"Hey Baby." Jack Kelly said to a girl, who's real name actually was Baby.
She turned around to look at Jack. She was sixteen with curly dark brown hair that rested on her shoulders, and brown eyes. She was almost 5 foot 6, and was wearing a blue shirt with the top two buttons left undone, and brown pants.
Baby was a new newsie. She had only been with them for two months. She and Jack had first meet when Baby was sent to Manhattan to live with her aunt after her parents died when she was twelve. Her aunt didn't have enough money to send Baby to school, so most of the time Baby would walk around the town looking for stuff to do. She was buying a paper from Jack and then they started talking and that's how they became friends. After Baby's aunt died, Jack suggested that she live in the lodging house with him and the other newsies.
She was supposed to have been set off to an orphanage. The day the people came to take her away she ran to the lodging house where Jack was. Now the police were always after her. Luckily for her Jack had taught her different ways to escape from the refuge. Now she would be sent there instead of an orphanage because of her age, and the fact that she had escape so many times.
"Hey ya Jack." Baby said upon reaching him.
"We're all goin' ta Tibby's fer dinnah. Ya comin'?" He asked.
"Yeah, let's go."
Jack and Baby went to Tibby's where they meet up with Kid Blink, Race, and Mush. They sat down in a booth in the corner of the restaurant. Kid Blink, Race and Jack sat on one side of the table. Mush and Baby sat on the other.
It was usually noisy in Tibby's, but today it was even louder. Everyone was exited about the poker game that was going to be held that night in Brooklyn. Baby hadn't gone to the other poker games. Mostly because before she became a newsie she didn't know how to play. Race had been teaching her how ever since she became one and now he finally thought that she was ready to play against some of the Brooklyn boys. Jack, on the other hand, didn't even want Baby in Brooklyn, let alone be around the newsies that lived there.
"Hey Jack, do ya think Spot'll be at da game?" Race asked shuffling a deck of cards he had brought to the diner with him.
"Probably, Spot wouldn't miss a poker game fer da woild." Jack replied.
"Do ya think I'll be able ta meet Spot tanight? You'se guys keep tawkin' about 'im, I kind of feel left out not knowing 'im." Baby said.
"You'se aint missin' much, Baby, so don't worry 'bout it. But, yeah, ya probably will see 'im tanight, you may not be able ta tawk to 'im but you'll see in none da less." Jack told her. "Baby, when yer in Brooklyn, I wont be able ta be around ya all da time, so watch yer back."
"Don't be such a dumb ass Jack, I can take care of myself. You know I don't take no crap from nobody." She told him.
"Dat's what I'm worried about. Dat mouth of yers could get ya killed. Brooklyn is nothin' like Manhattan, if you'se tawk back, especially if ya tawk back ta Spot, yer gonna get soaked." Jack explained.
"Don't worry about it." She said standing up. "I'm gonna to back ta da lodgin' house ta get a few minutes sleep before da game tanight. Any of you guys gonna come?"
Kid Blink, and Mush stood up and followed Baby out of the diner. Jack, and Race stayed in their seats.
"Ya know who she reminds me of?" Race asked.
"Who?" Jack asked putting the money for his food on the table.
"Spot," Race told him.
"Yeah, and dat's jist what dis woild needs, another Spot." Jack said.
"Or anothah Baby," Race said.
They all left the lodging house that night and headed for Brooklyn. Baby was eager to get there. She had never been to Brooklyn before and this would be her first real poker game. She had all the money she earned in her pockets, knowing that she would probably end up losing most of it.
They got to the Brooklyn lodging house and started walking up the stairs. They could hear all the newsies talking, and yelling from outside. The room was very crowded when they walked in. Race quickly went over to a bunch of guys and they dealt him into their game.
"Baby, I'm gonna go ta dat game ovah der, okay?" Jack asked.
"Okay." Baby said.
"Rembah, watch yerself. See ya!" Jack yelled as he walked over to one of the games.
Baby walked over to one of the poker game. She didn't know anyone there. When she asked if she could play, they told her that she couldn't. Baby tried to keep back her anger, it as hard, but she was able to control herself. She knew that since she was a girl it would be hard for her to prove to them that she could play poker.
She saw Snipshooter playing a game with a few of the Brooklyn newsies. She knew that he would let her play, after all he knew how good she was. Race had even told her that she would probably be able to win against most of the boys she played against.
