"Hey Itey, over here!" said the newsie that found me.
          "Whatja find Jake?"
          Another newsie joined him. He looked at me with wide eyes, almost as if he had never seen a girl before.
          "I found her in da alley. She looks hurt real bad."
          He didn't know the half of it. Every time I blinked my muscles would burst with pain.
          "Lets take ‘er to th' lodgin' house."
          The boy named Itey took my arm and guided me to this place where newsies stay. We walked through the doors and two other newsies were talking, when they saw me their eyes popped out of their skulls almost. I didn't think I looked that bad.
          "Jake found ‘er in th' alley." said Itey.
          They stood and came close, I backed away, not sure if I should trust them, even though I pretty much trusted Itey. He told me it was ok and then introduced the two as Swifty and Pie Eater.
          "If ya don't mind me askin', what happened to ya?" asked the newsie introduced as Swifty.
          I started to answer but Itey stopped me when he said, "Lets get ‘er fixed up first."
          He took me upstairs where more newsies were talking, of course just like before they stopped and stared at me. Itey took me into a wash room and sat me down in a chair. He put some kind of liquid on a towel and rubbed it in the cuts and welts on my face, which stung in the worst way. When he was done torturing me that way, he started to bandage up the big gash on my arm.
          "Now if ya don't mind me askin', what were ya doin' in dat alley?"
          Finally I get to talk to someone. "These two guys have been giving me trouble for some time now."
          "Any names?"
          "I think one called the other Oscar. Well anyway, today they wanted to know me more than I wanted them to, and when I tried to stop them..."
          Itey put a hand on my knee, the one place that didn't hurt. "You'se happens ta be lucky ‘cause dey would 'a' come back fer ya."
          I looked down. I couldn't tell him that for the past week I've been living on the streets of New York.
          "Ya have a place ta stay?" he asked, almost as if he knew what I was thinking.
          I shook my head no. He stood and then helped me up. He checked my face, examining every cut.
          "It's nothin' too bad."
          He then led me out where the newsies were. They were still staring at me, making me very uncomfortable.
          "She's a victim of da Delanceys." said Itey.
          A newsie with an eyepatch came up to me, making me tense up. "I'm Kid Blink, what's yer name?"
          "Wait, let's give ‘er a nickname." said another with a bandana around his neck.
          "Why a nickname?" I asked.
          Itey squeezed my hand, bringing pain. "They want you'se ta become a newsie an' stay here."
          This time my eyes went wide. "A girl can't be a newsie."
          "Why's that?" asked Kid Blink.
          He got me there. I didn't have a good answer.
          "So what should we name ‘er?" asked a newsie with blond hair and glasses.
          They looked at me for the longest time until the kid with the bandana snapped his fingers and said, "How 'bout Irish?"
          "Why Irish?" I asked.
          "‘Cause ya got red hair ‘n' green eyes. Dat seems Irish ta me." he answered.
          So my new name was Irish. I found out that the boy who named me was named Jack Kelly and the kid with the blond hair was Dutchy.
          "Let's find a room fer ya." said Itey before I met any of the others.
          He took me back downstairs. Jake had returned, and there was an older man behind the desk.
          "Who's that Itey?" asked the man.
          "Dis is Irish. Is der a place she can stay Klopper?"
          "She can stay upstairs, the room right next to you boys."
          Itey sat me down next to Swifty and went to talk to Klopper.
          "So yer gonna be a newsie with us?" asked Swifty.
          I just nodded. Jake sat next to me and took my hand. "Don't worry, we'll protect ya."
          I didn't believe him because I had heard that before. My mother and father said that to me, and they kicked me out of my home because they needed more money for drinking instead of supporting me.
          "Irish?"
          It was going to take me a while to get used to my new name. "What?"
          "We was just wonderin' how old you'se is." said Pie Eater, the first time he ever spoke to me.
          "I'm 15."
          The doors opened, making me jump up. Swifty took my hand and said, "It's ok, it's just Spot Conlon."
          I looked over at the newsie that had walked in. The looke he gave me proved I still looked terrible. He seemed to be the most handsome newsie, of course the others don't lack good looks.
          "Who's dis?" he asked, pointing to me with a gold-tipped cane.
