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Untitled
*FLASHBACK*
Two children, about 8 years of age, sit on the curb of a mildly busy street. They're happy laughing about pointless jokes only they would understand. The little girl is wearing a pretty pink and white dress complete with frills. Her hair is left down and is quite stunning. It's long, past her waist, and is a brillant shade of red. The boy sitting next to her looks like a typical middle-class boy in the late 18th century. Except his eyes are a startling colour of blue with a hint of green. They seem to sparkle now as he laughs. "I'se tink I'll call ya Spot!" chimed the little girl.
"That's a funny name. Why?" asked the boy still giggling from their last joke.
"'Cause me mum always says, 'That boy's always got a spot of dirt on him!'" she answers laughing. Spot picks up some dirt off the street and puts in on the front to the girl's dress.
"Hey! I'm dirty like youse! People ain't gonna tink I'se perty!" she yelled at Spot. Spot felt guilty for making her feel bad.
"Aw, don't ya woirry. I'se still tink yer perty. Um, me mum always told me sistah she was the belle of Brooklyn!" he waved his hands in the air saying Brooklyn.
"Belle of Brooklyn?" she said softly looking up at the boy.
"Yeah, Belle! If no one else tink so, I'll soak 'em!" he got up started punching through the air at an invisable apponant. Belle sat there and laughed at him forgeting about her dress.
"Hey I'se just got an idea! C'mon!" Spot said as he took her hand and ran over to the next street down an alley.
"Spot! Where ya takin' me?!" Belle yelled running behind nearly bumping into several people.
"Here!" Spot sunddenly stopped and Belle ran right into him. The two of the crashed down on the ground with a loud thump. Getting up they both groaned. Belle dusted off her dress even though there wasn't any point, she was already covered with dirt from head to toe. "Look what me fathah brought me back from his trip!"
Brushing her hair aside she saw Spot hold up a funny looking 'Y' shaped stick with some rubber on it. "What is it?"
"Don't cha know anythin'? A slingshot is what it is! I'se been practising!" Spot held up his chin very proud of himself.
Belle raised an eyebrow at him. "Practising for what?"
Spot let out an exasperated groan. "For nothin'! Just knowin' how ta use it. When I'se done no one in Brooklyn will try an' soak me!"
"So how's it used?" Belle asked still not know what it was or why he had dragged her into an alley.
"Here, I'll show ya." Spot picked up a stone off the ground. He demonstrated to her how to load it. Belle was watching half interested. "See that bottle down der?" Belle nodded. "I'se gonna hit it." Belle stood with her arms crossed and rolled her eyes. Spot was showin' off and he knew it. Aiming carefully he closed on eye just to make sure he hit it. He'd feel kinda foolish if he missed.
Several minutes pass. "Ya done yet?" Belle pipped startling Spot as he fired the slingshot's ammo down the alley.
"Ow!" cried a deep man's voice. Belle and Spot stood frozen staring down the alley. A man who didn't look too friendly appeared. "Hey! Come here!" he yelled starting towards them.
"Come on let's cheese it!" Spot said taking Belle's hand.
They started running out of the alley with the sounds of whistles and police officers yelling at them. "Hey! We just wanna talk to you!" said a police officer running behind them.
Belle and Spot came to a dead end. They looked at each with scared faces then behind them. Three police officers were catching up fast. "C'mon, this way!" Spot told Belle as they ran into a building. They had run into a fancy hotel.
"Hey you kids can't be in here!" yelled a snooty reciptionist. They ran past him and right into a bellhop carrying loads of luggage for an elderly woman who looked very shocked.
"Sorry!" Belled cried as they kept running. The police officer didn't notice the bellhop and ran into him as well. The luggage went flying everywhere. Another police officer tripped over the bellhop lying on the ground. Desperately searching for something to grab on to he grabbed the woman's hair. But she was wearing a wig and it came right off her head! Angry and embarassed she started beating the officer with her hat she was carrying.
Belle and Spot turned around to witness this event and started laughing hysterically. "Now you're in big trouble!" yelled the third officer who hadn't participated in the catastrophe.
The two children turn around and started running up the stairs hoping it would tire out the officer. When they reached the roof the officer was still going strong behind them. "Spot what are we gonna do?" Belle asked desperatly.