Snipshooter allowed her to play in the game. Since this was after all the first time she played poker for real money at first she did loss a little some of her money. By the end she had won the game. She was very proud of herself.
By the end of the night Baby had made double the amount of money that she started out with. They had been there for hours but she still hadn't seen Spot. For the last game of the night all the winners from the other games came together to play. Baby wasn't one of the final winners, but Race and Jack were.
It was too crowded around where the boys were playing and Baby couldn't make it through all of the people to see Jack, and Race play. She could hear Jack yelling every now and then every time he would lose or win a hand. The game lasted for about an hour. Once it was over Jack went over to Baby.
"So were ya able ta see Spot like ya wanted to so much?" Jack asked.
"No, I wouldn't even have known if I saw 'im or not. I don't know what 'e looks like remember?" Baby said.
"I just finished playing poker against 'im. Weren't ya watchin'?"
"It was too crowded, I couldn't see anything."
"He's right there." Jack said.
He pointed over to one of the only windows in the lodging house. A boy was standing next to it. He was sixteen years old, with brown hair. The newsies had been smoking cigarettes and cigars so the room was still full of smoke, and Baby wasn't able to see Spot all that well.
She was disappointed that she couldn't see him, but she didn't let that get her down. She had won a lot of money, for her first time playing poker. They walked out of the lodging house. Baby was glad to be outside. She needed the fresh air. All the smoke in the room was starting to make her sick. The other boys were use to all that smoke, but she wasn't.
The next morning Baby woke up she saw Jack getting dressed. She got up and walked over to him. He buttoned the top button on his shirt. Jack looked up at Baby and smiled. Jack tied his bandana around his neck and put on his cowboy hat.
"Baby, what are you doin' up?" He asked.
"You'se was makin' so much noise, I'm surprised da whole Lodgin' House aint awake," she told him.
"I'se goin' back ta Brooklyn, I left me winnin's der. Do ya wanna come?" Jack asked.
"Might as well, I don't think dat I'll be able ta go back ta sleep anyway." Baby said.
"When you see Spot, remambah what I told ya yesterday, watch yer mouth."
"Oh please Jack don't even start with all that stuff." She told him.
They went to Brooklyn, but they didn't stop at the Lodging House. They walked to a lake with a dock on it. All of the Brooklyn newsies were there swimming.
"Hey ya Jacky-boy." A boy that was sitting in some of the crated that were on the dock said.
"Hey ya Spot." Jack said.
Spot jumped down off the crates and walked over to Jack and Baby. He spit in his palm, Jack did the same and they shook hands. Baby looked at Spot. He was about the same height as her. He had parted brown hair, and crystal blue eyes. He was wearing a plaid shirt and brown pants. There was a cane in his right hand and a key around his neck.
"Spot I left me money heah last night, do ya have it?" Jack asked.
"Heah ya go." Spot reached into his pocket and pulled out Jack's money.
"I knew dat you'd have it." Jack said putting his money in his pocket.
"What can I say Jack?" Spot said with a smile. He turned his eyes to Baby. "Hey der sweet face."
Spot touched Baby's face softly with the back of his hand. She slapped his hand away. Spot stepped forward about ready to fight her, but Jack stepped in front of him. He held Spot's shoulders and pushed him back a little.
"Hey Spot! Leave 'er alone." Jack told him.
"Jack I can take care of myself!" Baby yelled.
"No you can't. Not heah. Jist listen ta me." Jack said.
"Jack! I'm not afraid of places like dis, or guys like him." She explained.
"You'se bettah listen ta yer boyfriend heah sweet face, or yer gonna git hoit." Spot told her.
"He aint me boyfriend you idiot." She said to Spot.
Spot stepped forward again ready to fight her, but Jack stepped in front of him.
"Look heah sweet face you'se jist signed yer own death warrant. Nobody calls Spot Conlon an idiot and gits away wid it. Yer boyfriend heah can't watch ya foreva." Spot said.
"Stop calling me sweet face, dat's not my name." Baby said.
"Well den sweet face, what is yer name?" He asked.
"Baby." She told him.
"Baby? Baby? Dat's yer name? Is dat yer real name?" Spot asked.
"Yeah, you gotta problem wid dat?" Baby asked.
"Not at all. Da name obviously fits ya." Spot said.