          "Irish. She's stayin' with us." Jake answered.
          Spot looked at me again, but this time it was like he was looking past the cuts.
          "How come yer so skittery?" he asked me.
          A newsie came downstairs and asked, "Ya call me?"
          Pie Eater explained to me that the newsie's name was Skittery. I looked back over at Spot and started to answer his question when Itey said, "She had an encounter with th' Delanceys."
          Spot shook his head. "Well, ya have th' protection of da Manhattan newsies now."
          "We'll see."
          They were surprised I said that, but after what I've been through I didn't trust anyone, except maybe Itey.
          "I guess we ‘ave ta earn her trust." said the boy named Skittery.
          Itey came up to me and took my hand. "You've gotta be tired. Let me take you'se to yer room."
          I followed him once again upstairs. We passed the room I was in before, and he opened another door. Itey led me inside and then stood in the doorway. "Dis is where yer stayin'." Then he closed the door, leaving me alone.
          I didn't get much sleep that night. Every sound made me jump. The funny thing is once I started thinking of Spot Conlon, all my fears were forgotten and I went right to sleep.

          I was cornered, no way to get away from him. Father had been out drinking, I could smell it. He grabbed me, I cried out.
          "Irish!"
          I opened my eyes and saw Jack, not my father.
          "We could hear ya in th' other room." he said to me.
          I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight, then I cried. I don't know why I did, but it made me feel a little better.
          "Is she alright?"
          I turned around, my face wet with tears, still holding onto Jack.
          "Yeah, she seems fine now Race." Jack answered the newsie, who then left.
          I looked at Jack. "I'm sorry I woke you."
          "Ya saved Klopper th' trip." he said, I guess trying to make a joke. I didn't get it.
          I finally let go of him and stood up to get ready for the day. He wasn't going to let what happened go so easily.
          "Irish, what's goin' on?"
          I started to dry my face. "What do you mean?"
          "Der's more to th' story than just th' Delanceys."
          I acted like I didn't hear him. He spun me around and looked at me with those smokey-gray eyes of his.
          "Not that I didn't mind what just happened, but ya can't tell me it was a reaction to a bad dream."
          "I don't have any clothes to wear for working in." I said, hoping he would get the idea I didn't want to talk about what happened.
          "Alright, wait a minute."
          Jack left my room and soon returned with a bundle of clothes.
          "They might be big, but its all I could find."
          I took the clothes, and after Jack left I dressed for the day. He wasn't kidding, the shirt was loose and the pants were so big, I was glad I had a belt to wear with it. When I went downstairs it was like the other newsies were waiting for me.
          "Irish," said Itey, "yer gonna sell papes with Jack."
          My day was not going very well and it had just started. I guess they put me with him because he was the toughest of all the newsies. He took my hand and we went to The World distribution center. I suddenly remembered something.
          "Jack?"
          "Yeah?"
          "I don't have any money."
          He started to laugh. I didn't see anything funny about it. He then said, "I'm payin' fer ya."
          He bought one hundred newspapers and gave me half. We then went out into the streets of Manhattan and started selling the news. I didn't know what to do so I watched Jack most of the time. He would yell out the headlines at the top of his lungs, something I didn't want to attempt. He had sold ten papers by the first hour and I hadn't sold one. I was so frustrated that I sat down on the sidewalk and looked in the gutter.
          "Excuse me."
          I looked up suddenly. A lady was standing over me. "Yes?"
          "I'll buy one of your papers."
          I couldn't believe it, my first sale. I handed her a newspaper as she gave me the money. Another woman came up to me and paid for a newspaper, followed by another and another. I ended up selling all fifty of my newspapers in half an hour. I went up to Jack with my hands in my pockets.
          "Where're yer papes?" he asked.
          "Sold."
          He gave me the look of disbelief. "How'd ya sell ‘em so fast?"
          "I just sat on the..." I didn't finish because right then I saw my father walking down the street.
          "Irish, what is it?" Jack asked.
          I could only whisper, "My father."
          Jack started to turn around but I stopped him. "I don't want him to see me, hide me somehow, please."
          Jack removed his black cowboy hat and put it on my head, then he started to walk the opposite direction with an arm around me. He then quietly asked me questions.