Spot looked down the side of the building and then back at Belle. "Do ya trust me?"
Belle stared at him for a few moments. Hesitantly she nodded her head. At that Spot grabbed her hand and they both jumped off the building. The officer had just arrived and couldn't believe what he just saw. He looked over the edge and saw the two kids climbing off a canopy above a store. He sighed with relief that the kids had landed safely. Suddenly the other two officers burst out on the roof. "Did you get them?" asked the first officer.
"No. Don't worry about it. They're just a couple of kids. I don't think they'll be doing that again." The third officer said still looking over the edge.
*END FLASHBACK*
It's a warm spring day. A teenage boy aims a slingshot at a green glassed bottle. It's about a mile away. Silently praying he releases it. The glass breaks as it makes contact with the smooth gray stone. The boy sighs with relief. "Nice shot Spot!" yells a newsie passing by. Spot just gives a smirk and starts to load up for his next shot.
"Hey Spot youse should get yer papes 'fore there ain't no papes ta get," advises Josh, one of Spot's newsies and few friends.
Spot shot him a look. *No one tells Spot Conlon what ta do.* "I'se didn't mean anythin' by it! Jist didn't want ya ta miss it," Josh says defensively.
"I know." Spot said and walked past him deciding maybe he should get his papes.
----------------------------------------------
"You can't make me do it!!" yelled a very angry girl as she slams the front door and starts walking down the street. *How can they still be so inconsiderate? Why do they never care about what I want?*
Wearing a fancy white dress she wanders around New York not really knowing where she's going. People stare at her because her hair is very unusual. It's very red and cut very short, just above her shoulders. Not very fashionable and often frowned upon. She didn't care though. Her aunt had cut it for her back home in England. It was always causing her trouble. "Extry! Extry!" She snaped out of her thoughts and saw a boy not much older than she was selling newspapers. He was alright looking. Needed a bath though. "Boid causes 10 buggy collision!"
*That's awful!* "I'll take one," she said to the boy and handed him a penny.
"Thanks lad--" he stopped and looked up at her. There was something oddly familar about her. Looking at her he realized that she'd been crying. He wanted to ask her what was wrong 'cause it always hurt him to see a pretty girl sad. Maybe ask her if they'd met before. But then he noticed her expensive clothes and figured he'd probably just seen her picture in the newspapers. "Um, thanks ma'am." She smiled at him and walked off.
*FLASHBACK*
"I hafta tell ya somethin', Spot," Belle said seriously. Four years had past since she had given him that nickname. And four years they've been friends. She knew what she was about to say would break both their hearts. He sat down on the curb and waited for her to continue. "Well, me mum and dad want ta move back to their home... in England." she said the last part looking at the ground. Spot was confused at what was just said. Belle could feel her eyes start to water. "I won't ever see ya again."
"Of coise ya will! I promise..." Spot said trying to sound reassuring. He didn't know if it had worked or not.
Belle shook her head. "Yer me best friend, Spot. But me family don't tink of youse like dat. They tink yer trouble. They... they don't want me ta be with ya. Says I'll end up in the refuge if I'se stay with ya." tears start to roll down her cheeks. Spot gently brushes them away. "We's movin' 'cause they want me away from ya. Want me ta start school and meet udda boys. But I don't wanna..." she starts crying uncontrollably.
Spot looks at her with a face of hurt and sadness. He puts a comforting arm around Belle. "We'se gonna see each udda again. Ya know why?"
Wiping her tears away Belle shakes her head.
"'Cause I'se loves ya."
*END FLASHBACK*
It was starting to get dark and she had no idea where she was. Emotionally drained she sat on the curb in front of a restaurant that had been closed hours ago. *What am I doing here? Why did I stay out so late?* Thinking about all that had happend she placed her face in her hands.
"Well, look what we's got here," a voice from behind her said. It was a voice to a boy who didn't sound like he wasn't going to make her day any better. She stood up and turned to the boy. She noticed their were 3 more behind him. They looked like they were about her age, maybe a year or two older. The boy in the front grabbed her.
"Get your hands off me!" she yelled and pulled away. Just as she broke free another boy caught her making sure she didn't run off.