"You son of a bit-"
Jack cut her off by covering her mouth with his hand. He grabbed her and with his other hand and started pulling her away. She struggled to break free but Jack was too strong.
"See ya Spot." Jack said.
"See ya Jack." Spot said back. "Hey, see ya around Baby!"
Baby and Jack walked down the street back to Manhattan. Jack had his arm around Baby's shoulder. She was still mad at the way she was treated by Spot.
"Can you believe dat guy?!" She asked Jack.
"Come on, Spot aint dat bad." Jack told her.
"Aint dat bad? Aint dat bad! 'E was horrible. I can't believe dat I eva wanted ta meet him. Jack why did ya let me come heah? You knew that I would hate 'im." Baby complained.
"I thought dat you'd like 'im." He said. "You'se guys are so much alike."
"I am not like him!"
"Okay."
"I'm not."
"Okay."
"I'm not."
"Okay!"
"I never want to see that guy again!" Baby yelled.
Jack and Baby went to Tibby's for lunch. The other newsies were already there when they walked in. She saw Race with Snipeshooter, Mush and one other newsie that she who's face she couldn't see. She and Jack walked over to them, and she saw that the other boy was Spot.
"Oh my God." Baby said.
Spot turned around and looked at her.
"Hey sweet face. Oh sorry Baby." Spot said insulting her name.
"You jerk." She said.
"What did you call me?" Spot asked standing up.
"Hey Spot lay off. She didn't mean it." Jack said.
"Yes I did." She confessed.
"Shut up, Baby. Look, Spot, she doesn't know ya or anything alright." Jack told him.
"Be quiet Jack, dis goil obviously has a mouth and I wanna heah what she has ta say. Now I'm sure ya didn't mean ta call me dat, so apologize an' I'll forget ya evah said anything." Spot said.
"I'm not gonna apologize, I meant what I said. You're a jerk. Maybe you should step down off dat pedestal of yers once an' awhile and accept the fact da you don't intimidate me. By making fun of my name, you are only proving that the only way you can keep yer reputation is by hurtin' othah people. If you keep that up you will nevah be more than a discussing lowlife!" Baby yelled.
"You bitch!" He yelled back.
Baby had tried to control her anger but she felt that this guy needed to be taught a lesson. She did the only thing she could think of at that time. Baby made her hand into a fist, and drew back her arm. She swung it forward and hit Spot's eye. He bent over and held his eye in pain. After a few seconds he looked up at Baby, she just stood there. Every other guy that would have even dared to have punched Spot would have started running. Baby knew that she couldn't let Spot see that she was afraid of him.
He charged at her, but right before he got to her, Race and Mush grabbed him and pulled him back. Spot started cursing and screaming at Baby. Baby stood where she was and didn't move. Jack pulled her back a little just in case Race and Mush lost their grip on Spot.
The owner of Tibby's ran up to them. They were creating a scene, and some of the customers were starting to leave.
"If you kids have to settle something, then go outside. You're disturbing the customers." He said.
"This aint ovah Baby, you can count on dat. I'll find ya, an' when I do, yer dead." Spot said as he left the diner.
"Why'd ya do that Baby?" Jack asked.
"What? He deserved it." Baby said.
"Baby, Spot is the one guy in the whole woild dat you neva wanna become an enemy wid. 'E has more power den any other newsie in New Yawk." He explained.
"Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?" Baby asked.
"I nevah thought dat you'd do anything dat stupid." He said.
"Well he still deserved it."
"It doesn't mattah. E's Spot Conlon. You bettah find a way ta git on 'is good side, or else, well, yer as good as dead." Jack explained.
Baby stormed out of the diner. She didn't want to listen to what Jack wanted to say. She walked around the town for awhile, thinking about what she had done. She didn't mean to punch Spot. It just happened. She went back to selling her papers after about an hour of walking around.
She left the lodging house that night to walk around town to think some more. Something that she was never able to do if she stayed in a bunkroom full of boys.
While she was walking down the street, she heard someone following her. She looked behind herself to see who was there. She saw a police man, she realized that he must have known who she is. She started walking faster. Baby heard the police officer call for her and that's when she started to run. The cop chased after her.
He grabbed Baby and started pulling her to the police carriage. She started screaming, but she knew that it would do no good. No one was going to help an orphan escape from a police officer. She knew that the only people that would help her would be other newsies, and she didn't see any of them around.
