching her. 

 

“Skitts,” Laces said. 

 

“What?” Skittery looked at Laces and he started shaking his head. 

 

“But Skitts,” Laces said. 

 

“Laces, we can’t.  Jack and Spot would kill me, and then you,” Skittery said. 

 

“Skittery, we can’t take her to the orphanage.  Look at her, I can’t, I won’t, I refuse to,” Laces said. 

 

“Laces we can’t take her back,” Skittery said. 

 

“Jack and Spot won’t be here for three whole days and I can warm everyone up to the idea and then when they get back I can hide her for a little while.  Until I have them ready to deal with the fact that I am keeping her,” Laces said.  Skittery shook his head. 

 

“No, it ain’t a good idea.  You know that the lodging house ain’t no place for a little goyl.  It ain’t even a place for a goyl, ya downright proven that one,” Skittery said. 

 

“Nonsense,” Laces replied. 

 

“Laces, I don’t like it, I don’t like it one bit,” Skittery said.  Laces ignored him as she looked at Pixie. 

 

“Do you want to live with me and the boys?” she asked.  Pixie nodded. 

 

“Okay, but Pixie ya have ta promise ta be a good goyl, otherwise I can’t keep ya with me,” Laces said.  Pixie nodded again.  Laces smiled.  Pixie rubbed her eyes and yawned. 

 

“Oh poor baby, she’s tried.  Skitts why don’t ya carry her ta the lodging house it ain’t that far, can ya?” Laces asked. 

 

“Yeah, I’ve carried ya ta the Brooklyn lodging house from the docks, I can carry her,” Skittery said.  “But I still don’t like it,” he said as he lifted the little girl into his arms. 

 

“I am so sorry, but you will,” Laces said.  They walked to the lodging house, not really talking because Pixie had fallen asleep in Skittery’s arms. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A dark figure crossed through the alleys and went into an old abandoned warehouse that no one was ever near anymore.  He entered and walked to the back where there were some large empty crate boxes.  There were faded red stains over some parts of the floor and on one of the boxes, but no one took any notice of it anymore.  No one who was in the warehouse all the time anyway. 

 

“What did you find out?” James asked.  He was sitting on top of the crate. 

 

“Mike and Cookie, they leaving.  Got onto the train this morning.  I think we scared them off,” the man replied. 

 

“What about the brat?” James asked. 

 

“She’s still here, the Kai took her,” The man replied. 

 

“Perfect.  Kai was with Conlon and Kelly?” James asked. 

 

“Yeah she was,” the man replied. 

 

“Perfect, we just have to wait for the perfect time when she’s in Brooklyn,” James said. 

 

“Of course.  Too bad about Mike and Cookie, they would have been good in this new gang,” Gerry said. 

 

“They are good at picking pockets and fighting, but they ain’t as stupid as when Pepper picked them up.  They would never join with us,” James said. 

 

“No not when they discovered what we want to do with those Brooklyn friends of theirs,” James laughed at this.  The warehouse echoed with the laughter of the few of Pepper’s thugs that had hung around waiting to see what more damage they could cause.  When James took lead he set out to do one thing, get revenge. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Ya insane!  I don’t believe ya!  Laces we can’t do this, ya have ta take her ta the orphanage or Jack will have me head.  Not a chance Laces,” Blink was freaking out about Laces bringing home Pixie.  Skittery had put her to bed in one of the empty bunks and everyone had exited the bunkroom. 

 

“Blink, don’t worry I will handle it,” Laces said. 

 

“That’s what scares me the most,” Blink said. 

 

“She is really cute though,” Mush said. 

 

“The kid don’t belong at an orphanage,” Race said. 

 

“But she don’t belong here either,” Skittery said. 

 

“Yes she does and boys, there ain’t nothing ya can do ta change that,” Laces said. 

 

“Nothing we can do, but Jack and Spot are going to have a few different things ta say that,” Blink said. 

 

“But we ain’t telling them.  I am going to tell them at the right time,” Laces said. 

 

“Laces, how are ya going to tell them, what are ya gonna do with the kid?” Race asked. 

 

“Well, I have 3 days ta figure that out,” Laces said.  The boys shook their heads, but said nothing more.  Blink sighed. 

 

“I don’t know how Jack and Spot can deal with ya,” he said. 

 

“They don’t deal with me, I deal with them,” Laces smiled.  Blink grinned and shrugged as he surrendered, knowing that there was no way she was going to listen to him and he didn’t have the heart to tell her no and kick the little girl out and send her to the orphanage. 

 

Pixie slept most of the afternoon, not making any noise.  When she woke up that night Laces was there. 

 

“Sleep well?” Laces asked.  Pixie nodded. 

 

“Where is everyone?” Pixie asked. 

 

“Oh downstairs.  Want to go see ‘em?” Laces asked.  Pixie nodded and smiled.  They walked down stairs and in the parlor where all the boys doing their night activities which were playing poker or any other card game they felt like, reading a left over paper, talking about the day’s headlines, or races, counting their earnings, reading something or another.  When Laces and Pixie walked in all the boys greeted them. 

 

“Pixie wanna come play marbles?” Snipes asked from the corner.  Pixie looked up at Laces who smiled and nodded to her.  Pixie ran over and began to play marbles, or learn how.  Laces went and sat next to Blink watching Pixie from the corner of her eye. 

 

“I still don’t like it Laces,” Blink said.  Laces groaned. 

 

“Haven’t you given up yet Blink?”

 

“Nope, I can’t give up, not until Jack comes back, then I can give up,” Blink said. 

 

“Never become a full time leader Blink,” Laces smiled. 

 

“I don’t plan on it,” Blink smiled back as he picked up his cards.  By the end of the night Pixie had all the boys in love with her, they thought her to be a perfect little angel.  They were all playing games until well into the night.  When Pixie began to fall asleep the boys carried her upstairs and she slept in Jack’s bunk for the time being. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack and Spot had been to Midtown, Harlem and the Bronx all in the first day.  They had walked a lot and stayed in Harlem, not one of their favorite places, but that’s where they had stayed.  Frost still didn’t exactly feel comfortable around them and so he didn’t want them to still be suspicious of him and so he was acting very courteous to an extent. 

 

Spot and Jack didn’t stay there long though, everywhere they had gone they said the same thing.  They were here once, but that was a while ago haven’t been here since. 

 

“I wonder where they went, where should we try next?” Jack asked. 

 

“Well, Spades wanted to get away from me, where is the place that is the hardest to get to?” Spot asked. 

 

“Well maybe one of the Islands?” Jack said.  “I know quiet a few years back that I had heard of them being there.”

 

“Coise, that would be a body of water between us, Spades would think that we wouldn’t go out there ta look for her,” Spot said. 

 

“I don’t think she even thought we would look for her, I think she wanted the best way to keep herself and Angel from coming for us,” Jack said. 

 

“Well yeah, now which one?” Spot said.  “Coney or Staten?” he asked. 

 

“I really don’t know, which one where they at first?” Jack asked.  “Cause that’s a trend they don’t like being in all these places very near each other.  There has to be at least a few years.”

 

“I think that we should try Staten,” Spot said. 

 

“Hope your right because we won’t be able to check Coney,” Jack said.  Spot nodded and they went on their way to catch a ferry. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pixie’s first day she went and sold with Laces, which helped out Laces because she sold papes even faster than usual.  She now understood why Jack always told everyone to say that they were younger then they actually were because they did sell more papes. 

 

“Well, now that we’re done what are we going to do?” Pixie asked. 

 

“I am not sure, I’ve never sold papes that fast before,” Laces said.  They sat down on a nearby park bench.  That’s when Dave came walking by with Les. 

 

“Laces?” Dave said. 

 

“Heya Dave,” Laces said.  “Les,” she said.  They smiled at her. 

 

“Pixie?” Dave said. 

 

“Hello David,” Pixie said. 

 

“Laces, you didn’t,” Dave said. 

 

“David, I couldn’t well enough let her go,” Laces said. 

 

“I don’t believe you,” Dave said. 

 

“Les, Pixie, why don’t you two go and play.  Don’t go too far though,” Laces said.  They nodded and went off.  Dave was staring at Laces. 

 

“Why do you do this?” Dave asked. 

 

“Do what?” Laces replied. 

 

“Jack and Spot told you no, they even made you promise not to interfere,” Dave said. 

 

“David, she’s a little goyl, I couldn’t.  Look at her, her mother died saving my life, I couldn’t leave her.  She could have been my brother’s little girl and to an extent she is, more then she is that horrible man’s.  Now did you want me to leave her without a family?” Laces said. 

 

“Well, but Laces, she ain’t got no chance of growing up right in a newsboys lodging house,” Dave said. 

 

“Now Dave, everyone keeps saying that, but I think she does.  I will find one of those public schools that she can go to, like the one that Les is now going to sometimes,” Laces said. 

 

“He don’t like it, I never liked school either,” Dave said. 

 

“But ya got some education and that’s always good.  I got some too, she should too.  And I don’t care what Jack and Spot think.  Sides, they will warm up to her,” Laces said. 

 

“I hope you’re right,” Dave said.  Laces called Pixie back and all four walked to Tibby’s for lunch. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and Jack were on the ferry, in the storage part, not wanting to pay that’s what they did. 

 

“It’s been a while since Ise been to Staten, the leaders are usually peaceful, so never got no reason to head over here.  Coise they should be seeing as they got no one to pick a fight with,” Jack said. 

 

“Yeah, there a lot of girl newsies in Staten and Coney.  Or at least that’s what Ise heard,” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah,” Jack nodded, he had heard the same.  He really didn’t want to spend three days though looking for Spades’ gang, yeah he wanted to find them, but he was not sure about Laces and everything that might be going on back in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  The ferry took up half of their second day and as soon as they got down from it they went straight to looking for Spades and the others. 

 

“There has got ta be some bars round ‘ere, those goyls make easy money off of bars,” Spot said.  They walked around and found a place where there was a whole bunch of bars and so they walked into the first one.  They walked right up to the bartender. 

 

“What can I get for you boys?” he asked. 

 

“We just looking for some goyls and two guys.  They like coming ta bars, they gamble and like drinking,” Spot said. 

 

“A whole group of them?  The dark hair boy and a reddish brown hair girl that seemed to be in charge?” the bartender asked in a soft voice. 

 

“Yeah that’s them,” Spot nodded. 

 

“Yeah they was here a couple of days ago, they just got out of the joint.  Those goyls some times bring in more business, clean them out and get drunk.  They’re sure some goyls,” the bartender said. 

 

“Do you know where they staying?” Spot asked. 

 

“What ya want them for?” he asked. 

 

“We need ta talk ta them about their brother,” Jack said. 

 

“Oh well they staying in this old place two blocks down from here.  It’s a brick house, two story.  Can’t miss it,” the bartender said and with that he went to tend other customers. 

 

“We found them Jacky-boy,” Spot said as they walked out of the bar. 

 

“Yeah and it seems like they lost no time getting in trouble with the authorities again,” Jack said. 

 

“Gambling, that’s what they always in for,” Spot said. 

 

“That, stealing and fire setting,” Jack said grinning.  Spot nodded, they walked the two blocks and came to the brick house.  The bartender was right it was hard to miss.  Spot went up to the front step and knocked.  A short and stout woman came to the door and looked at Spot and Jack. 

 

“What can I do for you?  I don’t give hand-outs.” The woman was about to close the door when Spot stopped her. 

 

“No we are looking for a group of girls?” Spot said. 

 

“What?” the woman asked. 

 

“They go by the names Spades and Angel?” Spot said. 

 

“Oh go around the back and knock on their door, don’t waste my time.” The woman slammed the door shut and Spot and Jack walked around to the other door.  Jack knocked a few times and finally someone came for the door. 

 

Pockets opened the door and looked at Spot and Jack shocked a moment. 

 

“Who is it?” Spades called from somewhere inside.  Pockets didn’t say anything he just stared at Spot and Jack. 

 

“POCKETS!  Who is it?” Blue repeated for Spades.  Pockets regained his sense but still did not respond. 

 

“I don’t think they want to see you,” he said to them. 

 

“Well, that’s just too bad for them,” Spot said as he pushed pass Pockets.  Jack smiled. 

 

“Nice seeing ya again,” he said as he followed Spot into the building.  The two walked into the small parlor where all of the girls were sitting expect for Scorch and Vigor who seemed to be sleeping from a long night. 

 

“Pockets who the ‘ell was it, and why didn’t you respond?” Blue was saying as he twirled with Spades hair, she was in his lap on the couch.  No one looked up thinking that the only one who entered was just Pockets.  When Pockets did enter the parlor after Spot and Jack, everyone noticed that there was more than just Pockets they looked up and saw that Jack and Spot were standing there. 

 

“Spot?  Jack?” Angel said as she dropped her cards.  Spades fell off the couch and the other girls just stared in shock. 

 

“Hello,” Jack said.  Spot didn’t say anything he just stared at Spades and Angel. 

 

“Goyls why don’t we go find something ta do in the next room,” Pockets said.  The girls got up and left where Spades, Angel and Blue, of course, were. 

 

“What are you doing here?” Blue asked. 

 

“I came to talk to them Blue, not to you.  I understand the relationship ya have with them and I respect that because I have a similar one, but I need to talk to them,” Spot said, pointing his cane at Spades and Angel. 

 

“Don’t point that thing at me Spot Conlon,” Spades said.  Spot put the cane down.  Blue looked at Spades and then at Angel.  He shrugged, if anything happened he would come back in an instant. 

 

“Jack why don’t ya come talk ta me out here,” Blue said.  Jack nodded and the two headed out, Blue shutting the door so that they could have some privacy. 

 

“Christine, Nicole,” Spot started. 

 

“What are you doing here Patrick?  We left, how did you find us?” Angel asked. 

 

“Jack and me have been looking for you for a day and a half,” Spot said. 

 

“Oh wow a whole day and a half,” Spades said. 

 

“We went to the Bronx, Midtown, Harlem and today we decided that you would try for an island and we had a lucky guess with this one,” Spot said ignoring Spades comment. 

 

“I’m sure,” Spades said.  “Now would you like to tell us why you’re here?” Spades asked. 

 

“I came looking for you because, well, I wanted to ask you two if you could maybe.  I was just so, I didn’t mean, how do I say this?” Spot said, stumbling over his words.  It was not often that he did these things, Spot Conlon almost never asked forgiveness and this was one of those rare occasions. 

 

“Spit it out already,” Spades said, she was so much like Spot that she didn’t like to wait for responses. 

 

“Well I wanted to say I am sorry for acting like I did that day and I wanted to say that I do forgive you and that I just hope that you can forgive me,” Spot said.  Angel smiled, almost as if a load had been lifted from her. 

 

“Spot, I thought that you would never forgive us!” She got up and hugged Spot.  Spot surprised by the action did not respond right away, but did sooner or later hug back.  Spades sat there a little surprised that he had finally forgive them, but still angry. 

 

“Why should we now accept your apology when you didn’t accept our apology?” Spades said. 

 

“Because Spades, I forgive you Patrick,” Angel said. 

 

“Great, now you can come back to Brooklyn,” Spot said. 

 

“What?” Spades said. 

 

“Come back to Brooklyn,” Spot repeated. 

 

“We ain’t going back to Brooklyn.  Spot we love you and all, even when you hadn’t forgiven us, but we staying here a little while,” Spades said. 

 

“But,” Spot started. 

 

“Spot, this is the way we work, we left Brooklyn.  We don’t go crawling back, not until we are done here in Staten.  And then if we feel like going back to Brooklyn we will,” Angel said. 

 

“When will you be done here?” Spot asked confused. 

 

“Who knows,” Spades shrugged.  “Could be a matter of two to three months or as long as a year,” Spades said. 

 

“But I just asked for forgiveness, I thought that you would come back,” Spot said. 

 

“Is that the only reason you asked?” Angel asked, suddenly getting sad that this might only mean that Spot needed help with something not that he truly meant what he said. 

 

“No, I just thought that you know.  You would all come back and stay in Brooklyn where ya belong,” Spot said. 

 

“We will, just not now,” Spades said. 

 

“Fine,” Spot said, not happy with the response.  Angel laughed. 

 

“What are you laughing at?” Spades demanded. 

 

“Nothing, don’t mind me.  Jack, Blue come back in now!” Angel called out.  Blue and Jack walked back into the room. 

 

“Everything better now?” Blue asked. 

 

“Much,” Spades smiled at him. 

 

“Finally,” Blue grinned.  They all smiled. 

 

“Well, I would like to head back tonight, but it’s to dark out there will be no more ferries tonight,” Jack said. 

 

“Why ya in such a hurry ta get back?” Spades asked. 

 

“Laces,” Spot said, knowing well that was what was on Jack’s mind and his. 

 

“What did the kid do now?” Angel asked. 

 

“Oh nothing yet, that’s why we want to get back.  I have a feeling about her and Pixie,” Jack said. 

 

“What happened with her and Pixie?” Blue asked. 

 

“Well, Cookie and Tangles headed out west and they wanted us to take care of her.  But a newsboys lodging house ain’t no place for a little girl, so we all decided to take her to the orphanage,” Spot said. 

 

“You did what?  An orphanage, why would you do that?” Spades demanded. 

 

“Because a newsboys lodging house ain’t no place for a little goyl,” Spot said. 

 

“But the orphanage, that’s not a place for a little goyl either,” Spades said. 

 

“But we couldn’t keep her.  I mean she’s a four year old goyl what would we do with her?” Jack asked. 

 

“I don’t know, but the orphanage?  You both hated it there and to send Peach’s baby there?” Angel said. 

 

“What did ya want us ta do?” Jack said. 

 

“I really don’t know I guess it might be for the best,” Spades said. 

 

“Yeah,” Spot and Jack said at the same time. 

 

“What do you think is going to happen with Laces?” Blue asked. 

 

“I’m not sure.  I think she didn’t plan to take her to the orphanage because she didn’t want her there.  That’s why we sent Skittery with her,” Jack said. 

 

“Skittery?  You sent Skittery, not like any of the guys would have been any good at keeping her from doing anything,” Spades said. 

 

“You don’t think that would stop Laces?” Jack said.  Spades and Angel laughed. 

 

“Stop her, it wouldn’t even be an obstacle for that kid.  She has this way with people, ‘specailly those boys of yours,” Spades said. 

 

“She’s got them all wrapped round one of those pretty little fingers of hers, even ya two,” Angel said. 

 

“What are ya talkin bout?” Spot asked. 

 

“Don’t tell me ya think that she don’t cause she does.  That goyl gets anything she wants, with a few pretty faces and some words or two,” Blue said. 

 

“Yeah, she’s even done it ta Blue ‘ere,” Spades said. 

 

“Ise don’t know what ya talkin bout, she does not,” Jack said.  The girls laughed again, and waved their hands. 

 

“Don’t matta none.  Maybe she don’t,” Angel said, knowing that it was better if the boys didn’t know what kind of power Laces did have over them.  Spot and Jack gave them both a smirk and then sat down. 

 

“Well good luck ta ya when ya find out what Laces has done,” Blue said, meaning what he said. 

 

“Yeah, thanks,” Jack nodded. 

 

The group continued to talk most of the night about things that had been happening.  They told jokes and laughed the night away. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was running through the lodging house, not knowing what she was going to do. 

 

“What am I going to do Kloppy?  I don’t know what to do.  I can hide her.  That’s what I’ll do but where?” she said.  Kloppman shrugged laughing to himself about how lively the lodging house was going to get.  Pixie sat on the stairs staring at Laces. 

 

“Laces ya betta figure it out soon cause Spot and Jack will be back today and no one knows when,” Blink was saying, he was beginning to get a little nervous with the whole thing.  He had come to adore Pixie, she was so easy to love, but he didn’t know or want to know what Jack and Spot were going to say. 

 

“Maybe, I could.  That’s it!  I will get Dave to take her to Brooklyn to stay with me sister until I warm them up to the idea,” Laces smiled. 

 

“That could work, we better hope that Walkin’ Mouth is at home though,” Blink said.  Laces bit her lower lip. 

 

“What?” Blink asked knowing that there was something else wrong. 

 

“Well, I sort of can’t go to Dave’s.  Maybe we could send Snipes to go for him,” Laces said. 

 

“That’s wasting time, why can’t ya go ta Dave’s?” Blink asked. 

 

“Sarah don’t like me much and her and Jack are having problems and I would just prefer if I was not around there,” Laces said.  Blink let out a sigh and called for Snipes.  Snipes ran down the stairs almost tumbling over Pixie. 

 

“Watch it!  Ise told ya not ta run those stairs like that,” Blink said.  Snipes shrugged. 

 

“Ise forgot,” he said. 

 

“Yeah, ya good at that,” Blink mumbled. 

 

“Snipes, I need ya to go get Walking Mouth and run could ya because I need him over here fast,” Laces said, Snipes nodded and darted out the door.  Laces paced back and forth.  The time was going by slowly and fast at the same time.  She would stand in one spot and then start walking to the other side of the room in like two minutes.  She did this for about a whole ten minutes. 

 

“Laces,” Skittery said. 

 

“What?” she said.  “Are they coming, oh god.  Dave’s not here yet what am I going to do.  Pixie go hide in that closet over there.” Laces rushed towards Pixie. 

 

“No Laces, they ain’t here yet.  Stop pacing ya making me sick,” Skittery said, amused at Laces reaction. 

 

“I can’t,” Laces said.  At that the door opened and in ran Dave and Snipes.  Dave was panting and Les came in last. 

 

“I came as fast as I could, Snipes said it was important.  Anything wrong?” Dave asked worried. 

 

“Well, I need ya ta do me a favor,” Laces fiddled with her hands. 

 

“What?” Dave asked. 

 

“Can ya take Pixie to Brooklyn, to my sister Caroline’s.  Just stop by the lodging house and get Bottle Cap to show you where it is,” Laces said. 

 

“Why are ya sending Pixie there?” Dave asked. 

 

“Well, cause Spot and Jack are coming back and I need to warm them up to the idea, but she can’t be here when they get here.  They would have a fit and that wouldn’t be pretty,” Laces said.  Dave laughed. 