          "Did he beat ya?"
          "He and my mother."
          "Ya run away?"
          "No, they kicked me out. I could tell he was looking for me though."
          "How?"
          "He had that look in his eye."
          Jack nodded. We turned a corner and saw Spot Conlon.
          "Hiya Jacky-boy."
          "Hey Spot. We're comin' inta yer territory."
          Spot nodded and came with us. Jack told him what was going on and finished by saying, "So we're gonna stay in Brooklyn fer a while."
          "Fine with me."
          I looked over at Jack and saw the papers he still had. "Jack, what about your newspapers?"
          "He can finish sellin' ‘em in Brooklyn." said Spot.
          When we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, Jack left my side to finish selling his newspapers. Spot took me to the dock where a bunch of boys were swimming. I grabbed Spots hand and held on tightly, mainly because I didn't trust these boys. They made me think of the two brothers that beat me.
          Spot sat me down on a crate and then sat next to me. "Didn't ya sell today?"
          I nodded and patted my pocket so he could hear the money.
          "So how ya likin' da newsie life so far?"
          I looked over at him. "I'd like it much better if I knew I could trust them."
          He started tapping the crate with his cane. "Ya must've had it pretty tough if ya can't trust any of ‘em."
          "I do trust Itey, and maybe Jack now."
          Spot nodded. "Once ya get ta know ‘em, you'll find you'se can trust ‘em all."
          One of the tough-looking newsies came up to us, when he did I moved closer to Spot.
          "Hey Spot, we're gonna head back to th' warehouse."
          "Alright. I'll be der later."
          The newsie walked away, but I stayed close to Spot.
          "Ya don't have ta fear those guys." he said to me.
          Right then Jack walked up and sat next to me.
          "I see yer becomin' close friends."
          I moved away from Spot.
          "Guess we should be headin' back ta Manhattan."
          Jack helped me up, we said good-bye to Spot, then we started for home. Half-way across the bridge Jack stopped and looked out toward the horizon.
          "Jack, shouldn't we get back?" I asked, wondering what he was doing.
          He turned and faced me. "How didja sell yer papes?"
          "I sat down on the sidwalk."
          He laughed. "Ya know how ya sold so fast?"
          I shook my head.
          "People thought ya ta be a poor lost orphan."
          I took off his hat and handed it back to him. "Jack I...I want to thank you for what you did."
          He put an arm around me. "Hey, yer one of us Irish. We protect each other."
          We walked back home in silence, me looking ahead, and I had this strange feeling that Jack was watching me. I finally looked up at him to find I was right in my thinking.
          "What is it?" I asked.
          "Ya like ‘im don'cha?"
          I looked back toward Brooklyn then back at Jack. "Why do you ask?"
          He pulled me closer to him. It made me nervous what he was doing so I started to struggle.
          "Irish, stop it! I'm not going to hurt you! Irish!"
          My body went limp in his arms. He wanted to help me and I panicked. Jack brushed away some stray hairs from my face. "I don't know what you've been through but its really got ya shook up."
          He carried me the rest of the way home, which was only two blocks. I asked him to put me down before going in.
          "What I was gonna tell ya before is Spot's never been interested in goils. He seemed ta warm up to ya right away."
          I opened the door to my new home and stepped inside. The newsie from this morning, I think Jack called him Race, was playing a card game with Itey.
          "Who's winnin'?" asked Jack
          "Who else?" said Race.
          Jack nudged me and said, "Must be Itey."
          "Hey, dis ain't Sheepshead Races."
          Itey put his cards on the table and said, "That's the fourth game I've won."
          He pushed away from the table and walked up to me and just stared.
          "What is it?" I finally asked.
          "Yer healin' quick." he answered.
          I went upstairs to my room to be alone. My first day as a newsie was not what I expected, although I was glad my father showed up because I got to see Spot Conlon again.
          There was a knock on the door. I opened it and was surprised to see Race. "What is it?"
          "Could I talk to ya fer a sec?"
          I stepped out of my room and closed the door behind me.
          "Jack told us what happened."
          "So?"
          "We may not show it, but we respect ya. We wanna help, not hurt ‘cha."