The police officer locked her into the back of the carriage. They started riding towards the refuge. She saw a guy running after the carriage. When they drove into a dark alley, the guy chasing the carriage jumped onto the back of it and broke the lock off the door. She couldn't see who it was, but she knew that it must be a newsie. They jumped off the carriage and ran into the street. The police officer never realized she left.
They walked under a street light, to see who the other person was. The guy that had helped her, she saw, was Spot. His eye was black and blue from where she had punched him. She suddenly became full with anger. Once Spot realized it was Baby he looked just as angry as her.
"No one asked ya ta help me." She said.
"Trust me, if I had known dat it was you, I would have let 'im take ya to da refuge. Da guys dere would have eventually killed ya, so it would have saved me da trouble." Spot said.
"Are you still hung up on dat? I'm sure it's not the foist time you'se been punched. Why can't you just drop it?" Baby asked.
"Me? I save your life, an' yer not even grateful. Now ya better git back ta da lodging house. Ya gonna be alright by yerself?" Spot asked.
"What do you care?" Baby said angrily.
"I don't."
"Well fine."
"Fine!"
Spot started walking away from Baby. She thought for a moment and then called his name. Spot turned around and looked at Baby curious about what she was going to say.
"Thanks fer helpin' me back dere Spot." She said.
"Yer welcome. Now see was dat so hard?" Spot asked smiling.
"Shut up." Baby said.
"Ouch, I'm hoit."
"See ya Spot." Baby said.
"See ya Baby," he said.
They walked away in opposite directions. When she got back to the lodging house, she didn't tell anyone what had happened to her right away. The guys hadn't even noticed her when she walked in. Later that night, after she came out of the washroom, she went over to her and Jack's bunk beds. Jack was sitting on the top bunk. Baby jumped up on the bunk and sat next to Jack. She told him what had happened to her that night.
"Spot really helped ya?" Jack asked after she was finished talking.
"Yeah. It's weird ya know. When I first met 'im, I hated 'im. I still don't like 'im all dat much, but I like 'im a lot more den I did when I at foist." Baby said.
"I told ya you'se guys would git along, ya jist needed ta give it some time. Before ya know it he'll probably be stealin' yer heart like 'e does to all da othah goils in New Yawk." Jack said.
"What do ya mean?" She asked.
"'E's a flirt. Da biggest one in New Yawk. All da goils are aftah 'im."
"So 'e has a lot of girlfriends then." Baby said.
"You bet. I aint like e serious 'bout any of dem. Actually ya can't even really call dem goilfriends. Dey jist 'is goils, 'e doesn't really treat dem like 'e cares about dem, because 'e doesn't. 'E's gots more goils den anyone I know of. Like I said all da goils are aftah 'im an' e doesn't want ta disappoint dem, so 'e's got goils in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Da Bronx, everywhere." Jack explained. "Well, goodnight Baby."
Baby slide off the top bunk and went down to the bottom one. She thought for a while about what Jack had been talking about, then she pulled the covers over herself and fell asleep.
Baby heard the Kloppman yelling at everyone to wakeup the next morning. She got out of bed, and looked up to see if Jack was still sleeping. He was, his head was buried in his pillow, and his covers were halfway off the bed.
"Hey Jack. Jack wakeup. Come on Jack." Baby said.
Jack sat up sleepily. He looked at Baby and then lied back down on the bed. Baby started pulling Jack off the bed. He fell on the floor. The newsies gasps and turned around to see what had made the loud noise. When they saw it was Jack, they went about what they had been doing before.
"Well, I'm up now." Jack said still lying on the floor.
He stood up and went into the washroom. When he came back out, him, Baby, and some of the other newsies that hadn't left yet, went down to the distribution office. After they bought their papers Jack and Baby went to one of the selling spots and started calling out headlines.
On her way to Tibby's for dinner that night she saw Spot. She walked over to him. Spot smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Baby, hi." Spot said.
"Hey Spot. What're ya doin' heah?" Baby asked.
"Came ta see you." He said.
"What?" Baby asked.
"Well ya know, aftah bein' captured by da bulls an' almost put in da refuge, I had ta make sure you'se were okay." Spot said.
"Thanks, but I really didn't need yer help. I can escape from the refuge, I have before." She explained.