 

“Well, I thought that Laces didn’t care what Spot and Jack thought,” Dave said. 

 

“Oh please Dave!  Please!  Ya know what I mean, I don’t care it’s just I care for their sanity and mine, and well we’ll all go insane if she’s here when they get here,” Laces said, getting on her knees and pulling on Dave’s shirt.  He laughed, he had no intention of denying Laces anything, he couldn’t, but this was so cute and funny. 

 

“Fine, come on Pixie we going ta go pay Caroline and Scott a visit,” Dave said.  Laces jumped up and thanked Dave by pecking him on the cheek. 

 

“Thank you!  I will make this up to you!” Laces said. 

 

“I know you will,” Dave said.  Laces turned to Pixie and smiled. 

 

“Okay now be a good goyl, I will be around ta bring ya back as soon as I can.  It won’t be that long, Ise promise.  I visit tomorrow.  Okay,” Laces said.  Pixie nodded and went with David and Les.  Laces sat on the stairs and started breathing like a normal person now. 

 

“Well, ya pulled it off so far.  Now it’s the hard part,” Skittery said as he sat next to her. 

 

“Oh,” Laces groaned, as she rested her head on Skittery’s shoulder. 

 

“Why don’t we go sell some papes.  That way ya won’t have such a guilty air bout ya,” Skittery suggested. 

 

“That could work,” Laces said, they got up and headed out to get some afternoon editions. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Well, we’ll be seeing ya!” Spades said from the door. 

 

“Yeah, ya come ta Brooklyn when ya decided ta leave this place,” Spot said back. 

 

“Sure,” Angel said. 

 

“Oh great back to Brooklyn,” Scorch said a little disappointed and annoyed with Spot Conlon, having never really liked him. 

 

They said their last goodbyes and Jack and Spot were off early in the morning to catch the first ferry back to Manhattan to see if the lodging house was still standing. 

 

“I really don’t got a good feeling bout Laces,” Jack said. 

 

“No kidding,” Spot replied.  They both knew that they were in for a surprise when they got back and were already trying to prepare themselves for it. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

As the day went on David, Les and Pixie arrived in Brooklyn.  They stood in front of the lodging house. 

 

“I wonder if they came here first because they might be in there and that would blow everything,” David said.  They all looked at the building for a moment, there didn’t seem to be anyone in there and so David sent Les in.  He walked in cautiously and looked around there was no newsies there to be seen. 

 

“Can I help you Les?” Rick asked from his counter, it didn’t ever seem like he moved from that counter. 

 

“Um yeah, none of the newsies around?” Les asked. 

 

“Nah, it’s around lunch some of them may be round the docks,” Rick said. 

 

“Oh all right, but Spot and Jack they haven’t been round right?” Les asked. 

 

“No,” Rick raised an eyebrow.  “Why someone in trouble?” he asked. 

 

“Um, no,” Les said. 

 

“Not yet huh?” Rick said. 

 

“Well, um.  I have to go Rick,” Les said.  Rick nodded and Les darted out. 

 

“I wonder,” Rick said to himself. 

 

David, Les and Pixie walked to the docks that weren’t that far from the lodging house and sure enough there was Bullseye and Bottle Cap. 

 

“Heya Walking Mouth, Les, Pixie?” Bullseye sounded surprise.  Bottle Cap ran up to the little girl and hugged her. 

 

“What is she, how did she, where did she?” Bullseye began to say. 

 

“Um, long story short, she was supposed to go to the orphanage because Cookie and Tangles went out west and they wanted Spot and Jack to take her in but they said no.  Laces though had a different idea,” Dave said. 

 

“She didn’t,” Bullseye said. 

 

“She did,” Dave nodded. 

 

“Oh jeez, this ain’t good what she going to do?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“Well, I came to get Bottle Cap to show me where Caroline lives.  Laces wants to hide her there until she warms Spot and Jack up to the idea or until her sister will have her whichever one happens first,” Dave said. 

 

“Well ya better get a move on, Spot and Jack might be around here any minute,” Bullseye said now scanning cautiously. 

 

“Yeah, come on,” Dave said.  Bottle Cap nodded and he held Pixie’s hand as the four walked away from Bullseye. 

 

“I don’t believe that goyl.  Spot ain’t going ta like this, he ain’t gonna like this one bit,” Bullseye said shaking his head. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Caroline was sitting in the kitchen while Scott was eating some cookies she had made when there was a knock at the door.  Caroline put her sewing down and went to get the door.  When she opened it she first saw Dave and then Bottle Cap and opened the door with a wide greeting. 

 

“Bottle Cap!” she exclaimed. 

 

“Hey Caroline,” he said back.  “This here is Dave and that’s Les, and well this is,” Bottle Cap was saying when Scott ran over and hugged Pixie. 

 

“Ma, it’s Pixie,” Scott said.  Caroline smiled. 

 

“So it is my dear, why don’t ya show Pixie your room,” Caroline said, she closed the door and the two small children along with Les went off.  Dave and Bottle Cap stayed to talk with Caroline. 

 

“Caroline, Laces was wondering if ya wouldn’t mind keeping Pixie here for a little while,” Bottle Cap said. 

 

“Why?” Caroline asked. 

 

“Well, Cookie and Tangles, the two who had been taking care of her, they went out West.  And they wanted to leave Pixie with Jack and Spot, and well there was some problems with that,” Bottle Cap said. 

 

“What kind of problems?” Caroline asked again. 

 

“Well, see they didn’t want to keep her thinking that a newsboys lodging house is no place ta raise a little goyl,” Dave said. 

 

“Well they’re right it isn’t but what is going to happen to her?” Caroline asked. 

 

“They wanted her to go to the orphanage, but well Laces didn’t like that idea and so she decided that she wanted to keep Pixie,” Cap said. 

 

“What did they think bout that?  Laces is too young ta be raising a child, she ain’t even done being raised,” Caroline said. 

 

“Well, see that’s where it gets a little complicated.  Spot and Jack don’t know yet,” Cap said. 

 

“That she has Pixie?” Caroline said. 

 

“Right, they left for three days and they coming back today.  So Laces hasn’t told them yet,” David said. 

 

“But, oh that goyl.  I can’t believe her, she’s playing with fire,” Caroline said. 

 

“Caroline please, I don’t want her going to an orphanage either,” Cap said. 

 

“Well who would, but that is the best place for her,” Caroline said. 

 

“Caroline, Laces wanted to give her a chance because Peach died saving her and Pixie is a lot more your Brother, Bryan’s child then anything,” David said.  Caroline looked a little shocked and didn’t say anything for a moment. 

 

“Fine, I’ll do it, but tell Laces she has a week to tell them or otherwise I will tell them or take her to the orphanage myself,” Caroline sighed. 

 

“Thanks Caroline, you’re the best!” Cap exclaimed as he hugged her. 

 

“I thank you for Laces ma’am,” David said as he folded his hat in his hands. 

 

“Pixie!” Cap called out.  The two who had been playing emerged. 

 

“Pix be a good goyl, all right?” Cap said.  Pixie nodded. 

 

“Is she staying with us Cap?” Scott asked. 

 

“Yeah Squirt,” Cap said as he ruffled his hair a bit. 

 

“Yay!” Scott shouted.  Cap smiled. 

 

“We better be going, Cap you should be in Brooklyn in case they come here, or are heading this way,” Dave said.  Cap nodded and the three, David, Cap and Les headed out leaving Caroline with one more child. 

 

“I don’t believe how interesting life can get when ya know my little sister,” Caroline sighed as she watched Scott and Pixie play. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and Jack walked into the lodging house and looked around, no sight of Laces or any other newsie. 

 

“LACES!” Jack yelled, there was no response. 

 

“She ain’t here, went with Skittery to sell some papers,” Kloppman said.  “Should be back soon.”

 

“Yeah, all right.  Kloppman anything happen while we were gone?” Jack asked.  Kloppman shook his head. 

 

“Nothing,” he said.  Jack looked at the old man for a second and then walked into the parlor with Spot. 

 

“Nothing he can tell us,” Jack said. 

 

“The place itself is still standing,” Spot said trying to look on the bright side of the matter.  Laces and Skittery sold 40 papers each and then walked back to the lodging house not feeling like selling more.  They walked in and there were newsies going in and out. 

 

“I wonder if Jack and Spot are back yet?” Laces was saying to Skittery when they walked in. 

 

“They are,” Kloppman said.  Laces looked into the parlor where Spot and Jack sat looking straight at her.  Skittery bit his lower lip trying not to laugh at the scene that seem so funny to him. 

 

“Laces, we been waiting for you.  Come on in here.  Tell us what ya been up ta?” Spot said.  Laces smiled her sweet smile and skipped over to them. 

 

“Nothing, the usual.  I went selling, played poker, this and that,” she said. 

 

“Really, nothing else?” Jack said. 

 

“Nope nothing else,” Laces said. 

 

“What happened with Pixie and the orphanage?” Spot asked watching Laces for reactions. 

 

“Oh it went as well as those things can go.  The poor baby started crying,” Laces said.  “I still can’t believe that you all made me do that,” she said. 

 

“You took her?” Jack said out of pure shock. 

 

“Yeah, I made sure she did.  At first she tried convincing me that she shouldn’t go, but I told Laces where the best place was for her,” Skittery said. 

 

“And we agreed where the best place was,” Laces said.  Spot and Jack nodded, still in shock and actually not really buying one word of it.  There was no proof of otherwise though, every newsie had said the same thing.  Kloppman and Blink, everyone had.  There was no Pixie running around and Laces didn’t even look guilty like she had so many times before. 

 

“Well, maybe you did stay out of trouble this time,” Spot said. 

 

“Coise I did!” Laces smiled. 

 

“We best be heading to Brooklyn then, to check up on Bullseye and the rest,” Spot said as he stood.  Laces nodded. 

 

“I’ll be seeing you all,” She said.  Jack and Skittery nodded at her, and Spot and her headed out the door. 

 

“Nothing happened Skittery?” Jack asked.  Skittery jumped at the question but responded at Laces had drilled him to respond. 

 

“Nothing that wouldn’t happen when you are here,” he said almost automatically. 

 

“So something did happen?” Jack asked. 

 

“Nope, not really.  Think of a time when Laces was peaceful and good,” Skittery said. 

 

“Never,” Jack replied. 

 

“Okay, well then you missed it,” Skittery replied as he walked up the stairs thinking that would be the day when Laces was good and peaceful.  That had never happened and there wasn’t a day that it was going to happen anytime soon. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Laces what happened?” Spot asked Laces when they got to the bridge, the darkness had set in around them. 

 

“Nothing that wouldn’t happen when you are here,” Laces replied.  Spot groaned. 

 

“Stop being smart with me, did anything happen?  If you fess up now then we won’t have too many things on your list,” Spot said. 

 

“List of what?” Laces asked. 

 

“Things that you did wrong,” Spot said. 

 

“What other things could you add?” Laces asked. 

 

“Lying,” Spot replied. 

 

“But I haven’t lied, nothing happened.  Can’t you and Jack just believe that nothing happened?” Laces said. 

 

“No because it’s not true.  Something happened and we all know that it did.  You can’t keep us in the dark forever,” Spot said. 

 

“Sure I can,” Laces said.  They keep walking and after a little while Laces asked her question. 

 

“What happened?” she asked. 

 

“With what?” Spot asked back. 

 

“With Spades?  Did you find them, are they all right?  Are they coming back?” Laces asked. 

 

“Let’s just say me devilish angel that we are better now.  We both finally forgave each other and no they’re not coming back.  But they will sooner or later, just not now.  They say hello and wish you luck,” Spot said. 

 

“Luck for what?” Laces asked. 

 

“For whatever you did wrong and how ever much Jack and me aren’t going to like it,” Spot said. 

 

“But I did nothing wrong!” Laces said. 

 

“Sure,” Spot said.  They got to the Brooklyn Lodging House and in the parlor were all the newsies.  Spot greeted them all and soon most went to bed.  Spot stayed and talked with Bullseye about some things.  Laces headed up to her room where Bottle Cap was waiting for her. 

 

“Did they find out?” he asked. 

 

“No,” Laces shut her door.  “They didn’t.  I think they might even start buying that I did nothing wrong,” Laces said. 

 

“Lying isn’t a good thing,” Cap said. 

 

“Oh don’t get started on me.  What did Caroline say?” Laces asked. 

 

“A week, that’s all she is going to wait for you to tell Spot and Jack and if you don’t she herself will take Pixie to the orphanage,” Cap said. 

 

“A week!  I can’t prepare them for this in a week!” Laces exclaimed. 

 

“That’s what she said, she didn’t support it one bit.  She didn’t want to do it, your lucky she said a week,” Cap said. 

 

“Oh dear, I guess I can start acting really obedient and make Spot and Jack ready for the blow,” Laces said. 

 

“Don’t start too much tomorrow, you will give yourself away too early,” Cap said. 

 

“I know.  Thanks Cap, go to bed now though, I have a lot to think about, dream about and to sleep on,” Laces said.  Cap nodded and smiled. 

 

“Night trouble maker,” he said. 

 

“Not my fault, it seems to follow me around,” Laces said to him.  “Night though.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The next day went as planned for Laces, she did everything that Spot told her to do, didn’t answer back as much, didn’t question him so much, pretty much was perfect.  That’s why he knew for sure now that something was up and so did Rick who still had not been filled in by Bullseye or Cap about any of the proceedings that were taking place. 

 

Spot, Laces and some others were on the docks, the usual activities that took place at night in Brooklyn.  Spot sat on his perch and Laces stood near by practicing her slingshot which was getting much better now.  Spot watched her carefully, watching her aim, waiting for her to do something wrong for him to be able to correct her.  He needed to know what was going on and he was trying to think of a way to corner Laces.  Anyone would think that after living and being cornered by her so many times then he would know what to do, but he didn’t. 

 

Laces looked at the bottle she was aiming for, she had been avoiding the bottle and had been pretending to shoot other things.  She didn’t want to try for the bottle under Spot’s gaze because she still couldn’t do it and he would get on her back about it.  That’s what Spot Conlon does, he gets on people’s backs for not being like him.  Laces took a deep breath, she couldn’t avoid it forever, she wanted to hit that bottle more then anything.  She pulled back the band and aimed for the bottle, when she let go she saw her error of aim.  The marble went flying over the bottle and into the murky water of the river. 

 

“That was sure a good shot,” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah, I know,” Laces mumbled annoyed that she had missed. 

 

“I could have told you that the aim was too high,” Spot said. 

 

“Why didn’t you?” Laces demanded knowing that she would have yelled at him if he had but that had never stopped him before. 

 

“Because you still haven’t told me what you did,” Spot said. 

 

“Spot, I didn’t do anything,” Laces said.  Spot nodded. 

 

“Keep practicing,” he said to her.  He was waiting for Jack, he was supposed to come around or send someone with word to see if anyone had told Jack what had been going on when they went out looking for Spades.  Everyone was acting weird.  It was hard not to notice that something had gone on.  No matter how small, Jack and Spot wanted, needed and thrived on knowing what it was that had gone on. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and mumbled as he kicked a rock. 

 

“They never used ta be able to keep a secret, still can’t.  I know that there’s a secret, just not what it is,” Jack had asked everyone, cornered the people he thought would most likely tell him.  No one said a word, nothing.  Well some said that something had happened, but they either really didn’t know what or they didn’t say what.  Jack had gotten very frustrated and was heading to Brooklyn smoking a cigarette to calm him. 

 

“Is it me or is the Brooklyn Bridge getting longer?” Jack said to himself. 

 

“It’s just you,” someone replied.  Jack looked around him confused, he didn’t see anyone. 

 

“Great now I’m hearing things to,” Jack said. 

 

“No you’re not,” the voice said again.  Jack again looked around, but saw nothing around him. 

 

“Oh god, it’s my cigarette,” Jack said looking at the cigarette that he held in his hand. 

 

“You’re not smoking a bad cigarette,” the voice said.  Jack this time stopped completely and spun around.  There sitting on the side of the Brooklyn Bridge sat a girl looking at him.  Her eyes piercing through him. 

 

“Hello, what are you doing here?” Jack asked staring back at the girl. 

 

“Watching people walk across the bridge, like yourself Jack,” the girl said.  Jack stared at her. 

 

“Do I know you?” he asked.  The girl shook her head. 

 

“No you don’t.  Why?” she said. 

 

“My name, how do you know my name?” Jack asked as he continued to stare at her.  She had black hair and white skin.  She did look familiar. 

 

“Your name, why everyone knows your name!” she said biting her lower lip making the impression that she was nervous.  Jack kept staring at her. 

 

“I do know you,” he said.  She looked shocked and stared back at him. 

 

“Do you?” she said as she began to stand up.  Jack and her stared at each other for a little while. 

 

“What’s your name?” Jack asked. 

 

“If you knew me you would know that,” She replied shortly.  Jack stared at her some more, her eyes they had this certain factor of pain that he had seen before, but who, who could this girl be?  He had never met anyone with that dark of black hair and he had seen that white skin.  The eyes were familiar.  All at once, when she smiled it hit him who she was. 

 

“Why, Buttercup?” he said.  Buttercup looked surprised to the full extent.  She stood there staring at Jack for a full minute before she turned to start running.  She didn’t run far though, actually not far at all.  Jack held her arm when she tried to run away. 

 

“Let go of me,” she said. 

 

“You are Buttercup, where have you been?  We thought that you moved away, what is going on here?” Jack demanded. 

 

“Damn it, why do I have to respond to people who ask stupid questions,” Buttercup said.  Jack glared at her. 

 

“What?  Don’t you know how worried everyone’s been.  Poor Spot, you left him.  First goyl in history to leave Spot Conlon.  Must say never thought that one would happen,” Jack said. 

 

“I’m not Buttercup you loony, I don’t even know who that person is,” Buttercup said.  Jack smiled. 

 

“Really?  Then why did you try to run, why did you know my name?  Why do you have that look in your eyes?  And that little wooden band around your finger, unless you stole that from a girl named Buttercup then it’s you,” Jack said. 

 

“Fine, it’s me,” Buttercup sighed. 

 

“Where have you been, what’s going on?  What about Spot?  Did you ever think about at least leaving him a note about where you were?” Jack asked. 

 

“Well, I was, I am um.  See this is what happened, and then, of course there was this.  Another thing was that, and then there was this, and well I couldn’t.  I wasn’t able to, I didn’t think I needed to.  There was so much going on, Spot has always had so many goyls, I didn’t think,” Buttercup went on like this for a little while more.  Not answering the questions, not finishing a sentence or a thought for that matter.  Jack stood there holding her arm. 

 

“Come to Brooklyn with me now, tell me what happened.  Come talk to Spot, tell him something.  Say hi to Laces,” Jack said. 

 

“But I can’t, I need to get back.  I am staying with my Aunt in the Battery area of town,” Buttercup said. 

 

“Just a moment and then I promise to walk you part of the way home.  Spot deserves to be told that you still around, and Laces,” Jack said.  Buttercup looked up at Jack and she felt herself melt under Jack’s smile, much like she had when they first met. 

 

“Fine, tell me what’s been going on with Laces and everyone since I left?” Buttercup asked as they started to walk down the bridge again. 

 

“Well, when exactly did you leave?” Jack asked. 

 

“Sometime in March, not sure when though.  But that was before you found Bottle Cap.  Was he found?  5 months,” Buttercup said. 

 

“Oh yeah Bottle Cap was found, and a lot of other things happened that are still happening today,” Jack said.  He went into telling Buttercup about the whole Pepper thing, then the Peach and Pixie thing.  All about what was going on now and that’s where he was when they got to the docks where Spot was still watching Laces try to hit the bottle unsuccessfully.  As they got closer they could hear Spot and Laces talk.  “You’re still doing it wrong,” Spot said. 

 

“Spot, just come show me how already!” Laces said stamping her foot. 

 

“No, can’t do.  Not until you tell me everything,” Spot said. 

 

“Well will you promise one thing?” Laces asked. 

 

“Fine, what do you want me to promise?” Spot asked.  Laces took a deep breath. 

 

“Not to get mad?” Laces said.  Jack stopped Buttercup. 

 

“Wait, let me hear what she is going to say,” Jack said.  Buttercup nodded, after being informed on the situation of the moment she knew that they wanted to know what had happened. 

 

“How about this, I promise not to kill you.  I promise not to yell,” Spot said, thinking that he would be able to restrain himself from that. 

 

“No, you have to promise not to get mad,” Laces said. 

 

“Fine, I promise not to get mad,” Spot said.  Laces looked at him a moment but continued, too late to back down now. 

 

“Well, I didn’t want to send Pixie to the orphanage and so I kept her,” Laces said, taking a step back and staying in the middle of the dock. 

 

“What?  You did not, where is she then?” Spot asked, not really letting the idea sink in. 

 

“Well, she’s with Caroline until the end of the week or until I tell you,” Laces said. 

 

“You kept her!  You couldn’t handle doing what we said!” Spot said, his voice starting to become louder. 

 

“You promised Spot!” Laces said. 

 

“Not to get mad, I didn’t promise not to get very angry,” Spot said.  Jack ran his hand through his hair. 

 

“This is a fine mess, that goyl just can’t learn.” With that Jack stepped out.  Jack and Spot both started at the same time to yell at Laces.  Laces stood there making sure that they kept their distance from her.  Buttercup giggled at the scene, knowing that the boys would yell over it, but in the end Laces would win.  So she decided to spare them all the effort of the yelling and she walked out and greeted them all. 

 

“Hello Spot, Laces,” she said.  The yelling stopped and Spot and Laces looked at her strangely. 

 

“It’s ya again,” Laces said.  “And you said my name, you do know me,” Laces said. 

 

“Who is this!  Jack, where did she come from?” Spot asked. 

 

“Laces, can’t you stay out of trouble?” Buttercup asked as she stared at Laces confused face. 

 

“That’s what I say, but no, not Laces, she has to be in trouble all the time!” Jack mumbled. 

