… and pulled it up to look at him. "Dat wasn't an answer," he said sternly. All I could do is give him a blank pleading look, praying I could go home. I needed a self-boost from watching my girls look up to me. I wasn't use to this feeling of unworthiness, over-powered, and just plain fear. He pushed the side of my head away from him.
"Get out a here. You're no use. I'll take care a' Dallas," He decided dismissing me. I started walking away as fast as I could go to get out of there.
"Hey Freckles! Wait!" he called.
'Oh please, God, let me get home alive!' I thought as I stopped and turned around.
"Ruddy, walk her home!" Spot said to some boy I didn't even know was there. A large blond boy emerged from the shadows. He was tall and muscled and defiantly big but he didn't have that aura of power that Spot had. In other words; he didn't scare me a bit, even though I knew he could wipe the floor with my ass. This was a nice boost- finally a little feeling of superiority. I outranked this walking muscle and I knew it. I turned and kept walking down the pier while the big boy caught up. We arrived at the Bunkhouse and I dismissed him with a wave of my hand and continued into the House.
"Hey!" Rudy called. I turned around slowly and looked down my nose at him. I put my self on a pedestal and tried to make up for the respect I lost in myself when I was around Spot.
"Yes" I said slowly and impatiently.
"A tank you would be nice" he said wiredly
" Who eva said I was nice" I answered haughtily. I turned around and continued up the stairs.
"Boy who eva taut it was a good idea ta let goirls in Brooklyn aut ta be soaked" he mumbled as he walked away.
"Nothing but trouble gona come from dis braud" he growled and made his way back to the docks.
I walked into the bunkroom and was met by peaceful murmuring. I walked over to where Woodchuck was chatting with Rabbit and Captain.
" Hey how was your foist day in Brooklyn" I asked
" It stunk," said Rabbit
" Brooklyn people are cheep but I sold more dan I did in Staten Island" Said Wood
" Well I had a meeting wid Conlon Taday " I said
" The Spot Conlon" asked a near by N.S.T newsie named Beaver.
" Was I tawkin ta you mind yer own business and you'll find ya self in a lot less uncomfortable situations" Captain scolded.
"Sorry" said Beaver baking away.
" Hey Beava we'll go ova dos accounts a little lata ok" called Rabbit.
"shoir " said Beava walking away.
"Why ya gota be so mean ta her" said Rabbit.
" Why ya gotta be so nice she's gona get spoiled around you" Captain answered back.
" Well do ya have ta yell at her ova nothing, so she's curious about Spot what da big deal," said Rabbit.
" The big deal is if she goes around sticking her ears in oda peoples business she's gona get hoirt" said Captain.
" Oh come on Cap what do ya tink she's gona ova hear a plan ta take ova New York? No." Answered Rabbit.
" YO! Shat up! ! Both a ya's ! !" I demanded. They both shut their mouths but continued to glare at each other.
" Hey Captain call a family meeting k, I'll be right back," I said weary of their bickering. I herd Captain yelling at the girls to gather around my bunk. I hung my head in the sink for a few seconds and took a few deep breaths. I had to tell the girls about Dallas. They had to be ready. My newsies were unlike any other newsies in New York. Not just for the obvious reason like were girls but for the simple reason that we were organized. We had the strict regulation and Business order of a well-trained military unit. We took care of each other. Everyone did the part and we ran like a well-oiled machine. Now were getting the biggest test of our skill and my own personal test of leadership. I had Brooklyn's help but I didn't know if that was enough. Sure we had the manpower and intimidation but was that enough for me personally to now I like everyone else in New York ran to Brooklyn, to Spot when in a fix. Did that mean I wasn't a good leader? That I couldn't take care of my own problems? I didn't know. Gee's! ! Where are you when I need you Rocks!!. I walked out of the bathroom to the curious looks of all my girls. I made my way over to my make shift bed and sat down.
"OK I got some news so keep quite so I can get dis out fast " I said. They all nodded obediently. "Well I'm sure you all remember our good friend Dallas right? Right, well looks like were gona see a little more a him" I said.
"What do ya mean Frecs? " Asked Rabbit.
"It looks like we have really good taste girls cause Dallas and da rest a Staten Island have decided to move to Brooklyn" I finished. Voices busted out all over the room in surprise, fear and anger. "Dats not all, dey have decided ta move and take ova South Brooklyn" I said. Groans and cries of dis belief flew all over the room.
"What are we gona do Freckles we can't let dem push us all ova New York" yelled Captain.
"I know! ! All yall Shut up! ! I already talked ta Spot he says he'll take care of it," I said. Everyone immediately. Breathed relief. I was having trouble spiting out the exact situation with Spot. The fact that I didn't even no the plan or have any say in what was going to happen. The next day after lying through my teeth I sold all 35 of my papes and made my way down to the docks. 'Damn stingy Brooklynites, I've seen a group illiterate bums buy more eagerly den des penny pinchers geese." I shuffled my feet and slowly inched my way to the water as slow as possible. "And now to brighten my day I get to go visit my favorite person in the whole world". The dock came in view and that familiar terror ran through my blood chilling my whole body. "If he doesn't scare me ta death he's gona give me the flu of a life time," I said out loud scolding my self for being scared. I walked on to the first boards of the pier. It was much later than usual and there were fewer boys on the pier, it gave me a little courage but not nearly enough to look up from my shoes. I reached the end of the pier and there was no sign of Spot. I turned a full circle and didn't see Spot. Or anybody. All the boys who had been on the pier had left while she made a pointless journey down the walkway. "Damnit Spot I have no time for dis or patients" I mumbled
" He's at the house"someone called from my right.
"What? Whose der?"I said trying to put aditude in my voice.
"I said, He's at the house, " said Rudy stepping out of the shadows
" Oh, well tell him I came and I'll see him tamarrow" I stated and quickly started walking in the opposite direction. I am not going to stay on a dimly light dock with a complete stranger. Who knows if he's even all there. I at least know he doesn't bath regularly.
"Not so fast"he called after me. 'Okay Frecs time ta trow up some nerve's said to my self
"What do ya want?" I said with exasperation.
"Spot told me dat if ya came to take you to da house " said Rudy
"What! Neva! ! And I mean neva eva"
"I's got me ordas,said Rudy
"Not by da absent hair on my chiny chin chin asshole"
"Hey I'm not getin in trouble for your ass so come on" said Rudy grabbing my arm and trying to pull me down the pier . I had this horrible feeling that told me to run and not take one step in the direction of the house cause what ever Spot had to say or do to me was not in any way good.