"Eventually yer luck is gonna run out an' you wont be able ta escape. Keep dat in mind, will ya?" Spot asked.
"Yeah. Hey are ya comin' ta Tibby's?" Baby asked.
"Sure, why not. It'll give me a chance ta see da boys." Spot said.
They went to Tibby's. Jack waved to them from the booth he was in. Baby walked over to Jack and sat down next to him. Spot sat next to Race.
"So Spot, what are ya doin' in Manhattan?" Jack asked.
"I thought dat I would stop by an' grace you guy wid my presence. And I'm in some trouble back in Brooklyn. So I'm gonna need ta stay heah fer awhile." Spot explained.
"What'd ya do dis time?" Race asked.
"Why do ya think dat it was automatically somethin' I did?" He asked.
"Come on Spot, it aint like dis is da foist time you'se had ta leave Brooklyn." Race said.
"Well, da bulls saw me stealin' money from someone. I aint a pickpocketer or anything like dat, but no one was buyin' any papes dat day, so I wasn't makin' enough money, an' I say dis goil an' I ran into 'er. When she was gittin' back up, I took 'er money widout 'er noticin'. Unfortunately da bulls say me, an' started chasin' me. So I figured dat I would hang around heah fer awhile." He explained.
"I thought dat you'se came by ta see if I was okay." Baby said.
"Yeah, dat an' ta hide out heah." He said. "I'se gotta watch out fer meself too, ya know. I can't jist spend all me time protectin' ya."
"I don't need yer protection. I kin look out fer meself." Baby said.
"Like da othah nigh?" Spot asked sarcastically.
"I would of been able ta git out, ya jist didn't give me da chance." She said. "Jack, is ere even any room for 'im in da lodgin' house. We'se don't even got an extra bed."
"Well, den I guess I'll jist have ta share wid you." Spot said.
"Ya know what I think we do gotta anothah bed, it's in da dog house, where you belong." Baby said.
"Ya sayin' I'm a dog?" He asked.
"Well yer name's Spot, isn't it?" She asked.
"Hey Baby, don't push yer luck wid me." He said. "Now Jack, do ya have an extra bed or not?"
"Of coise we do. We'se always keep an extra bed." Jack said.
"Dat's what I thought." Spot said. "Well now if you'se guys will excuse me, I'se gonna go to da lodgin' house an' git ta sleep. I've had s pretty long day."
Spot stood up and left the diner. When he walked out the door Baby punched Jack's shoulder.
"Ow! What?" Jack asked rubbing his arm.
"You know dat I don't like Spot. But yer lettin' 'im stay wid us anyway!" Baby said.
"Not everythin' is 'bout you, ya know. Spot's in trouble an' we're gonna help 'im. So yer jist gonna have ta deal wid it." He explained.
"Thanks a lot Jack, yer a real friend." Baby said angrily.
"I thought ya said dat you'se liked 'im?"
Baby was dumbfounded. She didn't know what to say. So, she didn't say anything. She got up and stomped out of the restaurant. She started to cool of after she walked around the town for an hour.
She went back to the lodging house, when she walked in all the boys were asleep. Baby went over to her bunk, and saw Spot sleeping in her bed. She didn't want to let Spot get away with stealing her bed. She knew that he must have been sleeping in it just to make her mad. Everyone knew that, that was her bed. She had been sleeping in it ever since she became a newsie. The newsies had to have seen him sleeping there, she just didn't know why they didn't make him move.
"Spot, get up. This is my bed Spot." Baby whispered.
Spot didn't move. Spot was sleeping on top of the covers and not under them so all Baby had to do was pull the covers and Spot would fall off the bed. So that's what she did. Right when he fell on the floor, she jumped in the bed, and pretended to be asleep.
Spot stood up half asleep, wondering what had happened. He was just about to get back onto the bed when he saw Baby in it. He decided not to start fighting over the bed. He walked over to the empty bunk, lied down, and quickly fell to sleep.
Baby woke up the next morning by someone shaking her. She opened her eyes and saw Jack in front of her. She didn't want to get up that morning, but rolled her eyes and got up anyway. She looked around the room to see if Spot was still in the lodging house. She saw him next to the extra bed looking around for his shirt. She got up and walked into the washroom. Baby walked out of the washroom, wearing clean clothes. She ran up to Spot and grabbed his hat off his head and put it on hers.