 

“Who are you?” Spot asked.  He was staring at her back because she was facing Laces.  Laces stared at her a moment longer and then gasped. 

 

“It can’t, you’re not here.  You can’t be here,” Laces rubbed her eyes.  “I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately, maybe this is all a dream,” Laces groaned.  “That means that I still have to tell Spot and Jack.”

 

“This is not a dream Laces,” Buttercup said. 

 

“It’s not?  That means that you are really here, that means that!” Laces jumped and hugged Buttercup, Buttercup taken back by the action at first just stood there and then she hugged back.  Spot stood there just staring, this girl she looked familiar she sounded familiar, she even had this certain air that seemed familiar. 

 

“Turn around,” Spot demanded.  Buttercup stood still facing Laces. 

 

“I don’t like being ordered Spot,” she said.  With that Spot turned her around looked into her eyes and smiled. 

 

“BC, where you been?  Has your family moved back?” Spot asked. 

 

“No, I am staying with me aunt,” BC said. 

 

“Really?  When did you start doing that?  Why didn’t you come see us?” Laces asked. 

 

“Oh I just came back down by  train a little while ago, haven’t really had time I guess.  You know me, always got some work to do someplace,” BC said. 

 

“We were worried sick though,” Spot said. 

 

“You were that girl, that girl who helped me pick up my papes that one day.  Why didn’t you tell me who you were?” Laces asked. 

 

“I don’t know,” BC shrugged. 

 

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Spot demanded. 

 

“I guess I was scared that you won’t like me anymore because I had left like that,” BC responded. 

 

“What do you mean, that wasn’t your fault.  We don’t blame it on you,” Laces said. 

 

“Yeah I guess not, well I just came to say hello.  Jack here found me sitting on the bridge and convinced me to come, but I got to go now.  I promise to come by and visit when I get a moment.  Bye all,” Buttercup said, she skipped off. 

 

Spot, Laces and Jack looked after her.  They were silent for a moment, just watching her disappear from view.  Laces was thinking about how because of Buttercup’s sudden reappearance then she would be off the hook completely for a little while, and Spot and Jack would be to out of it to notice a small four year old running around the lodging houses.  She began to slowly edge off the dock thinking she would get away before the boys really noticed. 

 

“Laces Kai, come back ‘ere,” Spot said.  Laces didn’t pay him much attention though, pretending she hadn’t heard him she kept going.  Jack went over to her and held the back of her shirt. 

 

“Stop, ya ain’t getting away from this,” Jack said.  Laces smiled up at him. 

 

“We taking Pixie to the orphanage after we pick her up from Caroline’s,” Spot said.  Laces glared at him. 

 

“NO WE’RE NOT!” Laces said loudly.  Spot looked at her and then at Jack. 

 

“We should,” Jack said. 

 

“We can’t.  You can’t, I won’t,” Laces said. 

 

“The guys are all attached to her, you could tell otherwise they would have told us,” Jack said.  Spot stared at  Laces a moment and didn’t say anything. 

 

“Come on we’re going to Caroline’s,” Spot said.  Jack nodded and Laces glared at Spot.  She couldn’t believe he was doing this, still!  Jack had to drag her half the way there, with her resisting the entire way.  The three got to Caroline’s and Spot knocked on the door. 

 

Caroline came and she opened it. 

 

“Why hello Spot, Jack, Audrey.  What’s wrong Audrey?” Caroline asked. 

 

“I hate Spot,” Laces said.  “And Jack,” she added. 

 

“Really?  Why what did you do to them this time?” Caroline asked. 

 

“I didn’t do anything.  Just wanted to keep a little girl away from the orphanage and what do they care!  Let’s take her anyway!” Laces said.  Jack smirked.  Caroline let them in and Jack let go of Laces.  She went off to sit with Scott and Pixie and hear about all they had done together.  Spot and Jack sat with Caroline a few moments. 

 

“What do you think Caroline?” Spot asked. 

 

“I’m not sure, Laces and you two aren’t the best people to be taking care of a little girl, but I’ve never been very fond of orphanages,” Caroline said. 

 

“Yeah neither have we,” Jack said. 

 

“She doesn’t seem to be too much of a hassle though and she seems to adore Laces.  She’s a lot like Scott in that he looks up to both of you and looks to Laces for comfort and fun.  I don’t know maybe it could work.  It might even make Laces more mature and make her actual act her age, you never know,” Caroline said.  Spot and Jack nodded. 

 

“Laces!  Pixie!  Come on we’re leaving now!” Jack called out. 

 

“Good luck you two, I know that you will do what you think is right.  And whatever that is I support you on that.  Even if it does oppose my sister’s opinion,” Caroline said.  Jack and Spot nodded. 

 

“Caroline, can you maybe keep Pixie one more day?” Jack asked. 

 

“Yeah sure, why?” Caroline asked. 

 

“Well because, we can’t take her to the orphanage today, Sunday’s are the worst days,” Spot said. 

 

“I understand,” Caroline nodded, smiling.  Thinking to herself that Laces was once again going to win this battle.  But she was going to have to fight another battle. 

 

“Laces!” Jack called out again, Laces walked out holding Scott’s hand and Pixie’s. 

 

“Pixie ya staying here one more day, okay?” Spot said.  She nodded. 

 

“Ise understand,” Pixie said.  Laces looked at Caroline and then at Jack and Spot confused.  They didn’t even looked at her though they were all looking at Pixie. 

 

“Well come on Laces we are leaving now,” Spot said.  Laces shrugged, hugged the children and walked out of the apartment with Jack and Spot. 

 

“Why didn’t we take Pixie, what is going on here?” Laces demanded once they were on the street below the apartment. 

 

“Laces we’ll talk about it at the lodging house,” Spot said. 

 

“No why?  Why not now?” Laces whined. 

 

“Don’t whine,” Jack said. 

 

“But I want to know now,” Laces said. 

 

“It will take another like two minutes to get to the lodging house.  Just keep quiet until we get there,” Spot said.  Laces said nothing more, not wanting to upset him if he was still thinking about maybe keeping Pixie.  Once they got to the lodging house Spot and Jack walked into the parlor, Spot in front of Laces and Jack behind her.  Jack closed the doors, he knew what Spot was thinking, they had known each other a long time.  Spot sat down and so did Jack while Laces stood there staring at them all. 

 

“Laces, we have something to say,” Spot said. 

 

“I didn’t notice,” Laces mumbled. 

 

“We need to talk to you.  We don’t think that you may be a good influence on Pixie if we were to keep her.  If,” Jack said. 

 

“What?” Laces said, shocked about the fact that they might want to keep Pixie along with the fact that they thought she would be the problem. 

 

“Laces, you ain’t exactly the most responsible person there is.  If we were to take Pixie in you would have to promise to be more mature, to be more of a mother to that kid then a pest to us.  She would be your responsibility,” Spot said.  Laces looked from Jack then to Spot.  She jumped for joy and went over to Spot and gave him a hug and then went over to Jack and gave him a hug. 

 

“Thank you!  I knew you wouldn’t send her to the orphanage.  Don’t worry you won’t regret this,” Laces said.  She skipped off opening the doors and going up the stairs to her room.  Jack looked at Spot and burst into laughter.  Spot also began to smile. 

 

“She did it again,” Spot said. 

 

“That she did,” Jack nodded. 

 

“She didn’t promise anything,” Spot said. 

 

“Not even that we wouldn’t regret it,” Jack said.

 

“I don’t believe it,” Spot said. 

 

“I think I understand what Spades was saying now,” Jack said. 

 

“I don’t believe this,” Spot said again. 

 

“Well, you better believe it.  I just don’t know how well we’re going to handle being full on adults and part time parents to this little girl.  I hope that we don’t ruin her for life,” Jack said. 

 

“Nah, just don’t let her stay with you guys for more then an hour and she should live a long and happy life,” Bullseye said from the door. 

 

“Ah, shut up,” Spot said. 

 

“So we keeping the kid?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“Yeah, I guess we are,” Jack nodded. 

 

“That’s good, I was getting attached to the kid,” Bullseye said. 

 

“Just think if we have trouble keeping them from covering for Laces, think what a little innocent cute little girl will get away with it,” Jack said. 

 

“Don’t make me think about what we’re getting into until we’re in it Jack,” Spot said.  Jack nodded. 

 

“I stay here tonight and then see if Laces wants to go to Manhattan or stay here tomorrow,” Jack said.  Spot nodded to this and the boys stayed up a little longer talking and then headed to bed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades’ gang sat in their place with nothing to do.  They had been making a good amount of money lately off of all the bars that they went to.  The bartenders even paid them sometimes to come in and do what they did every night because they brought in more business.  They had to watch it though because the bulls were on their tails, they had found out their little operation and soon they would catch on to where they were. 

 

“Spades, it’s getting dangerous around here,” Blue said. 

 

“I know, I know.  I’ve been thinking about that,” Spades said. 

 

“Are we going to go back to Brooklyn?” Angel asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  I think it would be too soon.  Sides I like it here, there is so much work,” Spades said. 

 

“The best places for work are Staten and Coney, I believe you can make good money off of that one too.  But Brooklyn was one of the best places too.  I must say we have a good variety to go to if it’s money we in search of,” Shady said from the couch. 

 

“Yeah, I love them all, but I was always a Brooklyn goyl, I think I will die being one,” Cheeky retorted. 

 

“Brooklyn is home,” Candy nodded. 

 

“Sides it’s always fun to see what Laces gets into and watching Spot and Jack,” Vigor said. 

 

“Coise!  If Brooklyn just had one less person in it then maybe I would be able to live there in peace,” Scorch mumbled. 

 

“Does that mean that we heading back to Brooklyn?” Blue asked. 

 

“Yeah sooner or later I think we will.  But for now we still staying here.  We waiting this one out,” Spades said. 

 

“Good,” Pockets nodded, he wasn’t ready to go back to Brooklyn yet, not ready to face Laces yet. 

 

So it was settled the gang would when their time was up in Staten head back to Brooklyn where they now felt that they truly belonged. 

 

“Now I want to remind you all to stay off the drinking tonight, last night we almost got caught because we was drunk,” Candy said. 

 

“No more then two drinks tonight each,” Blue nodded in agreement.  The night before had been a close call with the bulls right behind them and them not being able to walk straight. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces and Pixie had decided to stay in Brooklyn to Spot’s joy.  Jack walked back to Manhattan thinking about his newsies and how much he had to talk to them.  He couldn’t believe that they hadn’t told him about what Laces had done.  He still couldn’t believe that they had decided to keep Pixie.  He had figured that they would seeing that Laces was so set on it.  Once Jack got to Manhattan he bought papers and started selling.  He sold a few before lunch but then he went to Tibby’s. 

 

The little bell rang that was above the door when Jack entered.  Some of the newsies were already there and they greeted Jack with many hellos and how was Laces.  They didn’t think that Laces had told him yet because Jack didn’t look all that mad.  Jack greeted them back and went to sit at his table where Dave and Blink were sitting with Race.  Jack slid into the table sitting next to Race. 

 

“Heya Jack,” Dave said. 

 

“Heya Dave.  Race, Blink, how was everything?” Jack asked. 

 

“Fine, everything is fine,” Blink said. 

 

“Really?  Fine, the same fine as when we left you with Laces?” Jack asked.  Race, Blink and Dave looked at each other, they weren’t sure if he knew yet or he just still wanted to know. 

 

“Um, what are you talking about Jack?” Race asked. 

 

“You know what I am talking about.  How can you guys do that to me, how can you let her do that?  I don’t believe it,” Jack said.  “The thought of the little girl with you scabbers,” Jack said. 

 

“Jack, she was just so convincing.  She was so set on it.  And I don’t say that I don’t think that the kid is going to be trouble, but I think that Laces will be good with her and she will be good for Laces,” Dave said. 

 

“You knew about this too?  And you didn’t tell me?” Jack asked. 

 

“Well yeah sort of,” Dave nodded. 

 

“I don’t believe this,” Jack said. 

 

“What about the kid?  What will happen to Pixie?” Blink asked a bit worried that his friends might have taken her away to the orphanage in their anger. 

 

“She’s in Brooklyn with Laces and Spot.  She is staying, we keeping her.  Laces said that she would most likely come tomorrow with her and stay here.  She thinks that Spot needs a little getting use to the idea but not so much right away,” Jack sighed. 

 

“Don’t worry Jacky boy, the goyl is a perfect angel,” Blink said. 

 

“All kids are for a little while Blink.  I even was,” Jack smiled. 

 

“Well, maybe Pixie is good all the time,” Race smiled. 

 

“Yeah just like Laces is,” Jack grinned.  The other newsies groaned at the thought of a small Laces running around, but smiled in spite of it all.  They were all suckers for little kids and girls, that was just the way that they worked, always has been. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pixie was really good that first day she spent in Brooklyn, everyone was giving her attention.  She was not ignored one moment.  Pixie enjoyed the whole day, when the sun was about to set is when Laces told her that they were going to Manhattan.  Pixie jumped with joy. 

 

“Is Bottle Cap coming too?” she asked. 

 

“He could, but I think that it’s better if he stays here.  Snipes is in Manhattan and so are some of the other boys.  They will all play with you,” Laces said as she smiled at Pixie and at Bottle Cap. 

 

“I’ll walk with you for a little while,” Bottle Cap said.  Laces nodded and they headed for Manhattan.  Bottle Cap walked with them most of the way, he turned back when they were in the middle of the bridge.  When the girls got to Manhattan the boys were all over Pixie.  Laces laughed at the scene. 

 

Mush was giving Pixie a piggy back ride, while Race chased him around pretending to be the bad guy.  The others joined the game from time to time playing different parts.  Laces leaned against the door frame just watching, smiling. 

 

“It might work after all,” Blink said from behind her.  Laces smiled as she looked over her shoulder at him. 

 

“It just might, she’s happy and so is everyone else,” Laces said. 

 

“Let’s just hope it stays that way,” Skittery said as he put an arm around Laces.  Laces nodded.  She hoped so to. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

August 16th 1900

 

Laces and Pixie went back and forth between Brooklyn and Manhattan much like Laces had always been used to doing.  She did this not only because that is what she had always done, but she was also trying to keep the newsies from getting tired of Pixie.  It was working so far, but soon September would come and Laces wanted Pixie to go to school with Les.  That is what she preferred. 

 

Les had started going to school last year for a little while because his father and even Dave had agreed that it was good to have some education.  So Les had to go back, but he still sold papers after school with the others.  This year was going to be Les’ last year in school, he had bargain it that way.  Laces agreed with going to school, although she herself had never really been there she knew that it was good to learn and she didn’t have time to teach Pixie; she needed her to go to school. 

 

Laces had never taken Pixie to sell papers with her.  Laces and the newsies didn’t think that selling papes at that young of an age was a good idea.  So when in Manhattan, Pixie would stay with Kloppman in the lodging house and in Brooklyn she would sometimes stay with Rick and the other times stay with Caroline and Squirt.  Pixie loved life with the newsies she hadn’t grown tried of it yet, she thought it was exciting and there was always some one to play with. 

 

Spot and Jack were beginning to think that maybe she wasn’t going to be much trouble at all, seeing as she still was as good and sweet as when she first came.  Even Laces had been calm and almost angelic since Pixie had come. 

 

“Jack, come on, you telling me that Luv left New York without telling us?” Spot was saying.  Jack and him were sitting in the bunkroom of the Manhattan Lodging House talking about the events of the summer. 

 

“That’s what I heard from Duck, he might still be sore that she left him though.  I don’t know why he knew she was going to sooner or later.  But I do believe she has dated every leader in New York City,” Jack grinned. 

 

“But we were always her favorites, you know that Jack.  I almost began to think she wanted to date us again, her coming around her with all her new little leader boyfriends.  I think Sugar scared her away that one time though.  She didn’t ever come back that time,” Spot said. 

 

“Sugar scared her away?  When?  Why hadn’t you told me about that I wondered why she hadn’t been around here?” Jack said. 

 

“Well, it wasn’t really anything.  That was back when I was still with Sugar and I kissed Laces,” Spot said. 

 

“You kissed her?  Is that why you were so mad that I had kissed her, I knew that you had liked her, but that she had kissed you, I don’t think I knew that,” Jack said a little surprised. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces walked into the lodging house, Pixie ran up to her and gave her a hug. 

 

“Hello Laces, Spot is ‘ere.  He is talking to Jack upstairs,” Pixie said.  Laces smiled and nodded. 

 

“Been a good girl for Kloppman?” Laces asked.  Pixie nodded again and then Snipes called out for her and she scrambled away.  Laces walked up the stairs and went into the bunkroom as Jack and Spot were talking about something Jack didn’t know. 

 

“What didn’t you know?” Laces asked.  The boys looked up at her and smiled. 

 

“That you kissed Spot,” Jack responded watching her reaction. 

 

“Um that, well that was so long ago.  I don’t believe that you even remember that,” Laces fiddled with her hands. 

 

“Yeah, well we were talking about Luv, she’s seem to have disappeared ever since Sugar threw her out, before the little kiss,” Spot said smiling as he watched how red Laces was seeming to turn. 

 

“Really the other day at Medda’s I heard some boys from Midtown talking about her, I think she just sunk low for a little while.  I believe she got into some trouble.  Not sure what kind probably with some leader somewhere.  I really don’t know though,” Laces shrugged.  She had never liked Luv, but she had never disliked her much.  Jack and Spot nodded. 

 

“That wouldn’t be surprising.  So how was selling?” Spot asked her. 

 

“It was okay.  I heard that school is starting soon, so I asked Dave to ask his mom about getting Pixie into school.  She is going to be five, ain’t that when they start going to school?” Laces asked.  Spot and Jack shrugged. 

 

“I don’t remember, I haven’t been to school in the longest time,” Jack said. 

 

“I never really went to school, the nuns taught me all I needed to know,” Spot said.  Laces nodded, she hadn’t been to school either.  She shrugged, Dave’s mom should know.  Jack and Spot nodded again and they fell to talking about the poker game that night. 

 

“So Laces, what are we doing with Pixie?  We ain’t taking her with us?” Spot asked. 

 

“No, we can’t, not a place like that.  Kloppman already agreed to watch her,” Laces smiled. 

 

“Good, even though Laces you’re the one who wanted her not Kloppman and he seems to be with her more then you are,” Jack said. 

 

“I know, it’s just there is so much to do,” Laces said. 

 

“Just make sure that Kloppman doesn’t get stuck being the parent, you wanted it,” Jack warned.  Laces nodded she understood what Jack meant. 

 

“So you two going to be okay going into Harlem tonight?” Laces asked looking at them.  It had been some time since the last time that they had been there.  Even though relations had gotten better, Harlem was not anyone’s favorite place yet or would ever be again not until someone else took over there and someone else took over in Brooklyn and Manhattan, which might not happen for a while. 

 

“Yeah, we’ll be fine Laces, you got to promise that you won’t drink though,” Spot warned. 

 

“What if I want to?” Laces asked.  Jack and Spot both glared at her, she just smiled.  She wasn’t going to promise anything.  Spot and Jack just shook their heads.  They didn’t like it, but there was nothing they could do to stop her. 

 

“Well we better get going,” Spot said getting up, Laces nodded as she headed towards the door and Jack also got up. 

 

“Is Sarah going tonight?” Spot asked. 

 

“Yeah she’s coming over here with Dave,” Jack nodded, Laces looked back at him. 

 

“Really?  Maybe I should stay here,” Laces said. 

 

“Are you still afraid of her?” Jack asked.  

 

“Well, not afraid of her, I ain’t afraid of no one.  But she don’t like me and she is never happy when I am around and I don’t want everyone to have a bad time just because of me,” Laces said. 

 

“No one is going to have a bad time.  Don’t worry about it Laces okay,” Jack smiled at her as he put his arm around her and they walked down the stairs.  The rest of the newsies were assembling except for the ones that weren’t going.  The only ones who were not going were Sand and Scotch, two of the younger newsies who had gotten on Jack’s last nerve when they broke a vase in the parlor that morning and tried blaming it on Pixie.  Jack had told that they weren’t allowed to go to the poker game they were now sulking while sitting on the stairs. 

 

“Cheer up kids, missing one poker game won’t kill you.  And sides, that should teach you to horse around in the parlor, or at least horse around without being careful,” Skittery winked at them as he skipped down the stairs. 

 

Laces smiled at them trying to make them feel better too, but they just ignored everyone and sat there sulking.  Pixie stood watching the excitement.  She wanted to go and had asked everyone, but each newsie said no.  She was a little disappointed, but she still had hope that someone would say yes. 

 

“Pixie you mind what Kloppman says and play nicely with Scotch and Sand,” Laces said. 

 

“But Laces I want ta come with you,” Pixie said. 

 

“You can’t Pixie we have been through this.  A poker game ain’t no place for a little girl,” Laces said.  Pixie pouted at that and went to sit with Scotch and Sand.  Laces laughed a little and then she walked out with Jack and Spot and some of the others.  Once the last of them were out, Scotch and Sand headed up the stairs with Pixie following them. 

 

“You kids play nice!” Kloppman called after them.  Once in the bunkroom Scotch and Sand turned towards Pixie. 

 

“This is all your fault,” Sand said. 

 

“Is not,” Pixie squeaked. 

 

“You’re the one who broke the vase that got us in trouble,” Scotch said. 

 

“No I didn’t,” Pixie squeaked. 

 

“You did too,” Sand said.  “You lied to Jack and he believed you.”

 

“So what if I did, I can’t go either and I didn’t do nothing wrong,” Pixie pouted. 

 

“You did do something wrong though,” Sand said. 

 

“No I didn’t,” Pixie refused again. 

 

“Don’t waste your time with her, let’s go Sand,” Scotch said as he opened the window. 

 

“Where you going?” Pixie asked. 

 

“None of your business go play with some dolls,” Scotch said to her. 

 

“But what if I don’t want to,” Pixie said. 

 

“Too bad, this ain’t nothing you can do.  We doing something that Bottle Cap and Snipes did a while ago when they weren’t suppose to go somewhere either,” Sand said. 