          "He put his hands on my shoulders, causing my body tensed up. He then drew me close into a hug. I never felt this way before, the feeling of love. It scared me and I pushed away from Race. He seemed hurt as he walked away, so much that it hurt me.
          I went back into my room and laid down on the bed. I wondered why I couldn't bring myself to trust the newsies after all they have done for me, taking me in and saving me. I decided that they weren't going to hurt me and that I needed to show that I trusted them. I went downstairs and searched for Race, he was sitting at the table shuffling a deck of cards. When he saw me he stood up.
          "Thank you for saying what you did. I understand now."
          He smiled and said, "I meant it."
          I wanted to ask him to hug me again but I couldn't bring myself to say the words, so I went back upstairs and got ready for bed.

          I woke up before the sun came up, since I couldn't get back to sleep I got ready for the day, wearing Jack's clothes and hoping they didn't fall off my body. I then quietly went upstairs to the rooftop and watched as the sun came up.
          "Beautiful ain't it?"
          I turned quickly around and saw Swifty.
          "Didn't mean ta scare ya Irish."
          "I didn't wake you did I?"
          "Nah, I was already up."
          I went back to looking at the sunrise. He stood next to me and leaned against the edge.
          "Them clothes seem ta look better on Jack."
          I ignored him. Swifty moved closer and I had to remind myself that I trusted the newsies.
          "Are ya ever gonna smile?" he asked.
          "There is nothing for me to smile for." I answered.
          "Irish, ya need ta have fun. Yer a newsie now an' we always have fun."
          I looked over at him and caught his eyes with mine. "How do you have fun?"
          He smiled. "First, we take a goil by da hand," which he said while taking my hand, "an' we start dancin' with ‘er."
          He started twirling me around, and we danced on the rooftop. I started to get dizzy and I tripped, causing both of us to fall. Swifty laughed as he stood and helped me up.
          "Whatja think a that Irish?"
          I turned away. He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me around.
          "That was the most fun I have ever had in all my life!" I said with the biggest smile on my face.
          "What's goin' on up here?"
          We turned and saw Jack.
          "I was givin' ‘er a dance lesson." answered Swifty.
          I went over to Jack and grabbed his hand. "I'm sure you know how to do it."
          He led me to the middle of the rooftop and said, "Did it go somethin' like dis?" Then he picked me up and spun around. I held on tightly and laughed. When he put me down I said, "That isn't what Swifty taught me."
          The two laughed. They both put an arm around me and walked back inside the lodging house. We started to go downstairs when Dutchy stopped us and said to follow him. He went into the newsies room and closed the door behind us.
          "What's up Dutchy?" asked Jack.
          "Der's a guy lookin' fer ‘is daughter, I'm guessin' Irish."
          "What does he look like?" I asked.
          "Drunk." answered Dutchy.
          Jack turned to Swifty and said, "Take ‘er to Brooklyn an' tell Spot ta watch fer dis guy."
          Swifty took my hand and quickly went back up on the roof.
          "We're goin' down th' fire escaper in case yer wonderin'."
          I went first and Swifty followed down the fire escape. He then jumped in the alley and then I jumped in his arms.
          "You alright so far?"
          I nodded. We walked as fast as we could to Brooklyn, running would have called attention to us and we didn't want that. When we got to Brooklyn, Swifty grabbed my hand and led me to a warehouse. Then I remembered the day before when one of the newsies told Spot they were going to a warehouse and I concluded that that was where the Brooklyn newsies stayed.
          The same Newsie from yesterday came out of the warehouse just as Swifty and I arrived.
          "Hey Swifty, what're ya doin' in Brooklyn so early?" asked the newsie.
          "Somethin's up in Manhattan Swindler. Is Spot around?"
          "Yeah, he's still ‘ere."
          Swifty was still holding onto me when we entered the warehouse. Spot was sitting next to the entrance and it scared me when he said hello to us.
          "How come you'se guys're here?" he asked.
          "Her fodder's lookin' fer ‘er an' Jack thought she could stay ‘ere fer th' day."
          Spot glanced at over my direction then back at Swifty and said, "How am I gonna sell papes if she's here?"