"Hey! Give dat back!" He yelled.
"Ya gotta catch me foist." Baby called back.
Spot started chasing after Baby. They ran around the bunkroom, jumping over the beds and dodging the newsies in the room. The other newsies paid no attention to the two of them. When they all left Spot was still trying to catch Baby, she was faster than he thought she would have been.
She caught her just as she was jumping over a bed. Spot landed on top of her on the bed. They were both laughing. Then their eyes locked, and they stopped. Spot brought his lips closer to Baby's but stopped right before they touched. He smiled and got up off of her.
"Let's go Baby, we don't wanna be late," he said.
He stood up and slowly walked out the door. Baby stayed on the bed for a few more seconds but then got up and left. After she bought her papers she met up with Jack and started selling her papers with him.
"So did ya evah give Spot 'is hat back?" Jack asked.
Then Baby realized that she was still wearing Spot's hat. She took it off and looked at it. She waved it in Jack's face.
"Dat boy couldn't git it back." She said.
She put the hat back on and smiled. Jack laughed.
"Ya know, Spot almost kissed me," she said.
"What?! I'm gonna kill dat guy! How could 'e have done somethin' like dat? How could 'e have kissed ya?!" Jack screamed.
"Jack! I said 'e almost kissed. 'E stopped right before 'e did." Baby said. "I wanted 'im ta kiss me, Jack. Why did 'e stop? Is dere somethin' wrong wid me?"
"Baby, ya shouldn't care what dat guy thinks. An' ya don't want 'im ta kiss ya, or do anything else ta ya." Jack said.
They went to Tibby's for lunch that afternoon. They sat down in a booth with Race. Baby started looking around for Spot.
"Who are ya lookin' fer." Jack asked.
"Spot," she told him.
"Why are ya lookin' fer 'im?" He asked.
"I gotta give 'im 'is hat back, don't I?" She asked.
At that very same moment the door to the diner opened and in walked Spot. He waved to Baby, Jack, and Race and walked over to them. He sat down next to Race and smiled at all of them.
"Hey Baby, kin I have me hat back now?" Spot asked.
She threw his hat at him. He picked it up and put it on.
"Baby, I don't think you'se should sell yer papes anymore. Ya shouldn't even be outside." Spot told her.
"What are ya tawkin' about?" Baby asked.
"Da bulls stopped me taday an' asked me if I evah hoid of ya. 'E's had yer picture an' everything. 'E almost arrested me too, once 'e realized dat I was lyin' dat I didn't know ya, but I got away. " Spot explained.
"What am I gonna do?" Baby asked.
"You? Da bulls are after me in Brooklyn an' now in Manhattan, I'se got nowhere else ta go." Spot said.
"Why don't ya go ta Da Bronx? Da bulls wont find ya dere." Jack said.
"Can't, a few weeks ago I got in a fight wid dere leadah. Dey wont let me on der territory fer awhile. I'll jist have ta take a chance an' hope dat I aint seen. Baby could go to Da Bronx, except dat dey may not act to kindly to 'er if dey find out she's a friend of mine. It'd be bettah if we both stayed heah, we'se jist gonna not have ta git into any trouble fer awhile." Spot explained.
"Spot, when have ya not gotten into trouble? An' you too Baby. When have both of ya not had a run in wid da bulls?" Race asked.
"Hey Race, it aint like it's are fault. We aint all as perfect as you." Spot said. "Well, I'm gonna go back to da lodgin' house. See ya guys latah."
Spot stood up and walked out of the diner. Jack walked out after him. Outside Jack called for Spot. Spot turned around and looked at Jack. Jack ran up to him, Spot could tell he was angry.
"Baby told me what almost happened between ya two in da lodgin' house." Jack said.
"Oh yeah, what'd she say almost happened?" Spot asked.
"She said dat ya almost kissed 'er." Jack said.
"Well dat aint how I remebah it. We got a little closer den she told ya." Spot said.
Jack grabbed Spot and threw him up against the wall to a building near by. He held him up against the wall, with a very angry expression on his face.
"If ya did anything to 'er Spot!" Jack yelled.
"Jack I was kiddin', I didn't even kiss 'er." Spot said.
"If ya ever touch 'er, I'm gonna kill ya! Stay away from 'er!" He yelled.