"Looks like we'se got our hands full," the boy said only a few inches from her face. Kicking and squirming she tried to break free, but it was useless. She was out numbered, so she screamed as loud as she could. "Ain't no use doin' that doll-face. No one ain't around ta hear ya," he said pulling her closer.
"Didn't I tell ya if I'se ever saw ya in Brooklyn again I'd soak ya?" The boys looked around nervously obviously knowing who the voice belonged to.
"Um, we'se in Brooklyn?" said the boy releasing his grip on the girl.
"Yeah!" the girl yelled giving him a mean right hook in the jaw followed by kick in a very "sensitive" spot.
Another boy appeared and started beating up the others with what looked like a cane. They each took a few hits and decided to run for it.
"Youse alright?" he asked with concern. She looked up at him and noticed it was the boy who sold her the paper earlier.
"Yes, I'm fine. I could have handled it myself, thank you." she said in a stubborn tone.
He gave her a smirk. "That scream shore didn't sound like youse were handlin' it."
"Well, I was... thinking!" she protested and dusted herself off.
"If ya thought any longer they would've..."
"I know quite well what they wanted! I don't need to be lectured on it! If you excuse me I have to go." she said and started to walk away, but stopped remembering she didn't know which way to go. The boy stood smiling at her while she tried to figure out which way to go.
"Youse lost?" he asked obviously finding this funny.
"No! I just... I just don't know where I'm going." she turned back and thought harder about how she had gotten there.
"So, youse lost!" he said tucking away his cane.
"No, I'm not lost! I just don't have a place to go." the girl said as she sat down on the curb.
"What 'bout home?" the boy said while he sat down beside her.
"I'm not going back there... ever," the street lamp shone on her and for the first time he noticed her hair. It was red like fire. He must have been staring for some time 'cause she noticed. "What are you staring at?"
"Yer hair. I used ta know a goil with bright red hair, but she's gone now." they sat in silence for a few minutes. "So, what should I call ya? Folks round heah call me Spot." Hearing that name her head popped up.
"Did you say Spot?" she asked turning to face him.
"Yeah. Youse got a problem with that?" Spot had always resented people who thought his name was childish.
"No. It's just that... no, it can't be you." Spot raised an eyebrow. "I used to know a boy named Spot, but I heard that he died a few weeks after I left." her eyes closed briefly. Spot was still looking at her hair, but felt sorry for her. It was obvious she had feelings for this other Spot.
"Well, Fire. If ya ain't got anywhere ta stay youse can stay with me at the lodgin' house." he said breaking the silence.
"Really? You wouldn't mind?" she asked. She couldn't believe he was being so nice to her.
"Naw, youse had a rough night." He stood up and looked at the sky. Dark grey clouds threatened above. "C'mon, we'se bettah go 'fore it rains."
Fire got up and they started to walk. But they didn't take more than a dozen steps when Fire asked, "What's a lodgin' house?"
He smiled at her and said, "Don't woirry. I'll show ya."
---------------------------------------------------
They walked in silence most of the way. Once in a while Fire would ask a question, but she'd always get the same reply. "I dunno" or "I'll tell ya latah." So she gave up and followed him the rest of the way.
"Well, heah it is!" Spot said motioning his hands to a run down house with the sign 'Brooklyn Newsboys Lodgin' House' hangin' above the door.
Walking inside the girl was starting to have her doubts. *I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly not this!* Spot noticed the concerned look on her face.
"I know tis ain't no Buckinham palace, but what'd ya expect?" he said turning around to face her.
She lowered her head so she wouldn't have to look at him. *Why do I always have to act like a snooty little rich girl?* "I didn't expect anything really. It's quite lovely," she replied with a false tone of cheerfulness.
"Yeah, shore." Spot said under his breath. "C'mon I'll show ya where youse can sleep," he motioned for her to follow him. *Why'd I invite tis goil? She's jist a spoiled brat!*
Reachin' the top of the stairs Spot opened the door. Inside was about 25 bunks, maybe more. The room was scattered with young boys. Some were telling tall tales about how many papers they sold that day, others were busy playing a game of poker. But when Spot walked in the room they all seemed to stop what they were doing. Suddenly a wide grin appeared on his face as he took the young girl's hand and tugged her into the doorway. "'Tis is Fire! She's gonna stay da night." All the boys started cheering, whistling and shouting obsene comments.