S          wifty tried to talk Spot into letting me stay in Brooklyn but Spot kept saying he needed to sell papers so he could have money. While I listened to them argue, I stuffed my hands in my pockets and found that I had never emptied the money I made yesterday. I counted half of the fifty cents and removed it from my pocket. I then walked between Spot and Swifty, grabbed Spot's hand and dropped the money in his palm. He looked at the money then at me.
          "What's dis?" he asked.
          "Half of what I made yesterday."
          He glanced at Swifty then at me. "Why're ya doin' this Irish?"
          That was the first time he had said my name and it made me smile, but it soon faded. "I can't go back when my father is looking for me."
          Spot lifted an eyebrow as he slowly put the money in his pocket. He nodded to Swifty who put his arms around me and said, "I'll come get ya when I'm done sellin'."
          After he left, Spot and I just stood staring at each other. He finally put a hand on my shoulder and led me out of the warehouse.
          "So what‘cha wanna do?" he asked.
          "I don't know. I've never been to Brooklyn before."
          He stopped and started laughing. "Ya mean you've never been outside of Manhattan?"
          I nodded. He put an arm around me and said, "I'll show ya my territory."
          We walked around the streets until late afternoon when Spot took me to the docks once again.
          "Why did you bring me here?" I asked him.
          "I come here all th' time at dis time." he answered.
          I sat down on a crate and he sat next to me, closer than the day before. I locked my eyes with his and smiled as he put a hand on mine.
          "You've changed since yesterday, what happened?"
          I started to laugh as I told him about me and Swifty on the rooftop. He stood up and pulled me close to him.
          "Did he teach ya th' waltz?"
          I shook my head. He put an arm around my waist and held my hand. "Now put yer other hand on me shoulder."
          There on the dock Spot taught me how to waltz. He stopped and held my hands in his. We stood gazing in each other's eyes until he leaned forward and his lips brushed mine.
          I didn't want it to end. His kiss brought new hope that my life could only get better. Spot ended the kiss and said, "I think I love ya Irish."
          My eyes went wide and my smile faded. I had never heard those words spoken before, not even from my parents.
          "Is somethin' wrong?" he asked.
          I turned away just as Swifty came running toward us.
          "Sorry it took so long. Bad headlines."
          We left Brooklyn without saying good-bye to Spot. After what he said I didn't know how to react. I decided to talk to Jack once I got to the lodging house.
          "So how was yer day with Spot?" asked Swifty.
          "Fine." was all I said.
          We reached home and I went to my room, forgetting that I wanted to talk to Jack. It didn't matter because he came into my room not long after I had entered.
          "Irish, is everythin' alright? Swifty said ya seemed troubled."
          I sat down on the bed and looked straight ahead. "He loves me Jack."
          Jack came and sat next to me and said, "I kinda figured."
          I turned to him. "You don't understand, I didn't know how to react because nobody has ever said that to me."
          "Whatja do?"
          "I left without saying anything."
          Jack drew me close and held me. We sat that way for a long time until he said, "I'll talk ta Spot so he'll understand."
          He stood up and opened the door, when he saw I wasn't following he grabbed my hand and said, "The other guys're worried about ya. Come an' visit with ‘em."
          We went downstairs and right away Race grabbed me and led me to a table where five other newsies sat. I knew Itey and Kid Blink, but the others didn't have names to me.
          "Irish, yer gonna be my luck fer dis game." said Race.
          "Luck a th' Irish huh?" said a newsie with raven black hair.
          "I'm gonna beat ‘cha now Bumlets so watch yerself."
          I sat down next to Race as he started to deal out cards. I leaned into him and asked, "What are you playing?"
          "Poker." he answered.
          I nodded and watched as the newsies looked at their cards. I leaned into Race again and asked, "How do you play?"
          The newsies laughed at Race, Kid Blink finally said, "She's th' luck ya picked Race."
          Race turned to me and said, "Ya never played poker?"
          I shook my head no. Race showed me his cards and explained what the object of the game was. Even after he told me, I didn't understand what the point of the game was. I was glad when Jack came up and asked for me. We walked out of the lodging house and into the streets of Manhattan.
          "Where are we going?" I asked.
          "You'll see."
          I then asked, "Did you talk to Spot?"