 

“I want to come, can I come!  Please!” Pixie said. 

 

“No you can’t come,” Scotch said. 

 

“I am going to tell if I can’t go,” Pixie said. 

 

“Fine you can come just stay quiet and don’t fall behind, come on we have to hurry or we’re going to lose them and I don’t know me way to Harlem,” Scotch said.  Pixie smiled with excitement and the three kids hopped out the window and ran down the escape and onto the street where they started to follow the group of newsies. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Damn too many people with them.  There is no way we could do it tonight,” James cursed under his breath as he watched the newsies from an alleyway. 

 

“We need sometime where they might go out alone,” Gerry nodded as he put away what he had been holding in his hand. 

 

“I will get them,” James walked back down the dark alley. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was walking with Spot who had no girl with him that night because he had wanted Buttercup to come with him, but she had refused him and he was left with no girl to go with him.  Even though he could have found another one in no time he didn’t bother to.  Jack walked with Sarah ahead of them, she was complaining about Laces staying in Manhattan and how she had stayed to long. 

 

“Sarah, not tonight.  If you even think there is a reason to talk about this we can tomorrow,” Jack sighed already weary of the topic. 

 

“No, I want to talk about it now, how would you feel if I were to have a newsie sleeping with me in the same room everyday for a month and you knew that he was in love with me,” Sarah said.  Jack groaned. 

 

“Get off of it Sarah,” Jack said. 

 

“No,” Sarah continued her one sided conversation about Laces staying at the Manhattan lodging house so long.  The rest of the newsies were walking along talking about the days headlines, about an old man and some trolley of some kind.  They were joking about the mayor’s daughter and something about an angle.  Laces wasn’t paying much attention though she and Spot were holding a conversation without words something they had learned to do after everything that they had been through.  Finally Laces broke the silence. 

 

“So what are you thinking about?” Laces asked. 

 

“Spades.  I don’t know why I haven’t thought about them in forever,” Spot said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades and the gang were getting off the ferry panting for their lives they started to run as soon as they hit the ground.  They kept running until they got to an alleyway where they stopped to get a breath. 

 

“Do,” Shady started, “think we lost,” she was getting quick breathes in-between every word,  “them,” she finished. 

 

“I think we did, I hope so.  I can’t run much more,” Pockets said. 

 

The gang had gotten caught, they were heading back to Brooklyn on the run hoping that the bulls wouldn’t catch the ferry after them. 

 

“We going to Brooklyn?” Blue asked. 

 

“Yeah, but I heard that there’s a poker game and I know the newsies are all there,” Spades said.  Everyone nodded.  They started towards Harlem where the poker game was taking place. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces and the others walked into the Harlem poker hall, or what they all called the Harlem poker hall because that’s where they held all their games.  After about four minutes Pixie, Scotch and Sand walked into the hall sneaking around behind people to make sure that they weren’t seen by any of the Manhattan newsies, Spot or Laces. 

 

“Kelly and Conlon, oh and Laces,” Frost said from his table.  He didn’t hate Jack and Spot anymore, the relationship they held was all right, it wasn’t bad.  Frost knew that he had to stay friends with them because getting into a dispute with one meant getting into a dispute with the other and that never turned out well for him.  Frost had learned that the first time. 

 

“Poker?” Frost held the cards.  Spot held out a chair for Laces, as Jack did the same for Sarah.  Dave sat with them and Race came over and joined that game too. 

 

“Laces you playing?” Spot asked Laces. 

 

“Well just one game, I don’t want to play much.  Never been to good at this game,” Laces said back. 

 

“Frost, you dealing?” Jack asked. 

 

“Yeah, everyone’s playing right?” Frost asked as he split the deck. 

 

“Yeah,” Dave said.  The game started and went on for a while keeping them all distracted while Scotch and Sand joined a game with some of the younger newsies from Harlem and Midtown.  Pixie watched not knowing how to play and not caring to learn.  She was to busy watching everything that was going on.  She stared at each table for a little while, watching the newsies smoke and drink while they were staring at the cards.  She held some cards for a little while when Scotch said she could to see what was so interesting about them, she didn’t see anything though. 

 

After one game, just like Laces said she got up and went over to the bar and got a drink as she watched the game that Skittery and Blink were playing with some others she didn’t know. 

 

That’s when some more people entered Laces looked at the door and dropped her cup and it smashed as it landed on the ground.  Skittery and Blink looked over at her oddly. 

 

“Being more clumsy then usual Laces?” Blink asked. 

 

“No, wow oops.  It’s just that look who’s here,” Laces said.  Skittery and Blink looked towards the door and nodded. 

 

“Guess that could do it to you,” Skittery said as he went back to the game.  Laces went over to Spades’ gang. 

 

“Hey long time no see,” Laces said to them as she smiled. 

 

“Hey Kid, how ya been?  What trouble you been getting into?” Spades asked. 

 

“I don’t get into trouble,” Laces cried. 

 

“Yeah that’s why when we first met you, you were in trouble,” Angel grinned. 

 

“Yeah well,” Laces said. 

 

“What did you do that had Spot and Jack so worried when they saw us last?” Cheeky asked. 

 

“Oh I kept Pixie, they had to deal with that,” Laces smiled. 

 

“Things don’t change.” Blue nodded. 

 

“No they don’t.” Shady also nodded as she headed to the bar to get a drink and start in on the games.  The rest did the same, Spades and Angel headed over to Jack and Spot’s table.  Pockets and Laces stood at the door. 

 

“Hiya pockets,” Laces said. 

 

“Heya Laces, how ya been?” he asked. 

 

“Better,” she replied.  They stood there not saying anything just staring each other. 

 

“Want a drink?” Laces finally asked.  Pockets nodded and they headed over to the bar where she and him traded very few words while they drank. 

 

“Spades?  Angel?  What are you two doing here?  Just come for the fun of poker?” Spot asked when they sat down at the table with their drinks in hand. 

 

“Nah, we came here but we heading home after this,” Angel said. 

 

“Home?” Jack said. 

 

“Brooklyn,” Spades replied.  The boys all nodded as they finished up the round of poker.  Sarah sat there glaring at them.  She wasn’t in a good mood because of many things.  One the poker game was boring, she was losing and Jack was ignoring her. 

 

Spades and Angel were dealt into the game as Sarah called it quits and decided to drink something.  Sarah wasn’t one who had ever had much alcohol because she had never really had the opportunity to anyway.  She stayed on the otherside of the bar though from Laces and Pockets. 

 

“Pockets?” Laces finally said. 

 

“What?” Pockets said. 

 

“Why did you leave?” Laces asked, both of them had a few drinks. 

 

“Because Laces, you should know why I left.  I know you do, you just don’t want to believe it,” Pockets said. 

 

“No Pockets, I don’t know,” Laces shook her head. 

 

“You don’t love me, do you?” Pockets asked.  Laces looked at him a moment and after taking another slip of her drink she got up and moved closer to Pockets.  She moved his hat a little and then she leaned in and kissed him.  After she pulled away she smiled at him. 

 

“What do you think?” she asked.  Then she walked carry her fifth drink of the night and leaving him behind.  Sarah had witness the entire thing she slammed her drink on the bar and walked over to Laces. 

 

“You two bit whore!” she screamed loudly at Laces.  Laces looked at her. 

 

“What?” she said. 

 

“You heard me, you are a two bit whore if I ever did lay eyes on one,” Sarah said to Laces. 

 

“You have no right, who do you think you are?  I think you need to cool down,” Laces said, she looked at her drink and then splashed it in Sarah’s face.  The newsies around started rooting. 

 

“CAT FIGHT!” one yelled that was near Laces she turned to him. 

 

“Shut up,” she said. 

 

Spot, Spades, Jack, Angel, Race and Dave looked up over to where the commotion was coming from. 

 

“Oh God, now what is she doing?” Jack asked himself. 

 

“Both of them Jacky- boy it don’t look good,” Spot shook his head. 

 

Sarah wiped some of the drink off of her face and then ran towards Laces. 

 

“You can have everyone else in this room fooled, thinking that you some kind of beauty that everyone loves, but you ain’t.  You’re a two bit whore who likes to play with their hearts and see them dangle,” Sarah said as she slammed Laces into a table.  The table went flying the cards scattered everywhere and the boys who had been at the table pushed back as Laces landed on the floor.  She glared at Sarah. 

 

“You’re going to wish you didn’t do that,” Laces said, she got up and she threw a punch at Sarah. 

 

“Jack that isn’t good, they’re going to hurt themselves,” Spot said.  Dave was already getting up. 

 

“LACES!” someone called out, it sounded like a little girl’s shriek.  Spot looked around the place and on top of a table he saw Pixie sure enough standing there looking frightened and like she was about to cry. 

 

“Damn it, what is she doing here?” Spot said under his breath.  He looked to see if any of the newsies were near her, he saw Mush. 

 

“MUSH!  Grab Pixie off that table and keep her with you!” Spot yelled. 

 

“What is going on?” Angel said, she knew that Laces was in a fight with someone and that there was a little girl but she didn’t understand.  Jack and Dave were heading towards Laces and Sarah who were now punching at each other and pulling each other’s hair. 

 

“Laces, stop it!” Jack said. 

 

“Sarah, what’s gotten into you?” Dave yelled at his sister.  That didn’t stop the two girls though, they ignored Dave and Jack as they ignored everyone else.  They pushed each other to the ground where they tumbling on top of each other. 

 

“GO LACES!” Shady was shouting.  “DO IT LIKE WE TAUGHT YOU!” Jack went over and picked Laces off of Sarah and Dave held Sarah. 

 

“What the hell is this?” Jack demanded.  Laces glared at Sarah. 

 

“Why don’t you ask your girlfriend?” she said. 

 

“Sarah?” Jack asked.  As she glared at Laces she slowly looked up at Jack. 

 

“It’s your two bit whore’s fault,” she sighed. 

 

“What?” Jack said almost in a whispered.  Spot came over. 

 

“Not here Jack, deal with this later, Pixie is here.  And so are some others.  I’ll walk Laces home, we’ll go to Manhattan so you can talk to her there.  You walk Sarah home,” Spot whispered in Jack’s ear.  Jack looked like he got even madder.  He handed Laces over to Spot and walked over to Dave and Sarah. 

 

“I’ll walk you home Sarah, we can talk about this.  Dave, find Les,” Jack said.  Dave nodded and went off to find Les while Sarah and Jack headed out. 

 

Spot grabbed Laces, “You’ve been drinking again?” Spot said. 

 

“Shut up Spot,” Laces growled.  Spot didn’t say much more, not because she had told him not to, but because he was going to wait.  Laces and alcohol always made a bad combination. 

 

“I am guessing that’s our cue to head home?” Cheeky said. 

 

Frost looked around and sighed, “You invite Brooklyn, Manhattan and that goyl of theirs and you get some interesting scenes,” he said to Nails.  The others nodded and Spades and her gang followed Spot and some of the other newsies. 

 

“No kidding, almost no one ever so much as looks at that goyl no more cause she’s trouble in every meaning of the word,” Nails said. 

 

Mush held Pixie, while Blink had gotten a hold of Scotch and Sand.  Nothing much was said on the way to Manhattan.  Once they got to the bridge Spades and the gang stopped. 

 

“Hey see you all later, Laces come by tomorrow or something,” Spades said.  Laces nodded, Pockets looked at her one more time and then followed everyone else down the way to the bridge.  Once the newsies got to the lodging house Spot took Laces into the parlor and got Mush and Blink in there too.  Pixie was falling asleep in Mush’s arms though. 

 

“Leave them here, I need to talk to them,” Spot said. 

 

“But Spot, the kids are falling asleep,” Mush said as he looked at Pixie. 

 

“I won’t keep them long Jack is the one that is going to deal with them,” Spot said.  Blink and Mush nodded and headed out of the parlor. 

 

“Pixie, Scotch and Sand before you can go to bed you will tell me two things,” Spot said. 

 

“But Spot we’se real tired,” Scotch said. 

 

“Well you’re not going to bed until you tell me these two things, even if you stay up all night,” Spot said. 

 

“What are they?” Sand asked yawning. 

 

“Were you all supposed to be at that poker game?” he asked looking all three of them in the eye.  All three at once cast their eyes to the ground. 

 

“Well, Pixie wasn’t allowed to go period,” Sand began. 

 

“That wasn’t me question, were you all supposed to be at that poker game?” Spot repeated. 

 

“Well we were supposed to go, it’s wasn’t our fault about that vase,” Scotch said. 

 

“Answer the question,” Spot slammed his hand against the top of the fireplace, he was getting annoyed. 

 

“Well, no,” they all said meekly. 

 

“Now, how did you get there?  Pixie?” Spot asked knowing that she would break and tell him sooner then the other two. 

 

“We followed you there after you left, we climbed out the window,” she said. 

 

“Good, now go up to bed.  Don’t think that you are gonna get away with this,” Spot said as they hurried up the stairs.  Then Spot sat down and turned to Laces. 

 

“How many did you drink?” he asked her. 

 

“Not many,” Laces said. 

 

“ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION,” Spot said his patience was gone, the three kids had used it all up.  There wasn’t much to begin with. 

 

“6, stop yelling,” she said. 

 

“6!  What the ‘ell is wrong with you?  What do I say to you, don’t drink much what do you go and do drink six! Tomorrow you gonna be sick as ‘ell,” Spot said . 

 

“So what,” she said. 

 

“So what God damn it Laces, that stunt that you pulled tonight might have ended Jack and Sarah’s relationship for good,” Spot said. 

 

“Good,” Laces said.  “I don’t like her anyway.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack and Sarah were walking in front of Dave and Les.  Sarah was screaming at Jack and then Jack would scream at Sarah.  When they got close to the apartment Jack stopped walking. 

 

“You know what!  I am sick of you being jealous of her, of you calling her names.  She never done nothing to you!” Jack said. 

 

“Never done nothing to me!  She’s a two bit whore, she’s gonna step on your heart, but that’s what you want.  You want some cheap little whore like her to comfort you and then leave you out to dry.  I forgot that you’re like Spot, being his best friend and all.  You only like entertainment,” Sarah screamed at him. 

 

“If I wanted entertainment I would head here Sarah, you would give it to me and for less then Laces would,” Jack whispered to her in her ear.  Sarah gasped as she slapped Jack.  Jack looked at her. 

 

“Bye Sarah,” Jack said. 

 

“Go run to her, run to your little whore!  Get into bed with her,” Sarah screamed after Jack as he walked across the street.  Dave walked up to where Sarah was. 

 

“Stop your screaming he’s gone.  He wasn’t going to take it Sarah,” Dave said. 

 

“Shut up Dave your on her side too,” she said. 

 

“Sarah are you not Jack’s goyl anymore?” Les asked as they climbed the stairs of the building. 

 

“No, he prefers Laces,” Sarah said, as she realized that she was no longer Jack’s girl she stopped and turned around.  She wanted to see Jack there waiting for her to turn around so he could apologize and everything would be fine but it wasn’t.  Sarah let the tears fall, Les went to the apartment but Dave stood there with her. 

 

“Not most people can take that much Sarah.  It comes to a point where they just can’t,” Dave whispered to her.  Sarah collapsed into his arms. 

 

“But Dave, I loved Jack,” Sarah whimpered.  Dave helped her into the apartment and into her room where she cried herself to sleep. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack stormed into the lodging house.  He walked into the parlor where Spot was already yelling at Laces. 

 

“AUDREY!  WHAT THE ‘ELL WAS THAT?” Jack demanded when he walked into the parlor.  Laces looked up at him. 

 

“What, that you walking through the door,” Laces said. 

 

“Don’t be smart with me, you know what I am talking about.  What the hell was that?” Jack said getting closer to her.  He was angry and a little drunk not much though.  Not as much as Laces. 

 

“Did you break up with the virgin?” Laces asked smiling as she said it.  Jack slapped his hat onto her legs. 

 

“STOP IT, now you are going to tell me what happened now if you want to stay in this lodging house,” Jack said.  Laces jumped back a little taken a back by the sudden action that Jack took. 

 

“She called me a two bit whore and I thought she needed cooling down so I threw my drink at her,” Laces said in a matter of a fact way. 

 

“Why did she call you a two bit whore?  What did you do to her to make her call you that?” Jack asked. 

 

“How should I know, she’s a loony.  I don’t know why she did that,” Laces said.  

 

“Think what could you have done to make her do that,” Jack asked. 

 

“Me done something, before that I had been sitting at the bar with Pockets drinking,” Laces said.  “I finally asked him why he left and he said I knew, then he asked if I loved him.  Then I kissed him,” Laces said. 

 

“You kissed him?” Spot asked. 

 

“Yeah, and then I said that he could think about that and walked away and that’s when Sarah came up to me,” Laces said. 

 

“She must of have seen you kiss him,” Jack mumbled. 

 

“Why would she care who I kissed,” Laces said. 

 

“I don’t know.  How many drinks did you have?” Jack asked. 

 

“She had 6,” Spot replied for her. 

 

“6?  What did you forget what we said?” Jack asked her. 

 

“Me, what did you tell me?” Laces asked. 

 

“Get out of here, go to bed.  We’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Jack growled at her.  She made no complaint and walked up the stairs and headed to her bunk.  Some newsies made some comments to her all the same things though. 

 

“You should be more careful Laces.”

 

“Good left hook.”

 

“You should listen more to Jack and Spot.” Laces made few responses to them though as she flopped herself onto her bunk that was under Jack’s. 

 

Skittery walked over to her. 

 

“Nice shiner Kid,” he said. 

 

“Thanks, thanks a lot Skitts,” she said. 

 

“I’ll go get you some ice else tomorrow you won’t be able to open it.  Don’t you fall asleep before you get some ice on it,” Skittery walked down the stairs and got her the ice in no time and brought it back for her. 

 

“Thanks Skitts,” she said. 

 

“No problem.  Talk to you tomorrow after they yell at you some more,” Skittery said.  Blink flipped the lights off and most of the newsies fell asleep.  Spot and Jack were still talking though about Spades, about Laces, about Pixie and of course about Sarah. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

August 17th 1900

 

The next day came and when morning came most of the newsies headed out to sell papers.  Jack and Spot didn’t though and neither did Laces.  They slept more then everyone else, when Laces finally did wake up she ran to throw up, which woke Jack up and Spot.  It was near noon, they got washed up and Laces drank some stuff that Kloppman gave them when they got drunk sometimes. 

 

“Blink said that he would send Sand and Scotch in at lunch.  And Pixie is still fast asleep,” Kloppman said to Jack when he went upstairs.  Jack nodded and thanked Kloppman for telling him and for Laces’s drink. 

 

“This is why you don’t have more then two drinks Laces, ever!” Jack was saying. 

 

“Not now, later,” Laces groaned from her bunk. 

 

“No later you’ll ignore me,” Spot said. 

 

“Oh come on,” Laces rolled around a little. 

 

“No and Laces, Pixie went last night.  What are you going to do about that?” Jack asked.  Laces looked at him. 

 

“Do about it, why can’t you handle it?” Laces asked. 

 

“Because she’s your responsibility Laces, we ain’t the ones that told her she wasn’t allowed to go, you were and if you don’t do anything about it she’s going to do whatever she wants whenever she wants,” Spot said. 

 

“But I can’t right now, why don’t you take care of it.  I know you two can.  Be good boys and do that for me.  If you do I promise not to drink no more then two drinks ever again,” Laces begged.  Jack and Spot gave her a look. 

 

“You going back to Brooklyn today,” Spot said. 

 

“But Spot!  I can’t get up,” Laces whined. 

 

“You want to go talk to Pixie?” Spot asked her. 

 

“Fine, I’ll go to Brooklyn,” Laces gave in. 

 

“Good, now get some sleep so that the bridge don’t start spinning on you,” Spot said.  Laces nodded and the boys left the room. 

 

“I’ll talk to Pixie, I think I heard the door which means that you have two more trouble makers on your hands to deal with,” Spot said. 

 

“Thanks Spot, but I might want to say something to all three of them,” Jack said. 

 

“I don’t think that would do well Jack.  We have to keep our temper a little more around the little goyl,” Spot said.  Jack nodded, he was right. 

 

“Fine,” Jack headed down the stairs where he glared at the two young culprits that had just walked in. 

 

“Heya Jack,” they said. 

 

“Get into the parlor,” he said to them both.  They walked into the parlor and Jack walked in after them closing the door. 

 

“Be nice Jack,” Kloppman said. 

 

“Nice?” Jack grinned as he closed the doors completely.  Then he turned around to face Scotch and Sand. 

 

“What did I tell you last night?” Jack asked. 

 

“About what Jack?” Sand asked. 

 

“Don’t play games with me, I know them all don’t forget that,” Jack said. 

 

“Not to got to the poker game,” Scotch said. 

 

“And what did you do last night?” Jack asked. 

 

“Went to the poker game,” Sand said head hanging. 

 

“And not only did you do what I told you not to but what else did you do?” Jack said. 

 

“What else? We didn’t do nothing else,” Scotch said. 

 

“Nothing else that you can think of that might get me angry?” Jack said.  He was taking his time scaring them. 

 

“We didn’t do nothing else, we didn’t drink.  We didn’t break nothing else,” Scotch said. 

 

“Who else wasn’t supposed to go to the poker game?” Jack asked. 

 

“Oh,” Scotch and Sand said. 

 

“OH?  Is that all you have to say for yourselves, oh?  You could have gotten Pixie hurt and you say oh?  She isn’t supposed to be at those kind of places at all,” Jack said. 

 

“But Jack!” Sand said. 

 

“But Jack what?” Jack asked. 

 

“We didn’t do nothing wrong,” Sand said. 

 

“What do you mean you didn’t do nothing wrong, we just went through this Sand,” Jack said. 

 

“No, we were supposed to go to the poker game.  You got so mad about the vase you thought we were lying and that we did break the vase but we didn’t,” Sand said. 

 

“Not this again, come on boys.  Stop the lying already,” Jack said. 