"Way ta go Spot!"
"Spot's gettin' some tonight!"
"Hey Spot! When ya done wit 'er send her my way!"
Josh approched Fire. "Don't mind these udda dumbasses. Me name's Josh," he said giving her one of his killer smiles and a wink.
"Hey! Whatta t'ink yer doin'?!" Spot yelled at his friend. "Ya can't do that to me goil right in front of me!"
He turned to Spot. "I t'ink I'se jist did."
Rage took over Spot and he jumped on him. The rest of the boys started cheering them on. Fire just looked at the two in disgust as they rolled around beating each other up. She tried yelling at them to stop, but that didn't seem to work. So she grabbed a chair and hurled it at the window shattering glass everywhere. Everyone shut up and stared at her. Picking himself off the ground Spot looked at her too. "What's wrong wit ya?!" Spot knew she was going to be a handful.
"Hey Spot, youse can have her," Josh said limping into the bathroom to wash up.
"What's wrong with me?! I'm not the one fighting over nothing! You know I'm not your 'goil' so quit acting like I am!" she yelled apparently very furious.
Spot looked like he could deck her right then and there. Girl or no girl. She had managed to crush his pride in a matter of miniutes and he wasn't happy about that. "C'mon," he said grabbing her arm practically dragging her into his private room slamming the door behind him.
"Hey! Let go of me!" she yelled at him. Spot threw her on the bed. She watched him pace back and forth in the small dimly lit room. He seemed to be thinking of just the right words to say. Fire didn't want to admit it, but she was scared of him. Looking down at her arm she saw sore red streaks from his hand.
"Who are you?!" he demanded staring right at her eyes. She tried to look away, but it was like an unknown force was stopping her.
After a long pause she softly said, "You tell me."
Giving a loud annoyed sigh he punched the wall. His knuckles started bleeding, but he was too angry to care. "What do ya mean?! I don't know who's ya are! All I'se see is a snooty lil rich goil who don't know when ta keep her mouth shut!"
Standing up furious she yelled, "Well maybe if you weren't such an arogent jerk I wouldn't have had to say anything!"
They both stared at each other with emotionless faces. The space between them was less than an inch. Suddenly Spot grabbed her and kissed her hard. Freeing herself she wiped her mouth. "That's it! I'd rather sleep on the street than here with you!" she yelled and turned to leave, but Spot stood in her way. "Please move!"
"No, I'm not lettin' ya wonder the streets alone at night," he said blocking her way. His face was very flushed.
Fire was about to push him out of the way, but she remembered how strong he was and thought against it. Retreating, she took a few steps back and observed him. "I don't get you." she said at last. "One minute you're nice to me and save my life. The next you're fighting over me and yelling like a crazy man! And then you think you can go ahead and kiss me?!"
Spot was trying to comprehend what this girl had just say to him. *Damnit! She's right! Why'm I actin' like tis?... Who is tis goil?*
"Sorry," Spot mummbled. "I'se not t'inkin' too straight. Guess I jist need some sleep."
Fire looked at him still unsure what to make of all this. Sighing she said, "Let's just put this whole thing behind us, alright?" Spot didn't say anything, so she took the silence as a yes. "So, where am I sleeping?" she asked meekly.
"In me bed," he said still standing at the door. "I'm gonna sleep in the udda room." He went to leave, but turned around remembering something else. "If ya know what's good for ya, lock tis heah door," and with that he left her alone.
Fire stared at the door for a few minutes thinking about this strange boy. Finally she decided to get ready for bed and kelt to say her prayers, but thought there was no point. She didn't know what she believed in anymore. Carefully she unfolded the sheets and was about to get into bed when she remembered what Spot had said. Silently she tip toed to the door and turned the lock. Smiling she felt a whole lot better and safer. Slipping into the covers she was surprised the bed wasn't too bad. In fact it was quite comfy. Not realizing just how tired she was Fire yawned and closed her eyes. In a matter of seconds she was sound asleep.
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