          Jack didn't answer, he just kept walking, which annoyed the heck out of me because he wasn't giving me the answers I wanted. He then entered the back entrance to a theater. We walked backstage until we saw a woman with red hair like mine.
          "Medda, dis is th' goil I told ya about." said Jack.
          She looked me over and said, "I'm sure I can do what you asked Jack."
          Jack turned to me and said, "I'll wait outside fer ya."
          When he left, the woman came to me and introduced herself as Medda Larkson.
          "What is going on?" I asked.
          She started upstairs as she answered, "I promised Jack I wouldn't tell you."
          I followed her up the stairs and into what I assumed was her room.
          "Now if you could remove Jack's clothes." she said as she filled a tub with water.
          I did what she told me to do, but not at first. I was wondering how she knew the clothes were Jack's, and not one of the other newsies.
          I was cleaned up to the point I thought my skin couldn't get any cleaner, then Medda ran a brush through my hair and put it up like hers. She opened a drawer and took out some make-up. I wondered why she would go through all this trouble of making me up when it wouldn't fit the newsie clothing I had to wear.
          She examined my face and then went to her closet and pulled out a very elegant dress. "I got this when I was fifteen, I think it will fit you."
          I stood up and looked at the dress. She smiled and said, "Put it on."
          I took it and soon I was gazing at myself in a mirror. I had never worn anything so beautiful in all my life and I wanted to savor the moment.
          "It's not really an outfit to sell papers in, but at least you look more like a lady."
          I left the room and went downstairs, I wanted to show Jack right away. I opened the back door and left the theater, Jack was right there waiting, when he saw me his eyes searched me up and down.
          "Not that I don't mind this, but what is going on?" I asked.
          He took my hand and started walking, without answering me. I jerked my hand away and said, "Jack, I want an answer."
          "And you'll get it."
          Once again he took my hand and we walked to a statue, the plaque read ‘Horace Greeley'. Jack told me to wait and then he left me alone. I had no idea what was going on but I didn't care really because for once in my life I looked like a young lady instead of a walking display of cuts and bruises.
          "You look beautiful my dear."
          I knew that voice, and it wasn't one of the newsies. I slowly turned and saw my father. I could smell the alcohol on him, to the point it made me sick.
          "Your mother and I miss you and want you to come home." he said, the words slurring together.
          "Why, so you can beat me?"
          He grabbed my arm and said, "Come on, we're going home."
          I struggled and told him I wasn't going with him. He started to shake me, so I kicked him and he let go for a second. I started to run when he grabbed ne again. I then saw the black-haired newsie from earlier, what did Race call him? Then I remembered and yelled, "Bumlets!"
          He turned and right away came to help me. He took a swing at Father, which made him let go of me. Soon Jack was wrestling with Father too. While I watched Jack and Bumlets take down Father, two hands fell on my shoulders. I gasped and turned to see Spot Conlon.
          "That yer fodder?" he asked.
          "Yes."
          He took my hand and we quickly left the scene. We walked across the bridge, but only half-way. I walked to the edge and looked across the river, Spot stood next to me.
          "This is only my second day as a newsie."
          Spot took off his hat and wiped his forehead. "What about it?"
          I looked at him and said, "Look at what has happened."
          He grasped my hand and drew me close. "Irish, most of us became newsies fer th' same reason, abusive parents."
          I looked down, Spot tilted my chin and said, "Ya look beautiful today Irish."
          I smiled as he leaned forward and kissed me again. "Irish, you--"
          "I love you Spot."
          Spot stared at me, then looked out toward the river and asked, "What about earlier?"
          I put my arms around him and said, "I had never heard those words before, I didn't know how to react."
          We stood together on the bridge until Spot turned to Manhattan and said that we should go back and see how Jack and Bumlets were doing. We walked back to the lodging house and saw Jack and Bumlets, just a little banged up.
          "What happened after we left?" I asked.
          "The bulls took yer fodder away." answered Bumlets.
          "So Irish, what do ya think of th' newsies?" asked Skittery.
          "I guess I can trust you." I said.
          "That's good ‘cause we don't trust each other." said Racetrack.
          Swifty came up to me and said, "Yeah, ‘cause we do things like dis." and he kissed me.
          When he let me go I said, "I don't know why, you're not very good at it."