 

“We ain’t lying Jack!  You didn’t even listen to what we was going to say, you just asked Pixie if we had broken it and she said yes,” Scotch said. 

 

“Telling me that she lied?” Jack asked. 

 

“She did, she broke it!” Scotch said.  Jack looked at them a moment. 

 

“Say she did, you still weren’t allowed to go and you should have known better then to have done what you did last night that was plain stupid,” Jack said to them. 

 

“But Jack,” Sand said. 

 

“NO more buts.  You two aren’t allowed to go to the next two parties or poker games that we have understood?” Jack said.  The boys nodded. 

 

“Now get out there and sell more papers.  Stay out of trouble,” Jack said.  The two started slowly for the door. 

 

“Oh and boys, the vase, don’t worry about it I believe you,” Jack said.  The boys nodded and headed out.  Jack walked out. 

 

“What did you tell them they looked pretty sorry when they came out here they even apologized,” Kloppman said. 

 

“Ah nothing really, you know stuff here and there,” Jack smiled. 

 

“I’m afraid that I misjudged them before though.  Pixie seems to have a bit of a lying problem,” Jack said. 

 

“Indeed she does,” Kloppman said.  

 

“You knew about it?” Jack asked. 

 

“I watched her break it,” Kloppman said. 

 

“And you didn’t say anything to me even though I blamed Scotch and Sand?” Jack asked. 

 

“I don’t interfere Jack, never have.  You were too mad to listen anyway,” Kloppman said. 

 

“Kloppman,” Jack said. 

 

“You’re here to run this place, but someone’s got to tell you what you’re doing wrong.  That’s what I am here for and I telling you to control that temper of yours or you gonna be staying with Scotch and Sand when they don’t go to those poker games or parities,” Kloppman said.  Jack laughed at the thought, he hadn’t been sentenced to stay home from a poker game since he had first come to this lodging house and a bit after he had become leader and he had never heard those words with his name since. 

 

“All right Kloppman,” Jack nodded and headed up the stairs. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot walked into Pixie’s room which was a small room that was more like a closet at the end of the hall that the newsies had set up for Pixie.  Spot walked in, Pixie was sitting on the bed looking out the small window. 

 

“Pixie,” Spot said.  She looked at him her bright eyes already getting ready for the water works if they were needed. 

 

“Hello Spot,” she said.  “Did you sleep well?”

 

“Fine, but Pixie I came here to come talk to you about a certain little thing that you did last night,” Spot said.  Pixie looked at him and the tears started to well up. 

 

“They made me Spot, I didn’t want to go, but they made me come.” She began to cry.  Spot looked at her a moment, he got up and went out the door. 

 

Jack was standing down the hall, when he saw Spot walk out of Pixie’s room. 

 

“What happened?” Jack asked. 

 

“She broke into tears and said that they made her go,” Spot said. 

 

“She’s lying,” Jack said. 

 

“How do you know?” Spot asked. 

 

“She’s good at lying.  That vase that I thought that Sand and Scotch broke yesterday, it was her.  She lied to me,” Jack said. 

 

“How do you know?” Spot asked. 

 

“Kloppman saw her do it,” Jack said. 

 

“Oh that little, oh I can’t believe this little girl,” Spot said as he walked back to her room and opened the door and walked back in.  She was sitting on the bed still looking at the window the waterworks gone now though.  She saw Spot and again started to cry. 

 

“STOP THAT NOW YOUNG LADY,” Spot said loudly and forcefully.  Pixie looked up at him as she stopped crying she began to whimper again. 

 

“PIXIE, I MEAN IT, stop your crying now,” Spot said.  She gulped down her tears. 

 

“Whatever they told you they lied Spot,” Pixie said. 

 

“Stop it, I don’t want to hear it.  You lie to me again I swear to you Pixie,” Spot said looking at her. 

 

“But,” Pixie said. 

 

“Pixie, I don’t like lying and neither does Jack nor Laces.  You lied to Jack yesterday and right now you were lying to me,” Spot said.  “I don’t know what you think you’re going to gain from lying, but lying is not good,” Spot said thanking God that she had never gone selling and knew what the newsies did with the headlines. 

 

“but Spot,” Pixie said. 

 

“No buts, you take a nap and think about what you did.  You don’t come out of this room until me or Laces comes to get you, understood?” Spot said.  Pixie nodded about to cry.  Spot got up and walked out of the room.  Pixie threw herself on her bed and started to cry. 

 

“Wasn’t that fun?” Jack asked. 

 

“She’s almost as bad as Laces with that face of hers,” Spot said.  Jack smiled. 

 

“Think if she’s that good at that age, how she will be when she gets to Laces age,”

 

“Oh God help us,” Spot said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was able to walk now, most of the newsies were home talking about things.  Jack was sitting on the roof smoking a cigarette.  Laces walked up there and sat with him. 

 

“Can I have one?” Laces asked.  Jack gave her a look, but handed her the cigarette. 

 

“What you thinking about?” Laces asked as she handed it back. 

 

“Sarah,” Jack said.  Laces blew the smoke from her mouth harder then usual at the name Sarah. 

 

“Oh, what happened?” she said trying to sound like she cared. 

 

“We broke it off.  I couldn’t deal with that,” Jack said.  Laces nodded, she didn’t know what else to say and so she said nothing more. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces walked to Brooklyn with Spot that afternoon, Pixie followed but far in front of them.  Spot and Laces were talking about everything and nothing at the same time. 

 

“Spades’ goyls got in trouble again,” Spot was saying to Laces asking why they had come back. 

 

“So why did they come back here?” Laces asked. 

 

“Because this is where they belong,” Spot said back as they walked along the Brooklyn Bridge. 

 

“Yeah, I guess so.” Laces nodded.  That’s when she spotted someone on the bridge. 

 

“Hello,” Laces said.  The girl looked up and again it was no one other then Buttercup. 

 

“Heya Laces, Spot,” she said looking up at them from the water. 

 

“You like sitting on this bridge now?” Spot asked. 

 

“Guess I do,” Buttercup shrugged and got up and looked at Pixie.  She got a little closer to Laces. 

 

“Guess you won,” she whispered. 

 

“Guess I did,” Laces nodded to her.  “Why haven’t you come to visit like you promised?”

 

“Been busy,” Buttercup looked like she didn’t care. 

 

“Busy with enough time to come sit on this bridge?  Ain’t you staying in Harlem, you walk out here how often to sit on this bridge?” Spot asked, he sounded mad because he and Buttercup didn’t know where they stood.  Actually Spot didn’t know where they stood because she was never around, he wasn’t sure if she still thought of them as together and just really didn’t have time or if she was just ignoring him.  There was tension between him and her, she didn’t pick up on it though or she ignored it. 

 

“I like this bridge Spot.” She shrugged.  “I must go, nice seeing you all.  I stop by when I have a moment.” Buttercup started to walk down the bridge. 

 

“We’ll see you when we walk the bridge tomorrow!” Spot yelled after her loudly. 

 

“Spot, you and her should talk,” Laces commented as they kept walking. 

 

“We would if she was ever around,” Spot said back angry. 

 

“I going to Spades’,” Laces said. 

 

“Fine, just be back before it gets dark.  I don’t want you trying to walk these streets like you are,” Spot said looking at her, she was just beginning to walk straight again. 

 

“I WANT TO GO TO SPADES’!” Pixie ran over to Laces and Spot.  Laces bit her lower lip and looked at Spot. 

 

“Well,” Laces started. 

 

“No Pixie, you’re going to the lodging house with me,” Spot said looking down at her.  Pixie ignored Spot and kept looking at Laces.  Laces looked at Spot. 

 

“Spot,” she started to say, he glared at her though and Laces backed down and nodded at Pixie to follow Spot.  Pixie pouted while she walked with Spot and Laces stared after them. 

 

“Well I know who can keep her in line,” Laces said as she started to walk to Spades’ place. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The gang was all happy to be back in their old place, it was always everyone’s favorite.  The old torn down building was a place that reminded them all of home and was always some place they enjoyed being. 

 

Of course they were already lazing around the main entrance where the counter was.  Scorch sat in her chair playing with a box of matches.  Angel was in the library leafing through some old book.  Spades was upstairs with Blue, she was the only girl allowed to have a boy upstairs, it being her gang and him being Blue.  The only other boy who really spent time upstairs was Pockets because he was Pockets.  Not like he had ever had a thing for any of the girls.  When he had first joined the gang he had fallen some for Angel, but when she didn’t fall back he got over it.  Besides the girls and Blue all knew that he was still head over heels for Laces, he was trying to get over her but it wasn’t happening. 

 

Pockets was sitting behind the counter playing with the few things that were behind it.  He was thinking about Laces and if she did still love him or if she had fallen in love with him because he had left, but he wasn’t sure, that kiss that she had given him last night.  Laces always did get a little off the wall when she had been drinking and he knew that. 

 

The door opened and the little bell that still made some sort of noise, no one was sure that it was a ding anymore.  Laces walked into the place and smiled. 

 

“Hey everyone!” She smiled at the people that were in the room, which were Scorch, Cheeky and Pockets. 

 

“Hey Laces, how ya been Kid?  Did you get too roughed up by that doll last night?” Scorch asked. 

 

“Nah not too much, I think she clawed at me in the arms but that was about it,” Laces said. 

 

“Shady said that if you showed up and she wasn’t here to tell you that you need some more practice and she would be glad to lend a helping hand in that,” Cheeky smiled. 

 

“I bet she would,” Laces nodded.  “Hi Pockets,” she said when she saw him sitting behind the counter. 

 

“Heya Laces,” he said to her, when she turned back to Scorch and Cheeky he stared at her trying to figure out what she was thinking about him. 

 

“So where is Angel and Spades and the others?” Laces asked. 

 

“Angel is in the library and Spades and Blue is upstairs the rest is working,” Scorch said as she watched her box in the air tumbling towards her. 

 

“Working already?  Ya only been here for a night,” Laces said. 

 

“We don’t work we don’t eat Laces, you want our operation to die here?” Angel asked from the door post.  Laces smiled at her. 

 

“No, but a break once and a while won’t kill you,” Laces said. 

 

“Yeah I am sure it wouldn’t,” Angel said as she walked over to Laces. 

 

“So what were you doing?” Laces asked. 

 

“Looking through an old book,” Angel said.  “Now Spades, Blue and me had some things we wanted to discuss with you,” Angel said as she walked with Laces up the stairs. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and Pixie walked to the lodging house in silence, Pixie was mad that she didn’t get to go see Spades and Spot was mad about Buttercup.  They walked into the lodging house where Bottle Cap sat on the counter. 

 

“Heya Spot, Pix how ya been kiddo?” Bottle Cap said as he jumped off and messed up Pixie’s hair a little. 

 

“Spot’s mean,” Pixie frowned.  Bottle looked at her oddly. 

 

“Why?  What happened?” Bottle Cap asked getting down on one knee so that he was in eye level with her. 

 

“He wouldn’t let me go see Spades,” Pixie said.  Bottle Cap had not been at the poker game the night before because it had been held in Harlem and he still didn’t like going back there.  He thought that maybe Pepper’s thugs would find him. 

 

“They’re back?” Bottle Cap said surprised. 

 

“They came back last night,” Pixie nodded. 

 

“Why not Spot?” Bottle Cap asked as he got back up and put one hand on Pixie’s shoulder. 

 

“Not now Bottle Cap,” Spot said. 

 

“Spot, come on why didn’t you let her go?  I’ll take her over there,” Cap suggested.  Spot shook his head. 

 

“She ain’t allowed to go over there,” Spot said. 

 

“But why?” Bottle Cap said. 

 

“Cap she went to that poker game last night and she wasn’t supposed to go.  Not that isn’t bad enough she lies,” Spot said to Bottle Cap.  “If you’re going to watch her she can stay down here with you, but when you leave you go up to your room Pixie,” Spot said as he walked up the stairs to his room where he wanted to do some thinking. 

 

Bottle Cap looked down at Pixie she was smiling up at him. 

 

“Lying?” he said. 

 

“I don’t lie,” Pixie’s smile got wider. 

 

“Really?  What was that?” he said. 

 

“Nothing,” Pixie shrugged.  “It wasn’t lying.”

 

“Pixie,” Bottle Cap groaned.  “Don’t get Spot mad, okay.  It’s not something you want to do a lot.  Ask Laces, she does it and those two are always fighting.  Now Laces might win sometimes, but you have no chance at winning with Spot.  So don't get him mad, what he says go.  See you lied and did some things you weren’t supposed to and now you can’t see Spades and you have him mad at you, no matter what I say or Laces said there is nothing we can do about it because that’s the way Spot wants it,” Cap warned her.  Pixie nodded, she understood. 

 

“Now what’s this about going to the Poker game?” Cap asked giving her a look. 

 

“Sand and Scotch said that you and Snipes had done the same thing when you weren’t allowed to go somewhere,” Pixie said. 

 

“What?  What did we do?” Cap asked surprised. 

 

“Climb out the window and follow them to where they were going,” Pixie stated. 

 

“Oh really?  They told you that?  They did that?” Cap was making a resolution to tell Scotch and Sand a few things, give them a piece of his mind. 

 

“Yes, they said that I wasn’t allowed to go but neither were they because they broke a vase,” Pixie was saying while Cap and her walked up the stairs. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces walked up the stairs with Angel and walked into Spades room where Spades and Blue were sitting on the bed. 

 

“Talking?” Angel said loudly when she opened the door. 

 

“We are talking,” Blue said back smiling at her and Laces. 

 

“Sure you were,” Angel nodded. 

 

“Laces, kid, thought you would still be in Manhattan groaning,” Spades said. 

 

“I would be but Spot wouldn’t have it,” Laces smirked. 

 

“You listened to him?  Improvements,” Blue nodded his head. 

 

“I had to listen, he wouldn’t have taken care of Pixie had I not agreed to come to Brooklyn tonight,” Laces said. 

 

“Why didn’t you want to talk to Pixie?” Angel asked. 

 

“Because I was drunk,” Laces responded. 

 

“Oh, you need to work on your right hook.  I think we might need to work with you again on your fighting skills,” Spades said. 

 

“Not again,” Laces groaned.  The three nodded and smiled at the idea. 

 

“I hope that you actually try this time and not make us make you try,” Spades said. 

 

“That’s a danger to my health,” Laces grabbed her stomach in remembrance of the fighting lessons that Spades’ gang and Spot had given her before. 

 

“So what happened with that Sarah?” Blue asked. 

 

“She and Jack ain’t together no more,” Laces commented. 

 

“Really?  Good, I never liked her much, she always had something against us,” Angel said. 

 

“She thought that you would take away Jack from her,” Laces said. 

 

“Did this happen because of your little incident last night?” Spades inquired. 

 

“Well, sort of, she has been nagging him because I have been staying in Manhattan and she doesn't like it because she thinks that I am hitting on him,” Laces was saying when Pockets came up and knocked on the door. 

 

“What?” Spades called out. 

 

“Spades, Blue, Just wanted to tell ya that Ise heading out for a walk may be back late,” Pockets said as he walked in and looked a the scene.  Laces looked at him a moment while Blue was responding. 

 

“Yeah, sure be careful we don’t know about those bulls,” Blue said. 

 

“Sure,” Pockets was about to walk out when Laces started walking over with him. 

 

“Mind if I come with you?” Laces asked.  Pockets shook his head. 

 

“Nah, you can come if you want to come,” Pockets said.  Laces smiled and they walked out of the room together as Laces called back. 

 

“See ya later,”

 

“That’s interesting,” Spades commented. 

 

“Why?” Blue looked at her. 

 

“Because Laces likes Pockets,” Angel said. 

 

“He likes her too,” Blue said. 

 

“No, he loves her,” Spades said. 

 

“So?” Blue was getting a little confused. 

 

“Laces loves Jack,” Angel said shaking her head. 

 

“What does that mean?” Blue asked still a little confused, the girls just shook their heads as they tired to explain to Blue what was going on. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was a dry day in New York City, Brooklyn’s streets were slowly emptying from the day’s sellers of everything thought possible.  People were heading home from work, children were heading home from playing, puppies were wondering looking for their homes.  Laces and Pockets were walking down the street not saying much just watching the movements of everything. 

 

“So where did you guys go?” Laces asked. 

 

“Staten,” was the short reply. 

 

“Oh, good business?” Laces was trying to strike a conversation. 

 

“Good enough.” Pockets nodded he was staring at his shoes. 

 

“Make any new friends?” Laces asked. 

 

“No, not really.” Pockets shook his head. 

 

“Pockets, we’re still friends?” Laces finally asked.  Pockets looked at her, she smiled at him warmly. 

 

“Coise, we always will be,” Pockets nodded. 

 

“No matter what happens?” Laces asked. 

 

“No matter what happens,” Pockets nodded.  They kept walking down the street it was starting to get colder out even though it was summer time.  Laces shuddered and Pockets out of reaction put his arm around her to keep her warm as the kept walking down the street again not saying much. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

September 1900

 

Summer ended quickly and Autumn started in New York.  The newsies went on with life as usual selling paper, and Pixie started school with Les.  Jack had started going out with a different goyl and Spot had even gone back to his old dating habits of a new goyl each week to every girl in Brooklyn’s delight.  Laces was staying single even though her and Pockets were still thought of as a couple sometimes. 

 

It was a Friday afternoon and Laces and Pixie were crossing the Brooklyn Bridge heading to Brooklyn for the weekend. 

 

“I wonder if Tate is on the bridge today,” Laces said to herself.  Tate had been on the bridge almost every time Laces crossed it.  They only exchanged a few words every time they saw each other, but that’s how their friendship was being maintained. 

 

“I was just leaving,” Buttercup was walking towards Laces and Pixie. 

 

“Heya Buttercup,” Pixie smiled. 

 

“Hiya kid,” Buttercup said. 

 

“How long you been here?” Laces asked. 

 

“Not long,” Buttercup responded. 

 

“That’s good, well I won’t get in your way,” Laces said as she began to walk again down towards Brooklyn. 

 

“Yeah, bye.” Buttercup continued on her way down the bridge without another word.  Laces walked listening to Pixie’s stories about the day all the way to the Brooklyn Lodging House. 

 

Fists and Knuckles greeted Laces as she walked in with Pixie and they walked out.  Pixie ran off in search of Bottle Cap and Laces stood there with Rick for a moment. 

 

“She liking school?” Rick asked. 

 

“Yeah, I think she is,” Laces nodded. 

 

“What about you?  You doing okay in Manhattan for so long?” Rick asked.  He knew she had never liked staying in Manhattan long, she had always preferred Brooklyn. 

 

“I’m fine, the only thing that worries me is that Pixie is getting to be more and more spoiled.  When she’s here she’s not as bad as when she’s in Manhattan, but that’s only if Spot’s around,” Laces said. 

 

“Spot scares her,” Rick said. 

 

“I know and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Laces smiled. 

 

“I think it’s both,” Rick grinned. 

 

“Is Conlon around?” Laces asked. 

 

“Around and grumpier then ever, he needs someone to get him out of his mood,” Bullseye walked down the stairs behind Laces.  Laces turned and smiled at him. 

 

“Does he?  I think I can do that?  Where is he?” Laces asked. 

 

“He’s on the roof, don’t tell him I sent you though,” Bullseye warned. 

 

“I won’t,” Laces smiled as she headed up the stairs.  She climbed onto the roof and saw Spot sitting on the ledge smoking a cigarette.  She tipped toed up to him and put her hands over his eyes. 

 

“Who’s there?” Spot said.  Laces didn’t respond. 

 

“Laces, quit it,” Spot sighed. 

 

“How did you know it was me?” Laces slipped down and sat next to Spot. 

 

“Because,” Spot puffed at the cigarette.  “Who else would do that?” Laces laughed at this as she took Spot’s cigarette and puffed at it a little. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The hot air was affecting the moods of everyone in the warehouse.  Their blood was boiling with anger. 

 

“We going to Brooklyn tomorrow night.  We will find a way to get them tomorrow,” James grunted. 

 

“Never had to wait this long for anything when Pepper and Bobby were in charge,” someone mumbled. 

 

“Shut up ya bastard.  I don’t want to hear about Bobby and Pepper, they both idiots.  They in jail, stupid bastards,” James said as he stared at the blood that had dried and stained on the empty crate he sat on. 

 

“Yeah at least they knew what they were doing,” the same person mumbled.  James got up and went over to that person and pulled out his knife from her pants and held it to his throat. 

 

“You say another word and I will slit your throat so you can’t talk again,” James threatened.  There was silence. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pixie found Bottle Cap getting ready to go out and she smiled. 

 

“Where you going?” she asked. 

 

“I going to meet Snipes on the bridge,” Bottle Cap said. 

 

“Why?” Pixie asked. 

 

“Cause we going to do some things,” Bottle Cap replied. 

 

“Can I come?” Pixie asked. 

 

“No, why don’t you find someone else to play with.  I promise I will play with you tomorrow,” Bottle Cap walked off after patting Pixie on the head.  Pixie stood there for a moment before she went in search of someone else to play with.  Everyone in the lodging house was busy though and Pixie would have gone up to see if Laces would play with her or take her to see Spades but she knew that Laces was on the roof with Spot.  Pixie didn’t want to disturb them. 

 

Pixie walked into the bunkroom, it was empty, there was nothing to do.  She stared across the hall at the two closed doors, one her and Laces’s room, the other Spot’s room.  Pixie walked across the hall and looked down the hall.  There was no one there and then reached toward the doorknob and slowly let the door creak open.  Once the door was open she hurried inside shutting the door behind her. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“So what’s wrong?” Laces asked. 

 

“Nothing is wrong,” Spot replied. 

 

“Spot, I have lived with you for almost two years now, I think I know when there is something wrong,”

 

“Every damn time I with another goyl, I see her.  I never finished it with her, I never got to,” Spot grumbled. 

 

“The only reason I think it bugs you as much as it does is because you don’t have control, you didn’t have control.  She left you, for the first time in your life some goyl left you, you didn’t have the chance to leave them,” Laces said.  Spot looked at her a moment as he puffed a cigarette that was slowly growing shorter. 