He let go of Spot and walked back to Tibby's. Spot watched him leave. He rubbed his hand threw his hair and then walked to the lodging house.
Jack walked back into Tibby's. Baby stood up and headed for the door. Jack reached out and grabbed her arm right before she walked out.
"Where are ya goin' Baby?" He asked.
"I was gonna go back to da lodgin' house. Spot said dat da bulls were aftah me." Baby said.
"Baby, da bulls have bin aftah you'se fer years. Dey aint any closer ta findin' ya know den they were den. Besides I would never let them take you away. An' I don't want ya around Spot anymore. 'E's dangerous, an you don't know what 'e kin do." Jack said.
"You can't tell me who I can and can't be with." She protested.
"Baby, you have no idea what Spot's like. I do, I've seen him break so many goils hearts. I don't want to see him hoit ya." Jack said.
"Thanks er yer concern, but I kin take care of myself. I'm sixteen years old Jack, I don't need you lookin' over my shoulder. Jist leave me alone." She said as she walked out of the diner.
On his way back to the lodging house that night Jack thought of everything that had happened that day. He wondered why Spot didn't kiss Baby. He was also questioning his own feelings for her. He felt himself falling in love with Baby. She never quite seemed like a sister to him. She had always just been a friend who happened to be a girl. Baby liked Spot though and Jack was becoming jealous of him.
He came in to the lodging house he couldn't find Baby. He asked Racetrack were she was and he told her that she went out walking with a few of the other newsies. Jack saw Spot sitting on one of the beds. He had to ask him about how he felt about Baby. He walked up to Spot.
"Come ta yell at me some more?" Spot asked.
"No, I have to talk to you, about Baby." Jack said.
"What about 'er? He asked.
"Do you like 'er? I mean, do ya like 'er more than a friend?" Jack asked.
"I don't think dat any of yer business." Spot said.
"Jist answer the question."
"No!" Spot yelled.
"Come on Spot! Do you like 'er?" Jack asked again.
"Yeah I like 'er. What's not ta like. She's funny, smart, she's got so much spunk." Spot told him.
"Well than why didn't ya kiss 'er?" Jack asked.
"I don't want ta take advantage of 'er like dat. Besides she doesn't like me." Spot said.
"How will ya know unless ya ask 'er?"
"I can't ask 'er." Spot said.
"Why not?" Jack asked.
"Because I don't wanna git hoit!" He yelled. "I really like 'er. She isn't like all da othah goils I date. I care about 'er/"
"Tell 'er." Jack said.
Spot looked at Jack and then walked away from him. Spot walked around outside to think about what Jack said. He walked around the town all night and it. He never even realized how late it was.
The next night Jack figured that Spot told Baby about how he felt about her. He actually hadn't. Jack walked up to Baby expecting her to be glad since he thought Spot had already talked to her.
"Hey Jack," she said.
"Yer not mad at me anymore?" He asked.
"No. Hey Jack? Why doesn't Spot like me?" She asked.
"What?" He asked.
"I know he doesn't like me. But why?" She asked.
Jack and Baby sat down on a bed. None of the newsies had come back from selling their papers yet so they were the only ones in the lodging house. Jack took Baby's hands and looked in her eyes.
"Baby, Spot is a jerk. He only cares about himself. I don't know why 'e doesn't like ya." He said.
Jack knew that Spot did like Baby. He thought that since Spot hadn't told Baby yet that he liked her. That this would be his turn to tell Baby how he felt.
"Baby, I love you." He said.
"I know you do Jack."
"No, I mean, I'm in love wid you." Jack said.
He leaned over and kissed and her on the lips. Spot walked in at that same moment. He had been smiling but when he saw Jack kissing Baby his smile faded away quickly. He had came to the lodging house to tell Baby that he loved her. Baby saw him, and pulled away from Jack.
"Jack, how could ya do this to me. Ya knew dat I." Spot stopped before he said anymore.
Spot ran out of the building. Baby turned to Jack confused about what Spot was talking about.
"Baby, I lied. Spot told me last night that he liked ya." He said. "I didn't want to tell you because I love ya."
"Ya mean Spot actually likes me?"
"Yeah. Well, ya bettah go aftah 'im. 'E's probably really hoitin' right now." Jack told her.
Baby ran out of the lodging house and went around the town looking for Spot. She couldn't find him. She sat down on a bench and held her head in her hands. She felt someone grab her wrist. She looked up and saw a police officer standing over her. She tried to pull away from him, but it did no good.