 

“Was she on that damn bridge again?”

 

“Yeah, she was there.  Didn’t stay long once I got there though,” Laces nodded her head. 

 

“I going to corner her on that bridge one day.”

 

“One day I am sure you will.” Laces nodded.  They grew silent again and watched the movement of the clouds of the later afternoon. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pixie looked around the room, Spot’s room.  For a moment she thought there was going to be nothing to do in there either, but then she saw the cane and slingshot near the small table next to the bed.  Pixie carefully walked to the table where the slingshot was. 

 

She picked it up and looked at it a moment before holding it as if to aim it.  She played around the room pretending she was going to hit different things, that’s when she saw the marble on floor.  Pixie picked up the marble and put it in the slingshot as she had seen Spot do some many times before and aim at a bug on the window.  She pulled back the rubber band and aimed and then she accidentally let go of the band and the marble went flying. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

There was a sudden crash below Laces and Spot. 

 

“What was that?” Laces looked around a bit. 

 

“It sounded like glass shattering,” Spot looked below him and saw glass fragments on the fire escape near his window.  He jumped up and jumped down the fire escape. 

 

“What happened?” Laces asked as she followed him. 

 

“I don’t know, but I will find out,” Spot threw his cigarette away into the alley as he hopped through his window. 

 

“Oh no,” Pixie said as she dropped the sling shot and ran to the door and started to run towards the stairs. 

 

Once Spot was in his room he saw the small person run down the hall and he looked around to see if he could tell what happened.  When he saw the slingshot he knew what happened and started after the guilty party. 

 

“GET BACK HERE!” Spot yelled.  Laces stood looking at the mess of glass. 

 

Pixie ran past Rick and right out the door and onto the street where she keep running as fast as her little legs could carry her.  Spot came after her on the stairs. 

 

“Where did he go?” Spot asked Rick. 

 

“He who?” Rick asked. 

 

“The one who was in my room and broke my window?” Spot said annoyed thinking that Rick was just trying to buy who ever it was time. 

 

“Pixie just went flying through here I thought she was doing something,” Rick said. 

 

“Pixie!  Damn it,” Spot said as he bolted out the door. 

 

Laces walked down the stairs and looked at Rick as she looked at the door. 

 

“What happened?” Laces asked. 

 

“Pixie broke Spot’s window from what I can gather and now she’s running from him,” Rick commented. 

 

“Oh dear,” Laces shook her head.  “I hope that Spot’s nice and Pixie doesn’t run far.  I need a broom though to clean up the mess while I wait,” Laces sighed.  Rick nodded and went for the broom. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot ran after Pixie, but Pixie had gotten a start that kept her ahead for quite a while.  They were near the train tracks when Spot was catching up and almost right behind her.  Pixie was scared, she didn’t know what to do, so she did the only thing she could think of.  She jumped into the nearby boxcar that was open and hid between two of the large piles of bags. 

 

Spot caught his breath a moment before hopping into the boxcar. 

 

“I have her now, I don’t believe she made me run after her,” Spot said.  He climbed into the boxcar and skimmed it. 

 

“Come out now Pixie, you’re in enough trouble as it is.  Running didn’t help none,” Spot said.  His coaxing didn’t work though, Pixie didn’t budge from her spot between the piles.  Spot walked behind it and started looking through them, behind over between and he was getting closer to where she was when the boxcar door was slammed.  All went dark, Spot cursed under his breath.  After a few minutes the train started to move and Spot fell back and hit the wall.  He sat down and sighed frustrated. 

 

“Come out Pixie, there ain’t no getting out of this thing until the next stop, who knows where that will be.”

 

“You’re mad at me,” Pixie almost whispered.  Spot heard her though she was close. 

 

“Yeah I’m mad at you, but you should come out of where ever you are now.”

 

“But you gonna be mad,” Pixie repeated. 

 

“Pixie come on out now.  You ain’t making me not mad by staying where you are,” Pixie slowly edged her way out from behind the piles but stayed on the other side of the car. 

 

“Pixie,” Spot motioned for her to come to him.  She shook her head though and so they just stared at each other for a while. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Night was falling and Laces was getting worried about Pixie and Spot.  More about what Spot was doing to Pixie or if she had gotten lost and Spot was looking for her.  Laces was thinking about all the possible things that might have happened.  She was pacing back and forth through the lodging house.  

 

“It’s late where could they be?” Laces mumbled. 

 

“They might have stayed somewhere, who knows she could have taken him over to Manhattan and now they stayed over there because they didn’t want to come back here when it’s so late,” Bullseye provided. 

 

“No Spot would come back, he knows that I am worried.  He would come back.  Something must have happened.  I should go out and look,” Laces headed for the door. 

 

“You shouldn’t go by yourself,” Bullseye said. 

 

“I’ll go with her,” Bottle Cap volunteered and followed Laces. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Pixie look what you’ve gotten us into.  What gave you the notion to jump in ‘ere?” Spot asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  You are mad at me,” Pixie said. 

 

“Very good, I don’t believe you, first you go into my room without asking, then you play with my things, then you break my window and then you run from me.  Now you have me stuck in this boxcar heading to who knows where and Laces must be worried out of her mind,” Spot sighed. 

 

“I am sorry,” Pixie said as she edged a little towards Spot. 

 

“Sorry ain’t going to cut it this time,” Spot looked at her sternly. 

 

“What is?” Pixie asked a little scared. 

 

“I don’t know yet,” Spot replied. 

 

“I said I am sorry,” Pixie again repeated. 

 

“I know, why don’t you get some sleep.” Spot motioned for her again and this time she came to him.  She sat next to him and slowly she dropped to sleep in his lap.  Spot shook his head, he couldn’t believe this. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces and Bottle Cap walked down the street. 

 

“Where we going?” Bottle Cap asked. 

 

“We are going to check Spades’ place,” Laces replied hoping that’s where Spot might be with Pixie or they might know where he was. 

 

It took a few minutes to get over to Spades’ place, Laces walked right in knowing that someone must be there.  Bottle Cap followed her lead and walked in also. 

 

In the lobby area everyone was sitting in their usual spots, Scorch tossing her little box of matches and Spades lying on top of the counter.  Laces walked in and everyone looked at her. 

 

“What’s wrong now?” Spades asked. 

 

“Spot isn’t here?” Laces asked. 

 

“No, he hasn’t been around here,” Angel said starting to get up. 

 

“What happened?” Blue asked. 

 

“Pixie broke his window and went off running.  He went running after her earlier and their not back yet and I am afraid something might have happened,” Laces told them.  “I am looking for them now because I am sure that something has had to happen to them.”

 

“You searching by yourself?” Cheeky asked. 

 

“Yes, I have to go now.  I am wasting time,” Laces noted. 

 

“Laces, let me go with you.  Who knows what might have happened,” Pockets spoke. 

 

“All right,” Laces nodded.  Pockets quickly grabbed his coat and walked out with Laces and Bottle Cap. 

 

“You two come back in a little while if you find nothing and we will go out and help look,” Spades ordered. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I’ve heard that they saw her walking with him and the boy on the street before this one,” Gerry said to James. 

 

“Where they heading?” James asked. 

 

“Said to be heading in the direction of the bridge,” Gerry said. 

 

“Good,” James walked back through the alley on his way to the streets near the bridge. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Spot and Pixie have to be in Manhattan,” Laces uttered. 

 

“I’m sure they are, where else would they be?” Bottle Cap comforted. 

 

“Laces, you have to calm down a little.  Even if they aren’t there they will be fine, Spot’s with Pixie and Spot knows how to deal on the streets,” Pockets pointed out. 

 

“Yes, Spot knows how to deal on the streets.  ‘E’s good at living on the streets.” Laces nodded. 

 

They walked down the dark street that was near the bridge, the lights were all dim or out.  That had never disturbed them before though and the three didn’t even take notice of it now.  

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“There they are, the three people that I hate more then anything.  The three people who have ruined my life, that bastard, the bitch, and the stupid kid,” James retorted.  He stood there for a moment looking at the figures in the darkness. 

 

“Good these stupid lights are out, it will make this easier for no one to see me,” James said.  He waited a second until the three figures were in front of an alleyway.  He walked quicker and suddenly lunged at the tallest of the group holding his knife. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A man slammed into Pockets.  Pockets fell to the ground groaning in pain, the man quickly took his knife and stabbed it into Pockets again. 

 

“STOP!  STOP IT!” Laces yelled loudly, she went towards the man in an attempt to keep him from hurting Pockets anymore.  The man pulled her into him. 

 

“Do you want some too?” he whispered. 

 

“Oh my god, James?” Laces stammered. 

 

Bottle Cap seeing what was going on went off running.  Laces sat there for a moment before she noticed that James had a knife and he had used it against Pockets. 

 

“You killed him!” Laces screamed. 

 

“Good riddance, little nose wipe was never fit to run Brooklyn,” James said as he stood up. 

 

“What are you talking about?” Laces shrieked as she fell to her knees. 

 

“Pockets?  Pockets talk to me, please!” Laces shook Pockets. 

 

“Pockets?” James said. 

 

“You are going to go to jail.  Just like Pepper and Bobby,” Laces snarled at him. 

 

“Jail,” James repeated. 

 

“WHY CAN’T YOU ALL JUST LEAVE US ALONE!” Laces screamed.  She had tears streaming down her face.  James dropped his knife and started running. 

 

Laces sat there, “Pockets, please say something.  Don’t close your eyes.  Don’t leave me, please!” Laces was saying over and over again. 

 

“Laces it’s going to be okay,” Pockets moaned. 

 

“Oh Pockets,” Laces put her hand on Pocket’s cheek.  Pockets smiled and started to close his eyes. 

 

“Don’t close your eyes, don’t close them please.  I love you,” Laces said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Bottle Cap ran, ran for his life, for Laces’ life, for Pockets’ life.  He felt like the life of everyone depended on how fast he ran.  He ran to Spades’ place where he burst through the door, not caring if it was open or not. 

 

“What the ‘ell?” Spades demanded. 

 

“What is wrong?” Blue asked. 

 

“Laces, Pockets,” Cap started.  “James, knife,” was all he could get out in the breath that he had left. 

 

“Good heavens,” Scorch murmured. 

 

“Where?” Spades jumped down from the counter quickly. 

 

“Near the bridge,” Cap responded. 

 

“Is he hurt?  Is she hurt?” Angel let out a frantic question. 

 

“I don’t know,” Cap shook his head.  Spades and Blue sprinted out the door, Bottle Cap soon started after them.  Angel stood there a moment. 

 

“Cheeky, Vigor, go for a doctor,” Angel said.  The two girls nodded and headed out the door. 

 

“Shady, Candy, go tell the Brooklyn newsies.  Send some looking for Spot and Pixie.  Who knows what might have happened to them,” Angel ordered.  Shady and Candy nodded and also quickly headed out. 

 

“Oh god let everything be fine,” Angel prayed.  “Scorch we need to get some clean sheets and things, and we need to make a place to put whoever is hurt on.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I’m tired,” Pockets whispered. 

 

“Don’t close your eyes, please.  Come on Pockets,” Laces said. 

 

“Just a nap.  Then we can finish our trip to Manhattan I promise,” Pockets said. 

 

“No don’t,” Laces said.  Pockets was closing his eyes though, Laces wasn’t talking him out of it.  She looked around her, no one was there yet.  She didn’t know what to do.  She did the only thing she could think of doing. 

 

“POCKETS!” she screamed.  He opened his eyes a little more, then she leaned down a little not resting herself on his wound and she started to kiss him.  Pockets eyes were closing though and there was nothing that Laces could do to stop it. 

 

Spades and Blue got there, they stared at Laces a moment and then at Pockets, he had started to bleed terribly.  Blue picked him up as Spades applied pressure.  Cap helped Laces. 

 

“He can’t die,” Laces was sobbing. 

 

“He is going to be fine,” Cap said. 

 

“His eyes though, they closed.” Laces was shaking. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

James was running down the bridge when he stopped.  He couldn’t believe what he had done, he had killed someone.  He had stabbed someone to death.  His heart was pounding.  He had killed someone, not Spot, but someone else.  He had wanted to kill Spot, but he had killed someone else. 

 

“Oh my god,” James groaned.  He grabbed the rails of the bridge.  He looked at the murky waters below.  He heard footsteps.  He thought he heard a whistle, he thought he heard more footsteps. 

 

“STOP!” James screamed.  “STOP RIGHT THERE!” he screamed.  It echoed and bounced back to him.  He thought it was someone else, he saw figures in the darkness.  He started trembling.  He pulled himself onto the bridge ropes and stood there. 

 

“Damn them!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.  “YOU CAN’T HAVE ME!  One day someone will get them!  I know they will.  You’ll see,” James roared as he jumped from the ropes and off the bridge. 

 

There was silence, no one was on the bridge.  No one had come for him, no one had heard him.  No one had seen him end his life, or end that of anyone else.  James fell in the air and no one even heard the splash. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot sat with the Pixie in the train, he was listening to the wheels against the rails.  He wondered what Laces was doing, if she was very worried or she knew that everything was okay.  Pixie stirred and slowly opened her eyes.  She looked at Spot, Spot smiled at her. 

 

“Sleep well?” Spot asked.  Pixie nodded. 

 

“I don’t take as many naps as I should,” Pixie said. 

 

“What, where do you get that idea?” Spot asked. 

 

“Mommy always made me take a nap everyday.  I haven’t been doing that mommy is going to be mad,” Pixie said. 

 

“Pixie,” Spot took a deep breath.  This seemed all to familiar to him.  “Your mom doesn’t mind that you don’t take a nap everyday now.  She knows that you’re getting older and you don’t need to anymore,” Spot said. 

 

“Mommy would be so mad that I broke your window and played with your things and ran away from you,” Pixie said. 

 

“Yes she would be,” Spot nodded as he thought about it. 

 

“She would still love me though and not send me away,” Pixie said. 

 

“No she wouldn’t, and neither will we.  We aren’t goin’ ta send ya away,” Spot looked at the little girl. 

 

“Are ya sure?  I thought you would.  Ya and Jack didn’t want me to begin with.  I tried being good so that ya wouldn’t send me away.  I really did, I didn’t mean ta break the window,” Pixie sniffled. 

 

“We aren’t going to send you away, ever.  You hear.  Ya part of the family now, we don’t get rid of family.” Spot hugged her to reassure her.  Pixie buried herself in Spot’s strong arm. 

 

“Pixie do you remember your mother?” Spot asked. 

 

“She was pretty,” Pixie said, “and liked tea.”

 

“She was more then that though, would you like to hear some stories about when your mom use to take care of me and Jack?” Spot asked.  Pixie nodded and while Spot patted her head he told her stories of Peach and how she was when she took care of them in her younger more lively days. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Blue carried Pockets into their place, the counter was already set up with sheets and a pillow for Pockets or whoever was hurt to be put on.  Blue put Pockets on the counter and fell back into a chair exhausted. 

 

Cheeky and Vigor walked in with the doctor and everyone moved out of the way. 

 

“How was this boy wounded?  And where, where is all this blood coming from? Someone get me some rags, towels, water, boiling,” the doctor directed quickly.  Angel, Vigor and Scorch went for the water and rags. 

 

“He was wounded by a man with a knife sir, and it was in his back,” Laces responded.  She was becoming very faint, Cap stood there with her holding her hand. 

 

“You boy, come here help me turn him around,” the doctor said as he unbuttoned Pockets shirt to get it off of him.  The doctor tore his shirt off his arms.  Blue then helped to turn Pockets around onto his stomach so the Doctor could look at his wound.  Laces at this point let out a small shriek before passing out. 

 

“She shouldn’t be in here, she could go into shock if she was with him.  Get her out of here,” the doctor said.  Blue and Cap nodded and Blue picked Laces up and took her into the library. 

 

“Cap you stay with her okay,” Blue said.  Cap nodded. 

 

“Blue, is Pockets going to be okay?” Cap asked. 

 

“I hope so kid,” Blue nodded.  “I really do hope so.” Blue walked back out of the room. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Shady and Candy ran into the Brooklyn Lodging House, the lights downstairs were all still on.  Rick looked at them oddly. 

 

“Where’s the fire?” he asked. 

 

“There’s no fire,” Shady shook her head. 

 

“What’s up then goyls?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“Laces and Pockets were attacked by James,” Candy said. 

 

“Are they hurt?” Bullseye seemed to be losing his color. 

 

“We don’t know.  All we know is that they were attacked,” Shady replied. 

 

“Where are they?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“Back at our place,” Candy said.  The three headed out. 

 

“Is there a doctor?” Rick called after them. 

 

“Yeah we sent for one,” Shady responded before they shut the door and left Rick there to think about what they had said. 

 

“James, that boy always did worry me.” Rick took a deep breath as he bowed his head for a moment. 

 

“Help them.  They need all the help they can get,” Rick whispered. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The train stopped, it was in the middle of the night and the train stopped.  Spot got up and went and woke Pixie. 

 

“Pixie we got to get off this train, we don’t know where it’s going and it just stopped,” Spot said.  Pixie rubbed her eyes, she yawned and nodded.  Spot went to the door and pushed it open, it opened easy enough after he unlocked it.  Spot picked Pixie up and set her on the ground.  Then he jumped down and pushed the door shut hearing the click that it re-locked. 

 

“Come on Pixie,” Spot said.  Pixie was falling back asleep and so to make it faster Spot just picked her up and started running, he didn’t want to get caught by any of the train workers.  He ran down through a field, he knew where he was, the outskirts of New York City.  He was some distance from the actual city.  It was going to take a few hours to get back home.  He was tired though and as soon as he found a wheat field that had some piles stocked up he rested on them with Pixie in his arms, they both fell fast asleep. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The night dragged on and everyone moved from checking on what the doctor was doing to Pockets to Laces.  Laces sooner or later fell asleep from pure exhaustion that she had.  Bottle Cap also dropped to sleep. 

 

The gang didn’t sleep though, they sat waiting and watching.  Attentive to anything that the doctor may need, none of them even felt their heavy eyelids.  They had all known Pockets a long time and they couldn’t image life without him. 

 

As slowly as the sun had set the night before it rose again in the morning.  Light shone through the windows of the building, the doctor had left earlier having not been able to do anything more.  He did not know if Pockets was going to wake up.  He made no promises, he said he had done everything he could do and that Pockets could wake up and then again he couldn’t.  It was all up to him now. 

 

The gang sat there as they watched the sunlight pour into the room as they noticed how much blood Pockets had lost.  There were tears in everyone’s eyes, they had about given up hope.  The blood was too much, there was no way that someone could survive losing that much blood.  Laces stepped into the room as soon as the sun rose.  She looked at the gang, tears that were falling from their once dry eyes, she searched the floor, there were blood stained rags everywhere.  There were water basins that were a light red color.  Laces slowly lifted her eyes to the counter where Pockets was, she looked at his body.  It was limp almost cold.  Laces ran over to it.  She ran her fingers across his back, lifting her fingers when she reached the part that was bandaged for the knife wound.  Then she looked at his face, she went on her knees and looked at his face. 

 

The gang watched her, shaking their heads, they were beginning to realize that Pockets might actually be dead. 

 

Laces put her hands on Pocket’s face, she smiled as she let her tears fall.  She lifted herself up and whispered into his ear. 

 

“You were always the better kisser Pockets, better then Jack, better then Spot.  I am sorry that I never could love you like you wanted me to.  I am sorry that I didn’t make you happy.  I am sorry that this is my fault.  I loved you, I will always love you, and I will always remember you as my great friend,” Laces spoke softly.  The gang couldn’t hear what she was saying but they understood the meaning of the moment.  Candy and Cheeky had started to sniffle loudly.  Laces stood up straight as she again looked at Pockets.  She started backing away when she noticed that the body had movement. 

 

“Um, how warm is a dead body?” Laces suddenly asked. 

 

“Warm?  It ain’t warm?  You’re probably just warm,” Bullseye commented. 

 

“No and look at him.  Look at his body it goes up and down.  He’s breathing!” Laces exclaimed.  Spades jumped up and looked at Pockets she nodded. 

 

“He is, he’s really breathing!” Spades jumped up and down and hugged Laces. 

 

“He isn’t dead,” Blue let out a sigh of relief. 

 

“We should take him up to a room where he can lie on a bed,” Candy said . 

 

“Oh, ow,” Pockets whispered a moan. 

 

“He’s okay,” Angel almost giggled at the thought. 

 

“I feel like I am sleeping on a board and I got a soaking,” Pockets opened his eyes in a squint. 

 

“You did sleep on a board and you could say that you got a pretty bad soaking,” Blue joked. 

 

“I can’t move without some part of my body hurting,” Pockets said. 

 

“Yeah, can’t say I blame your body for hurting.  Bullseye help me get him on his feet and we can help him up to a room,” Blue said.  Bullseye nodded and went over.  They got Pockets off the counter and on his feet where with the help of Blue and Bullseye they got him up to a room.  The girls stood there for a moment. 

 

“Thank God,” Laces sighed. 

 

“Were Spot and Pixie ever found?” Spades asked. 

 

“I don’t know, not unless they got to the lodging house last night which is unlikely because we told Rick about everything,” Shady said.  “They would have headed straight here.”

 

“Yeah we better go looking for them.  I’m going to get cleaned up maybe say a few things to Pockets,” Spades said.  “I suggest the rest of you do the same.  We have to go looking for Spot,” Spades said.  The girls all nodded.  Laces stood there as they climbed the stairs.  Bottle Cap stood with her. 

 

“Do you think something happened to Spot and Pixie?” Cap asked. 

 

“Maybe, but I wouldn’t worry about it because Spot can take care of himself well and he would take care of Pixie too,” Laces smiled. 

 

“Yes, I know.” Cap also nodded. 

 

“Cap, you can head back to the lodging house with Bullseye when he heads back.  I am going to go say a few things to Pockets okay,” Laces messed up Cap’s hair. 

 

“Yeah,” Cap nodded.  Laces smiled and walked up the stairs as Bullseye was coming down the stairs. 

 

“You taking Cap home right?” Laces asked. 

 

“Yeah I stop by the lodging house with the kid, but then I will come back here and go with some of you searching for Spot.  I might get some others to help,” Bullseye said. 

 

“I going to head over to Manhattan,” Laces said. 

 

“Alone you’re not,” Bullseye commented. 

 

“One of the goyls would go with me,” Laces said. 

 

“Well make it Spades and I would feel better about it,”

 

“I’ll ask her.  Now go,” Laces said.  She walked up the rest of the stairs and went down the hall to the room that Blue was coming out of. 

 

“He was just asking for you,” Blue smiled. 

 

“It’s like I knew,” Laces smiled back as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. 

 

“Heya Laces,” Pockets smiles. 

 

“Hiya Pockets.  How ya feelin’?” she asked. 

 

“Oh Ise be betta.” Pockets smiled. 

 

“Ise sorry bout this.” Laces sat on the bed. 

 

“Ise heard ya the foist time ya told me,” Pockets said. 

 

“What?” Laces said. 

 

“I heard all of it, bout me being a better kisser then them.  Bout you not loving me like I wanted ya ta.  Laces, Ise just sorry that I can’t love you like you want me ta,” Pockets sighed. 

 

“No, it’s not your fault.  It’s mine.  Had you been here before, at an earlier time.  Before Jack, before Spot, I would love you with all my heart.  Time wasn’t on your side though,” Laces started. 

 

“No, I regret not meeting ya before, maybe I had in my dreams, but never in person.  I just hope that whoever comes along after you can measure up to my expectations now,” Pockets grinned. 

 

“I have to go looking for Spot and Pixie, I will tell you that story later, but I will come back and see you tonight,” Laces said as she stood up.  Pockets nodded and winced as he felt pain through out his body.  Laces kissed him on the check and walked out. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Scorch, you can go to work. Angel, ya sure that ya want ta stay?” Spades was saying out in the hall. 

 

“Yes, I will stay.  Someone has to just in case.  I will stay with him,” Angel nodded. 

 

“I go with Bullseye and check some of the rougher areas.  Ask around about things,” Blue said. 

 

“We’ll search parts of Brooklyn, maybe make a few bucks while we search,” the others joined in. 

 

“And I am going to Manhattan with Laces,” Spades said. 

 

“Yes.” Laces nodded.  The group spilt up like that and headed out.  Angel stood there and then walked into Pocket’s room. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot woke up with the sun in his eyes.  He got up and woke Pixie. 

 

“We have to go Pixie, we have to head back home,” Spot said.  Pixie nodded and stood up.  They began to walk down the road, Spot knew that the road would sooner or later lead into the outer city and then into the inner city where he could find his way to Manhattan for a rest and head to Brooklyn by night fall. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades and Laces walked down the bridge in silence, Laces looked at the creepy waters below.  She wondered about James and where he went, she had seen him run down the bridge.  She shuddered as the thought that he might still be alive crossed her mind. 

 

“You’re a very lucky kid,” Spades finally said when they were getting close to the end of the bridge. 

 

“Me lucky, that would be a sarcastic statement.  Bad luck follows me,” Laces grunted. 

 

“No bad luck follows those around you, but you are never touched.  Yeah you get into things, but there is always someone there to get you out,” Spades shook her head. 

 

“Maybe I wish something would happen to me instead of my friends,” Laces sighed. 

 

“No, don’t be stupid.  You must be some pretty special kid if everyone always is there for you and there is always a reason for everything.  You are needed for something that’s why nothing ever happens to you even if the world around you is falling apart.  I’ve known people like that, I used to be one,” Spades said. 

 

“I really don’t know what I would be good for,” Laces shook her head. 

 

“I don’t know either.  This I do though know, you hold a place in a lot of people’s hearts,” Spades said. 

 

“Thanks Spades,” Laces nodded. 

 

“No problem Kid,” Spades said.  The conversation helped Laces, it took a burden off of her knowing that Spades didn’t blame her for what had happened to Pockets. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Angel sat with Pockets on his bed. 

 

“Life ain’t fair is it Pockets,” Angel sighed. 

 

“If life was fair then it wouldn’t be life would it,” Pockets grinned. 

 

“How can you be so happy after what happened?”

 

“It happened already it don’t matter much after it’s done and over with.  What good will it do to think about it and make yourself sick?”

 

“I guess not much sense in that,” Angel nodded. 

 

“Angel, bright up, nothing happened.  I’m fine, just in a little pain, but nothing that I can’t handle.” Pockets groaned a bit as he tired to move. 

 

“I know, but you were so close.  We thought that you were gone, it flashed before me how fast I could lose you, how fast I lost my mother, my cousins, my aunts and uncles.  My father.” Angel had a hint of tears in her eyes but she never let them fall. 

 

“Angel, look at me, I am still here.  Watching you and talking to you.  I still breathe in and out.  I still eat and sleep.  I am still much alive and I promise that I ain’t going anywhere soon.”

 

“Thank you,” Angel smiled.  “So what did Laces say?”

 

“Oh not much she didn’t say when she was whispering to me.  Time is not on my side.  I think that my sense of time is ahead of everyone else’s and that’s why I am never at places at the right time,” Pockets said. 

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“If I would have meet her before she would have been mine.  Mine and mine only.  She would have devoted her heart to me, yeah she would have flirted with the others because that’s just her nature, but she would have been mine and I wouldn’t have had to worry about anything,”

 

“You’re still in love with her?”

 

“Even though I know how much she loves Jack, how much she hangs on his every word and movement.  I seem to be falling even more in love with her.  Now it’s no different from when I first fell in love with her, I probably have a better advantage now because she isn’t in love with them both.  But even though my love for her is stronger then any that Jack has ever shown her she still loves him and not me.”

 

“She will always love you in a different way, she would die for you to live.”

 

“She would die for him to love, something she would never think about doing for me.”

 

“Not because she wouldn’t because she couldn’t.” Angel was trying to comfort Pockets. 

 

“I know and that’s the love I feel for her and I will do anything I can to see that she is happy even if it is with Jack and not me.  He will make her happy, he is a good guy,” Pockets sighed as he stared out the window.  Angel looked at him with compassion; he was forgetting how in love he was with Laces only to notice how in love she was with Jack.  Angel’s heart was warmed to him, she smiled. 

 

“You are quite a boy, who would have guess that the best pick pocket in the city would have not bene able to pocket the one heart he wanted,” Angel mocked a bit. 

 

“I pocketed the heart, just not he goyl.  Can’t have her, she had already been taken,” Pockets smiled back not minding the bit of joking she was doing with him. 

 

“You’ve grown and for better or for worst now you’re one of us,” Angel slipped her hand into Pockets hand. 

 

“I feel honored to be one of the few who can be,” Pockets laughed at this and closed his hand on Angel’s hand. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades and laces got to Tibby’s where all the newsies were for lunch.  They entered the little place and looked around soon spotting Jack and Dave sitting with Blink and Race at the table near the corner of the place, the table they always sat at. 

 

“Laces, Spades what brings ya around these parts?  And without Conlon and Pixie?” Blink asked getting up to offer his seat to one of the goyls.  Race also got up and bowed in mockery of Laces. 

 

“Quit it Race,” Blink said. 

 

“Anything wrong?” Jack asked noticing the faces that Laces and Spades had on were not those of a regular visit. 

 

“Do you remember James, Jack?” Laces asked. 

 

“James, you mean Night’s thug and later turned into Pepper’s thug?” Jack asked. 

 

“Yeah the same one,” Laces said. 

 

“Yeah, why what happened?” Jack was now getting afraid of what she was going to say. 

 

“He’s back,” Laces said. 

 

“What do you mean he’s back, has he done something, has he threatened you?” Jack demanded. 

 

“No not me, well he would have, but,” Laces started. 

 

“Let me explain.  He attacked her when she was heading over here last night with Pockets and Bottle Cap.  He thought that Pockets was Spot and stabbed at him.  Stabbed him twice,” Spades said. 

 

“Is he all right?” Race asked. 

 

“He’s alive, all right he will be,” Spades said.  “Bottle Cap ran and got us and then we went to see what had happen and brought them back to be checked out,” Spades said. 

 

“Did he hurt you Laces?” Jack asked. 

 

“No he didn’t hurt me, he would have, but he suddenly got worried when he discovered that it wasn’t Spot that he had hurt it was Pockets,” Laces shuddered at the remembrance of James’s face so near hers the night before.  It brought back horrible memories of when Pepper had kissed her and touched her with his rough hands the day that Peach had been killed. 

 

“I don’t believe this, are they never going to leave us alone,” Blink said. 

 

“Not until every one of them is in jail,” Dave shook his head. 

 

“Or they all dead,” Jack added. 

 

“Laces, what were ya doing walking over here last night?  Those Brooklyn streets aren’t that safe with or without James.  Ya know better, why didn’t you come with Spot?  I know you were with Pockets, but why were ya heading over here?” Race asked. 

 

“That’s the other thing we came to see about.  Which means that Spot ain’t here?” Spades said. 

 

“No Spot ain’t here, why was he supposed to be?” Jack asked. 

 

“No, not exactly anyway,” Laces said. 

 

“What is going on?” Dave asked. 

 

“Last night Pixie broke Spot’s window, then she took off running.  Spot went off after her and they didn’t come back and so I got worried and that’s why I started heading here in search of her and him,” Laces said. 

 

“They didn’t come back all night?” Jack asked. 

 

“No, not at all.  I worried that something may have happened to them.  So we came here to see if maybe they were here and they were just tired and didn’t head back to Brooklyn last night because they didn’t want to walk back when it was dark,” Spades said. 

 

“Oh great,” Jack mumbled. 

 

“What we going to do now Jack?” Blink asked. 

 

“We search,” Dave provided seeing as Jack was busy staring out the window thinking about something for a moment. 

 

“Laces, James stabbed Pockets?” Jack asked suddenly. 

 

“Yeah that’s what he did, with his knife,” Laces nodded. 

 

“Was it a big knife?”

 

“No not really, it was a normal knife, not huge.”

 

“There was no gun?”

 

“No not that I saw or that he used.”

 

“Why Jack?” Spades asked. 

 

“Spot can deal with a knife, I don’t think much harm could have been done with a knife unless there was more then one of them.  But a gun there would be no chance,” Jack said. 

 

“No James didn’t have a gun that I could tell, I think he would have used it on me had he had one.” Laces shuddered at the thought.  Blink put his hand on her shoulder and then looked at the guys. 

 

“Let’s go we’re wasting time.” Jack stood up. 

 

“Are you hungry Laces?  Have you eaten anything? Spades?” Race asked as he took out a cigarette. 

 

“No, but I’m not hungry,” Laces responded. 

 

“You two should eat something.  Race will stay here with you both.  Don’t worry we’ll find Spot,” Jack said. 

 

Laces sat down knowing that once Jack made his mind up about her eating in a time like this there was no way she was going anywhere until she ate something.  Race sat with her and Spades also sat down.  They ordered something then Race started talking trying to make conversation. 

 

“So Pixie broke Spot’s window?  How did she do that?” Race asked. 

 

“She was playing with his slingshot,” Laces responded. 

 

“She should know better then that,” Race commented. 

 

“She does.” Laces shrugged. 

 

The food got there shortly and the conversation stopped, Race headed out to sell some more papers with Spades and help with the search.  Laces went a different direction with Skittery. 

 

Most of the Manhattan newsies spent the rest of the day selling papers while in search of any news or sign of Spot and Pixie.  Skittery and Laces were in Midtown, while Skittery sold a paper Laces stopped some young boot shiners. 

 

“Cuse me, ‘ave ya by chance ‘eard something about anything ‘appening last night with a man and a knife?” Laces asked. 

 

“Man an a knife, no ma’am.  Nothin,,” one of them said. 

 

“The only news that I heard all morning is that a man jumped off the bridge last night,” the other one said. 

 

“The bridge?  What one?” Laces asked. 

 

“I am not sure miss, but it could have been either Washington or Brooklyn,” he said. 

 

“Thank you,” Laces said and the two scurried off.  Skittery looked at her. 

 

“What?” he asked. 

 

“A man jumped off a bridge last night,” Laces replied. 

 

“So?  What has that got to do with anything?” Skittery asked confused. 

 

“Either the Brooklyn or Washington.  If it was the Brooklyn Bridge it could have been James.”

 

“Oh, we better keep looking for Spot and Pixie.” Skittery and Laces started walking down the street again. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I don’t believe this, will they never leave her alone?  Won’t they leave us alone,” Jack was groaning. 

 

“Not as long as they’re still on the streets or still alive,” Dave shook his head. 

 

“You’re not helping Dave,” Jack replied. 

 

“I know, but it’s true Jack.  James had something against Laces because she was the reason for the end of Pepper’s gang and he had something against Spot because he was the reason that he stopped being a newsie.  Also he never liked Spot.  Pepper hated you and Spot for being you and because you were connected to Laces.  He hated Laces because of who she was related to.  Bobby hated Bryan because he was in love with Peach.  Everything is stuck together and you all seem to be the targets, one or the other which affects everyone else because we are all linked to you,” Dave said. 

 

“Dave, I hate your logic sometimes,” Jack said. 

 

“Sorry,” Dave responded. 

 

“This is one of those times,” Jack said. 

 

“HEY JACK!” someone shouted.  Jack turned around and so did Dave.  A young girl was walking towards them, she was wearing boys clothing and had her hat pulled down so her eyes were not in sight. 

 

“Do I know you?” Jack asked. 

 

“You could say that you do, not really though.  We never got along well enough,” the girl replied back. 

 

“Where from?” Jack asked, he could tell he knew her but he had no idea from where. 

“Some place we’ve all left now.  And from another place that I am leaving now cause I should have never been there,” the girl replied. 

 

“What’s your name?” Jack asked. 

 

“Let’s say it’s Dreamer now.  I just need to tell you something and then you won’t see me again, or at least not soon,” Dreamer said. 

 

“All right.  But where did you come from?” Jack looked interested. 

 

“No one sent me, if that’s your question.  I came on my own behalf because I know things that you need to know and I know that it’s better to tell you about them.  So because you were on my way to getting far from this place I decided to come by and tell you.  Can he be trusted?” Dreamer cocked her head towards Dave.  Jack nodded his head, Dreamer leaned towards them and whispered. 

 

“James is dead, don’t worry about him anymore.”

 

Jack looked at her surprised. 

 

“How do you know that? Where did you find that out? How did it happen?” Jack asked. 

 

“Never mind all of that, he killed himself by jumping off that bridge after he attacked your friends,” Dreamer said. 

 

“Friends?  Which ones?” Jack demanded, he was getting frustrated. 

 

“The goyl,” Dreamer responded noticing the impatient tone that Jack had she continued quickly.  “Conlon wasn’t hurt, wasn’t found.  Nice seeing ya again, wish ya the best of luck,” Dreamer turned on her heel quickly and walked fast down the street ducking into a alleyway quickly and vanishing from sight. 

 

“That was odd,” Dave said. 

 

“Yeah, we get a lot of that now a days.  I wonder who she was, where could I have known her from,” Jack mumbled to himself. 

 

“I don’t know.  I’ve never seen her before in my life.  She was in trouble with someone though.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she was James’s goyl, or maybe connected to him in someway,” Dave said. 

 

“Maybe,” Jack nodded as he thought about it. 

 

“We better find the others and tell them that Spot is fine, unless we don’t believe what she said?” Dave said. 

 

“I believe her,” Jack stated.  Dave nodded he understood they kept walking down the street. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and Pixie were walking into the inner city, they were very near Manhattan now. 

 

“Are we getting there soon Spot?” Pixie asked. 

 

“Yeah, soon Pixie,” Spot said. 

 

“I’m hungry,” Pixie said. 

 

“Know what, we can stop at Medda’s it’s coming up in a few blocks,” Spot said.  Pixie nodded.  After walking the few blocks they came to the large vaudeville theatre Irving Hall.  Spot lead Pixie over to the side of the theatre because that’s where him and Jack always entered.  Spot opened the door that was always open and walked in and closed it after Pixie. 

 

Spring was coming down the stairs. 

 

“Spot?” she said. 

 

“Heya Spring, how ya been?” Spot asked. 

 

“Good, but they’ve been looking for ya all day,” Spring commented as she walked down the stairs lifting her green dress. 

 

“Who’s been looking for me all day?” Spot asked. 

 

“Well first a goyl came round ‘ere.  Medda said she was a goyl that ya and Jack once fought over.  She was round here this morning,” Spring said as she got to the bottom of the stairs where she hugged Spot. 

 

“Luv?” Spot asked.  Spring bent down and smiled at Pixie. 

 

“Heya baby, how are you?  Doing all right?” Spring asked. 

 

“Ise fine,” Pixie yawned.  “Hungry,” Pixie tugged on Spot. 

 

“Oh poor baby, come on we can go to the kitchen and get some food,” Spring lead the way then went back to talking to Spot. 

 

“Yeah I think that was her name.  Things have been happening in this town, she has seemed to gotten into some trouble with the leader of Coney Island.  A large fellow I think,” Spring said. 

 

“Yeah, Wilson,” Spot nodded. 

 

“Toby, can you get something to eat for Pixie and Spot,” Spring mentioned to Toby.  Toby nodded. 

 

“Blink, Race, Snoddy, Snitch and Jake all came by here asking for ya.  Ise surprised that Jack didn’t come by,” Spring said. 

 

“They must be real worried.”

 

“Yes, I found out from one of them that James is back and that he was running around with a knife last night,” Spring whispered to Spot out of Pixie’s hearing. 

 

“James?  Knife?” Spot jumped up. 

 

“Yes,” Spring nodded.  “None of us have gone anywhere, it worries me that he is out there again.”

 

“Laces, something must have happened to Laces,” Spot said, he stood up. 

 

“Where ya going Spot?” Pixie asked as she received food from Toby. 

 

“Spring, can ya watch her?” Spot asked. 

 

“Watch her I would love to but I have a show in an hour,” Spring said. 

 

“I promise I will be back as soon as I can, some of the goyls must not be performing and then they could watch her.  Please?” Spot said looking at Pixie and then at Spring. 

 

“The goyls would love to see her again.  I don’t know if Medda would mind,” Spring said. 

 

“Medda won’t mind.  I know she won’t just tell her Jack and I needed a favor,” Spot smiled. 

 

“Fine, if you’re sure she won’t mind,” Spring said. 

 

“Thanks,” Spot pecked Spring on the cheek as he stopped before heading out to tell Pixie where he was going. 

 

“Be good all right, Spring here is going to stay with you.  I have to go check on some things,” Spot said. 

 

“Okay Spot,” Pixie nodded as she yawned again.  She was glad that she didn’t have to walk anymore. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces and Skittery were heading back to the lodging house, it was getting dark and there was still no sign of Spot.  Jack was also walking into the lodging house. 

 

“Any luck Jack?” Laces asked.  Jack shook his head.  Skittery patted Laces on the back. 

 

“Don’t worry he’s fine.  I know it,” Skittery said.  Laces nodded. 

 

“Can I have a cigarette?” Laces asked.  Jack handed her the one he was smoking.  Skittery headed inside, Jack and Laces sat on the steps though. 

 

“Laces don’t worry Spot is fine, he wasn’t around here last night,” Jack said. 

 

“How do you know Jack?” Laces asked. 

 

“Someone told me and James didn’t make it after he attacked you and Pockets.  He killed himself jumping off the bridge,” Jack said.  Laces blew out the smoke in her mouth and handed the cigarette back to Jack. 

 

“He did, I heard someone did,” Laces was relieved. 

 

“Yeah someone told me that Spot was not around and that they couldn’t get to him and that James jumped,” Jack nodded. 

 

“Who?” Laces asked. 

 

“A goyl that I seem to have met before but can’t remember her, called herself Dreamer,” Jack said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot saw two people sitting on the steps of the lodging house and when he got closer he knew who they were. 

 

“Laces?” He said. 

 

“Spot?” Laces jumped up and threw herself at him. 

 

“Whoa kid.  You’re okay?” Spot said as he held his hands up and then hugged her back. 

 

“Yeah, I am fine,” Laces nodded. 

 

“Then what happened with James?” Spot asked. 

 

“How do you know about that?” Jack asked. 

 

“Where’s Pixie Spot?” Laces suddenly looked around her and saw no little girl. 

 

“I stopped by Medda’s I left her there after Spring told me that some of the newsies and Luv had been asking for me.  Then she told me about the things she had heard about James.  What happened?” Spot asked. 

 

“He attacked me and Pockets and Bottle Cap,” Laces said. 

 

“Bottle Cap?  Is he all right?” Spot asked. 

 

“Yeah he wasn’t hurt, only Pockets, he was stabbed twice because James thought he was you,” Laces said. 

 

“Me?” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah you, he wanted to hurt you.  Then he jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge.”

 

“Pockets is he alive?”

 

“He’s fine,” Spades was at the door. 

 

“I don’t believe this,” Spot grumbled. 

 

“Where have you been?” Jack asked. 

 

“Me?  Well Pixie ran from me,” Spot started. 

 

“Wait, why don’t we get some coffee you can tell us the story and after we can go get Pixie and check out the show at Irving Hall,” Laces said.  Spot nodded and the four headed into the building and kitchen. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Pixie dear how have you been?” Spring asked. 

 

“Good,” Pixie yawned. 

 

“So where have you been?” Spring asked as she sipped at her drink. 

 

“In a boxcar, we walked all day,” Pixie said. 

 

“Why?’

 

“Cause I ran away from Spot and I jumped into a boxcar and the train started to move.”

 

“Why did you run away from Spot?  Was he being mean to ya?” Spring frowned. 

 

“No, Spot only mean when I make ‘im mad.”

 

“What did ya do to make him mad?” Spring asked interested in the little girl’s conversation. 

 

“Well first off today I went into his room, then I played with his things, then I broke his window, then I ran from him,” Pixie said. 

 

“Oh dear,” Spring said. 