She started screaming hoping someone would help her. No one did. The officer grabbed Baby with his other hand and pulled her into the police carriage. The officer closed the door and locked it. Baby pulled on the bars, trying to break free.
"Dat wont do no good." A voice said from behind her.
She turned around and saw Spot sitting on the bench in the carriage. She moved over to him and sat down next to him.
"Dey caught ya, uh?" She said.
"I didn't really try ta git away from dem."
"Jack told me what ya said to 'im. I didn't know ya felt dat way 'bout me." She said.
"Yeah, well, I didn't know ya felt dat way 'bout Jack."
"I don't like Jack like dat." She said.
"Well, den why did ya kiss 'im?"
"He kissed me. Ta be honest Spot I like you. A lot. Jack's just like a brothah ta me. He aint nothin' more, an' 'e aint nothin' less."
They were silent for awhile. Then they heard the carriage wheel start to squeak. They looked down and out the side and saw the wheel to the carriage coming off. They yelled to the officer in the front for him to stop, but he didn't listen to them. They knew that the carriage would tip over if the wheel fell off.
There was railroad tracks up ahead that the carriage would have to cross. The carriage started crossing the tracks, as it did the front wheel fell off causing the carriage to fall over. The carriage fell right on the tracks. Spot and Baby could hear the police officer yelling. The officer unhooked the horse just as they heard the train sirens. Spot and Baby knew that they were in trouble. They held on to each other.
Spot kissed Baby's lips, knowing that they probably wouldn't survive if the train hit them. They wondered why the officer wasn't helping them. A huge force hit the carriage. The door was knocked off and Baby and Spot were thrown into the air.
The both fell down hard. Spot hit the back of his head and was knocked unconscious. When he came to, it was raining hard. He looked around for Baby. He saw her lying on the road bleeding. Unable to get to his feet, Spot crawled over to her.
He lifted up her head. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her breathing was weak. She coughed and a little bit of blood came out of her mouth. She forced herself to speak.
"Hold me," she said shaking.
Spot sat up and held Baby in his arms. He rocked her back and forth slowly. There was a crowd around them watching. No one came over to help them. Spot looked at Baby and tears started forming in his eyes. He knew that he was losing her.
"Spot." She said. "I don't want to die, Spot." She said as she started to cry.
"I'm not gonna let ya die." He said.
"Please, I don't want ta die."
"Yer not gonna die. I wont let ya." Spot said.
"Spot, I don't wanna die. Don't let me die please."
"I promise yer not gonna die." Spot said.
She knew that she was dying. Spot knew it too, even though he tried to convince himself that she wasn't.
"At least give me one last kiss." She managed to say.
He bent down and gently kissed her lips.
"I love you," he said to her.
She smiled at him and then slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing stopped and then she died. Spot held her even tighter, and cried. He stroked her hair and held her head against his chest. An ambulance came and took Baby's body away. Spot stayed sitting on the road. After an hour he stood up and walked around Manhattan. He walked all night He went back to the Manhattan lodging house in the morning. He lied down on Baby's bed but he didn't fall asleep. For the rest of the day he just lied there and thought about Baby.
Jack walked in to the lodging house and saw Spot standing next to the window. He walked over to him and touched his shoulder. Spot turned around.
"Spot, ya can't keep mopin' around like dis. We all miss Baby, but she's gone. Dere aint nothin' we kin do about it." Jack said. "Spot, you'se haven't eatin' a thing since she died. Yer gonna kill yerself."
"At least then I'll be wid Baby." Spot said.
"Do ya really think Baby would want ya ta do this to yerself? She'd want ya ta be happy." Jack said.
"I miss 'er. When I wake up my foist thought is of 'er. I promised 'er I wouldn't let 'er die. I broke my promise. If I had told 'er right away dat I loved 'er. Maybe she'd still be heah." Spot said.
"Ya can't blame yerself Spot. It wasn't yer fault dat she died. But ya have ta let go."
"I don't wanna forget about 'er." Spot said.
"A goil like 'er, ya kin nevah forget. She'll always be wid ya." Jack told him.
"Yeah, besides, I'll see my Baby again. When I leave dis woild."
Jack put his arm around Spot, to comfort him and the two of them walked out of the lodging house.