 

“I didn’t mean to do it,” Pixie stated.  Spring smiled and nodded. 

 

“Do you want to see me practice baby?  You can talk to some of the other girls,” Spring said. 

 

“Yeah I would like that,” Pixie nodded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack, Laces, Spades and Spot were walking down the dark street in the direction of Medda’s. 

 

“You’re coming back to Brooklyn with me right Kid?” Spot asked.  

 

“I would like that.” Laces nodded. 

 

“Do you think that all those thugs are gone?” Spades asked. 

 

“Really don’t know, I don’t think that there is much more that they could do.  I don’t think that the one’s left really care.” Jack shrugged. 

 

“Let’s hope so because if they ever come near any of us again I think I will kill ‘em,” Spot made a fist. 

 

They were in front of the theatre, Jack led the way into the back.  Spring and another girl were on stage practicing; their voices could be heard from all corners of the theatre.  Jack carefully walked up the steps of the stage, Laces followed him.  Spot and Spades stood there for a moment though. 

 

“You okay with all this?” Spot asked suddenly. 

 

“Not thrilled about it, but I learn how to deal with things,” Spades responded. 

 

“Sorry, about Pockets getting hurt.”

 

“He can take care of himself, except when he’s around her.”

 

“She seems to do that to some people.” Spot nodded. 

 

“Yeah.” Spades nodded. 

 

“Are you guys coming?” Laces called from the top of the steps.  Spades nodded and headed up the stairs with Spot. 

 

Pixie was sitting off stage watching the lights and the singing that was taking place.  Her eyes were wide with amazement with what was going on. 

 

“Pixie,” Laces crawled up next to the little girl and hugged her.  Pixie hugged back and smiled widely. 

 

“Isn’t this a fun place?” she asked. 

 

“Very fun, but we have to be going soon,” Laces said. 

 

“But why?  I like it so much here can’t we stay for a while?” Pixie asked. 

 

“No, I don’t think so.  Not long anyway because we have to walk back to Brooklyn and talk about some things.” Laces eyed the little girl.  She looked away though ignoring what Laces was saying and staring at the stage again.  Spring finished and came off and greeted everyone.  She offered drinks to them all. 

 

“No sorry Spring, promise we will come back soon to see you goyls.  But right now we really got to get back to Brooklyn.  Jack here might stay some,” Spot said.  Jack shrugged. 

 

“I think that I got to talk to Medda anyway.”

 

“All right, but you all come back,” Spring smiled her soft smile and Spades, Spot, Laces and Pixie headed out of the theatre. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pockets sat on the bed talking with Angel, they had been talking all day.  About everything, the life they had led, the one that they were leading and the one that they plan to lead.  They reminded themselves about the trouble that they had gotten themselves into and the trouble they had kept each other out of. 

 

“It’s your fault that we even started gambling,” Angel laughed. 

 

“It was not, I just helped you to it.  That don’t mean that you weren’t going to do it anyway.  You were looking for a place to gamble already,” Pockets defended. 

 

“No Spades was looking for somewhere to gamble.”

 

“That don’t mean that you and Blue weren’t too far behind.”

 

“Maybe, but I wasn’t very good at gambling.”

 

“Neither was Spades, but can’t say that anymore can we.  You all have improved,” Pockets smiled. 

 

“Improve in the sense of being able to lie and cheat better then before,” Angel grinned. 

 

“That ain’t all a bad things.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack walked down the hall that was backstage and looked at all the doors that led to dressing rooms.  He went to the end of the hall where he stood a moment looking at the door.  Then he opened it and walked in. 

 

“Who’s there?” Medda said as she dropped her hair clip onto the ground. 

 

“It’s me.  Is it okay if I stay in here until a little problem outside goes away?” Jack asked. 

 

“Oh Kelly, come ‘ere and tell me what it is that you have on your mind,” Medda patted the seat next to her as she continued to prepare her hair for the show. 

 

“Nothing much.”

 

“Jack, I know you better then that.  Now what’s wrong is it a girl have you meet a new one?  Or have you talked things out with Sarah?”

 

“Sarah and I will never be back together as a couple.  I liked her, but I don’t think that I ever loved her.  She was too jealous of everyone, especially Laces.  I never understood why though.  She kept telling me that she was playing with me and my heart and that she was always doing that to everyone.  But that anyone in her position would act the same way when they knew what Laces was and who she was.  I never really got it but no matter how much I denied it she wouldn’t let it go.”

 

“Were you just with Laces?” Medda asked. 

 

“Yeah why do you ask?”

 

“She could have gotten hurt last night?”

 

“Yeah, she is a lucky person.”

 

“Pockets, that old boy of hers he got hurt?” Jack nodded his head not understanding why Medda was asking all these questions he knew there was a reason there was always a reason. 

 

“Did she react?  Are they back together as a couple?”

 

“I don’t know, I really don’t think so.  I know that Pockets still might like Laces, but I thought that she was over him.”

 

“You don’t know though do you,” Medda tried to hide a smile that was creeping up on her lips. 

 

“No.  But I don’t see why it matters,” Jack started. 

 

“You will see it soon enough, I promise,” Medda said as she finished and got up. 

 

“What are you talking about?” Jack was puzzled. 

 

“Come watch the show and have a drink on me,” Medda shoed Jack out of her dressing room.  As she closed the door she smiled to herself and looked in the mirror putting on the last touches. 

 

“He’s jealous of him,” She smiled.  “He must be.  He’ll see soon enough what’s wrong with him.  Until then I have to stay out of it.  I watch but don’t play on that stage.” Medda turned off her light and walked out of her dressing room. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A series of whistles, shouts, screams and hollering was taking place in the Island Prison.  The place were most of New York’s bad guys went. 

 

“Shut up!” A guard called out.  It quieted down and then the series started.  The way that prisoners find out what is going on, there had been news today buzzing in certain places.  Now when the sun was gone and the lights were out was the time to share whatever news there was.  The series of signals and codes took place and finally the news reached Pepper and Bobby’s cell. 

 

“One of your boys committed suicide off the bridge.  After he attacked a newsies and goyl,” Bobby said. 

 

“What?” Pepper asked from his bunk, he never cared to know what was going on in the outside world because it just made him want to get out more.  Bobby always knew though what was going on where and when in New York City even from behind bars. 

 

“James, that’s the only name that they think it could be.  He attacked a newsie and a goyl from the news that they could gather was.  Looks like your gang is falling apart,” Bobby lit a cigarette as he rested on his bunk. 

 

“But James?  And a newsie?  And a goyl, which one?  What newsie and why?  Were they hurt?” Pepper asked. 

 

“Don’t know,” Bobby said. 

 

“What ya mean ya don’t know?” Pepper asked. 

 

“I don’t know,” Bobby said.  “That’s all they got if they get more then you can know by tomorrow.”

 

“If?  If they know more, I need to know more about this.  I need to know what’s going on,” Pepper said. 

 

“Sorry,” Bobby shrugged as he threw his cigarette and turned to a side to sleep. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces, Spot and Pixie were heading back to Brooklyn.  It was dark out already and they were on the bridge with Spot lecturing all the way. 

 

“Pixie, why were you in my room in the first place?” Spot was asking. 

 

“Well, I was bored.  And I wanted something to do,” Pixie said timidly. 

 

“Bored?  Bored enough to take my slingshot and break my window?” Spot demanded. 

 

“Laces, Ise tired,” Pixie yawned to emphasize her point.  Laces shook her head at her though. 

 

“I am not getting you out of this one.  I don’t believe you ran from him.  Do you know that you could have gotten lost, you could have gotten hurt.  Had Spot not followed you who knows what would have happened to you.  I was so worried bad things happened.” Laces was shaking her head, they were approaching Spades’ building.  Spades smiled at the scene with Spot and Laces and Pixie. 

 

“You pushed it this time doll,” Spades said.  Pixie pouted a bit as Spot and Laces continued their small lecture.  The four entered the building, the gang all greeted them except Angel and Pockets. 

 

“Angel still with Pockets?” Spades asked. 

 

“Never left his side,” Shady nodded. 

 

“Blue,” Spot motioned his head towards another room and Blue and Spot went off.  Laces looked at them all. 

 

“Well who knows what that was about,” she sighed.  “How is he?”

 

“We don’t really know, I mean he has been talking to Angel all day so he must be better,” Cheeky said. 

 

“I going to go see.  Goyls, Pixie?” Laces said.  The girls nodded and Laces headed up the stairs.  She walked down the hall that she had been in so many times.  She stood in front of Pocket’s door thinking to herself if maybe she should just leave him with Angel.  She could hear the laughing going on inside, she knew that they were close.  She knew that there was only a matter of time until she was a dream to Pockets and Angel would be his new love.  She knew that by walking into the room she would be delaying that which she knew would happen sooner or later. 

 

Laces opened the door and smiled. 

 

“Heya Pockets, Angel.  How ya feeling?” she asked.  Pockets looked up and Angel smiled at Laces. 

 

“I’m great, better then ever,” Pockets smirked.  Laces laughed at this and went to sit on one side of Pockets bed.  Angel stood up. 

 

“I think that maybe I will get something to drink or something to eat.  Want me to bring you something when I come up?” Angel asked. 

 

“Maybe something to drink?” Pockets said.  Angel nodded and walked out.  Laces and Pockets sat there for a few minutes. 

 

“So did you find Spot and Pixie?” he asked. 

 

“Yeah, they’re okay,” Laces nodded. 

 

“Where’s your smile?”

 

“My smile?  Why would I be smiling?”

 

“Because you found Spot and Pixie, and because everything is okay.”

 

“Is it?”

 

“It is.” Pockets nodded as he reassured her. 

 

“Good.” Laces smiled.  She got up and started for the door. 

 

“Leaving so soon?”

 

“It’s late, have to get some sleep.” Pockets got up from his bed. 

 

“Oh well let me walk you out.”

 

“What are you doing you silly boy.  Get back into bed you shouldn’t be walking around like that.”

 

“Nonsense, ya know as well as I do that doctors don’t know nothing.” Pockets smirked again as he got closer to Laces and the door.  He was walking slowly because it was hurting him a little to walk like he was and having been in bed all day didn’t help.  He wanted something though and he didn’t care how much pain he was going through to get what he wanted. 

 

He put his hand on the door knob and looked at Laces a moment.  Laces smiled as she looked back at him.  Pockets before there was anytime to know what was coming leaned forward and kissed Laces.  She didn’t pull back like he had first expected she might.  They kissed for a few seconds.  Then they both slowly pulled away, Pockets opened the door and Laces walked out and started down the hall. 

 

“Am I?” Pockets called after her. 

 

“The best,” Laces called back. 

 

“Thanks.”

 

“For what?  I should thank you.” Pockets closed the door and leaned against it.  “I love her kiss as much as she loves mine, but maybe that is all that we had.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and Blue were in the library of the building, one room that was almost still exactly how it had been when they had first left it.  Nothing had been moved, it still had it’s dusty and old atmosphere. 

 

“You be careful with these goyls,” Spot was saying. 

 

“Conlon, when ya know them ta listen ta anything I say?” Blue said back. 

 

“They betta listen if they know what’s good for ‘em.  We don’t know if there’s still someone out there.”

 

“Ya should watch yer back and that of Laces and the little one.”

 

“Coise I will.  Any word?”

 

“Nothing.  I don’t know about the remaining ones.  I don’t think that they will give us any trouble.  It was just those three Bobby, Pepper and James.  Those were the only ones to really worry about.”

 

“Sure?”

 

“Most.” Blue nodded. 

 

“Thanks Blue.”

 

“No problem Spot, we are in this together. There is no way around that.”

 

“No, wish there was.  Hate to think that those goyls are in trouble because of me.”

 

“Not only because of you.”

 

“Yeah.” Spot and Blue walked out and into the parlor where Pixie sat watching Scorch throw her box of matches that was empty into the air and catch it.  Candy laughed at how interested Pixie was in the action.  Spades sat at the counter looking out the window, her eyes scanning for shadows of any kind.  Laces walked down the stairs and Angel was walking up them. 

 

“How did you find him?” Angel asked. 

 

“Better then ever.” Laces smiled back. 

 

“Really?”

 

“Enjoy it,” Laces said as she kept walking.  Angel looked puzzled for a moment and then continued up the stairs. 

 

“Ready to go?” Spot asked.  Laces nodded and Pixie looked disappointed. 

 

“But Scorch is showing me her trick.”

 

“Her trick?  What trick may that be?” Laces demanded. 

 

“The one where she throws that box into the air and catches it over and over again.” Vigor rolled her eyes. 

 

“Oh that one.” Laces laughed. 

 

“Let’s go Pixie, Scorch will do that trick for you tomorrow.” Spot let out a sigh. 

 

“She’ll probably still be doing it.” Vigor laughed. 

 

“Hey!” Scorch shouted.  Pixie stood up and smiled. 

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

“Sure doll ya come back when ya can,” Spades said.  “But don’t come without tellin’ someone where ya are.”

 

“I will,” Pixie nodded.  Spades winked at Laces and Laces nodded.  The three headed out of the building.  It was dark outside, a few street lights were on and all seemed peaceful and quiet in Brooklyn for once.  Pixie was falling asleep and Spot lifted her up when he saw her closing her eyes.  She soon fell fast asleep in his arms.  Laces smiled at the scene. 

 

“What are ya smiling at?”

 

“Me?  Nothing.”

 

“Nothing, huh?  I know what ya thinking,”

 

“Really?  What am I thinking?”

 

“That ya think that ya finally softening me up,” Spot said. 

 

“You being softened up?  Never,” Laces mocked. 

 

“The kid, she’s just so,” Spot was at lost for words. 

 

“Time consuming, attention needing,” Laces provided.  “I do believe that was what ya were worried about.”

 

“I guess it wasn’t such a bad idea ta bring her here.”

 

“Thank you, I know it wasn’t.” Laces smiled. 

 

They walked into the lodging house and the boys all looked relieved to see Spot walk in with Laces and all right. 

 

“You guys are all right, I was beginning to think that something happened, why didn’t you send someone Laces.  I thought that something happened to you, that you were dead in some gutter or something,” Bullseye said.  Laces gave him a weary look as Spot went up the stairs to put Pixie to bed. 

 

“Sorry Bullseye, I really didn’t mean to worry ya all like that.  You know I didn’t,” Bullseye nodded and looked her over. 

 

“Ya all right though right?  Nothing happened to you?” Laces shook her head. 

 

“No nothing, I was with Jack,” Bullseye nodded at this. 

 

“I going to get some sleep ya should to.” The newsies who had been in the parlor started up for the bunkroom.  Bottle Cap hugged Laces before he headed up the stairs.  Laces stood there looking around for a moment. 

 

“Looking for something?” Rick asked her. 

 

“I really don’t know.”

 

“Well that may be a problem, if you don’t know then you can’t find it.”

 

“Yes I would think so.”

 

“You look tired Kid, maybe you should get some sleep,” Rick suggested.  Laces nodded and headed up the stairs, she meet with Spot in the hallway. 

 

“Want to come up on the roof with me?” Spot asked.  Laces nodded and they headed up the stairs. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack had his head in his hands and was staring at the ceiling of the bunkroom. 

 

“Anything wrong Jack?” Blink asked.  Jack didn’t respond, Blink looked at him and asked again but there was still no response.  Blink looked at the other guys in the room. 

 

“Race!  Look sumthing is wrong wid Jack,” Race walked over and looked at Jack. 

 

“Jack?  Hello ya in there?” Race poked at Jack.  Jack lifted himself up a bit. 

 

“What guys?” He asked. 

 

“What?  See there ain’t nothing wrong with ‘im,” Race said to Blink as he walked away. 

 

“Did ya want something Blink?”

 

“Me?” Blink was a little startled.  “I just wanted to know if anything was wrong?”

 

“Nothing is wrong why would ya think that?”

 

“Well I ask ya three times before ya moved, actually ya only moved because Race poked ya.”

 

“Nah, nothing is really wrong,” Jack sighed. 

 

“Really, huh?” Blink sat down on the bottom bunk across from Jack.  He began to take his shoes off and get ready for bed. 

 

“Well, it’s just everyone seems to know something I don’t.”

 

“What would that be?”

 

“If I knew then they wouldn’t know something I didn’t would they?” Jack rolled his eyes. 

 

“Oh.” Blink nodded. 

 

“Do ya think that Laces and Pockets are getting back together?” Jack suddenly asked once Blink was in bed. 

 

“Laces and Pockets?  I thought they were still sort of together?” Blink yawned. 

 

“No not really, well not according to Laces.  She never really said they were and ya never saw them like they were when they were together.  I mean ya know,” Jack persisted. 

 

“I don’t know, why would they?”

 

“Pockets almost losing his life and all ain’t that something like a premonition?”

 

“Premonition?  What does that mean?”

 

“I don’t know.  Ain’t it something like that though?”

 

“Maybe, I don’t know.  I am tired Jack.  We can talk some more about this tomorrow.” Blink turned around and Jack sighed as he went back to staring at the ceiling as the lights were turned off. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Has Laces been more and more around Manhattan lately?” Sarah was saying as she brushed her hair. 

 

“Yes, she has.” Les nodded. 

 

“Why Dave, is there any reason?”

 

“A reason, Laces doesn’t need a reason for almost anything.  She works without reasons.” Dave smiled. 

 

“Is she with Pockets?”

 

“Pockets, well I don’t know.  It didn’t really seem like it for a while, and then for a little while it did.  I really don’t know maybe because he almost died they are.  Why?” Dave said. 

 

“Has she been around Jack a lot?”

 

“I guess.”

 

“Alone?”

 

“I don’t know Sarah, leave them alone.”

 

“I just, I don’t think she is fit for him.”

 

“How would ya know, Laces has been around ‘im longer then ya ‘ave.  Ise sorry that he broke your heart, but it was bound to happen.  Don’t tell me ya thought it would last forever, not unless Laces went away and even then he would never be all yours,” Dave said. 

 

“But I loved him.”

 

“And he loved you for a little while, ya can’t force someone to love you, you can’t even decide who ya love.  It just happens.” Dave got up and hugged his sister. 

 

“Thanks Dave.” Sarah smiled. 

 

“Don’t worry someone will come along that will sweep ya off your feet and take you away and love you forever.”

 

“I wish.” Sarah sighed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Angel was still in Pockets room, Spades had walked in with Blue. 

 

“Are ya two still talking?” Blue asked. 

 

“No, we ain’t talking, we just staring at each other,” Pockets said. 

 

“Feeling betta?” Spades asked. 

 

“Yeah, thanks.”

 

“Angel, tomorrow ya and me are working,” Spades said. 

 

“I know.”

 

“Ya two betta get some sleep,” Blue suggested. 

 

“We will.” Pockets nodded. 

 

“Angel,” Spades was about to start. 

 

“I know Spades, I will go to bed in a minute.” Angel frowned.  Spades and Blue smiled and left the room. 

 

“Those two think they know everything and that we don’t,” Pockets sighed. 

 

“Spades likes being in charge.” Angel nodded. 

 

“Angel?”

 

“Yeah?” Pockets leaned in and looked at Angel a moment.  She looked back at him and nothing was said.  After sitting there for a few minutes Angel got up a little disappointed and walked out of the room. 

 

“Night,” she said as she closed the door.  Pockets sat there a moment before shaking his head and falling asleep. 

 

Angel walked to her room and sat on the bed looking out the window. 

 

“Anything wrong?” Spades asked from the door. 

 

“Spades, what are ya doing there?” Angel jumped. 

 

“Nothing,” Spades shrugged. 

 

“I thought that ya was going ta sleep.”

 

“I was, then I decided ta remind some of the goyls of what they had ta do tomorrow and ta ask ya what’s wrong.”

 

“Nothing’s wrong.”

 

“Then what’s going on with Pockets and ya?”

 

“Nothing.” Angel looked sad and Spades came over to her. 

 

“Do ya want something?”

 

“Maybe, Spades, he ain’t that scrawny little kid anymore with the big shirt and large pants.”

 

“I know he ain’t, but he also ain’t interested in ya anymore like that.”

 

“Well, I don’t know.  I think he might be.”

 

“What gave ya that impression?”

 

“Well he’s been talking ta me all day.”

 

“Did anything happen with that though?”

 

“He almost kissed me, just now.”

 

“Almost?”

 

“I thought he was going ta and then nothing happened.”

 

“I think he needs time, after Laces and all.  Don’t worry about it.”

 

“I won’t.  But now I think that I am falling in love.” Angel sighed. 

 

“Well, it’s about time,” Spades mumbled as she walked out of the room and across the hall to her room. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The sky was getting lighter because the night was getting to be morning now.  Spot and Laces sat on the roof, it was late and they hadn’t slept much but it didn’t matter to them.  Spot was smoking and Laces was swinging her feet back and forth. 

 

“Well this has sure been a week,” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah, it has.  Pixie is getting real spoiled.”

 

“She is, those Manhattan boys are doing it to her.”

 

“Brooklyn boys are just as bad, Conlon.”

 

“What are ya going ta do about it?”

 

“Me?  What are ya going to do about it?  She listens ta ya without question.”

 

“That’s because ya too soft Laces, ya let her walk all over ya.  That’s the problem with Jack ta.”

 

“And ya don’t have that problem?”

 

“No, I’m Spot Conlon, I don’t have any bad traits.  I do everything right.”

 

“That head of yours is too big.”

 

“Watch what ya say ta me.”

 

“Why?  What will happen to me?”

 

“You’re as bad as Pixie.”

 

“Am not.”

 

“Are too, that little goyl is sure something.”

 

“Something ta wake us up.”

 

“Yeah, that reminds me maybe we should get some sleep.” Spot threw his cigarette down the escape and looked at Laces.  It was too late though Laces was fast asleep her head in her hands.  Spot smiled as he shook his head. 

 

“Ya is something that wakes me up.” Spot got up and picked her up.  He walked her downstairs and put her to bed.  He looked at her then looked over at Pixie.  He shook his head again. 

 

“Brooklyn will never be the same,” he said as he walked out. 

 

~*~THE END~*~