"Queen a' Brooklyn" DATE: May 2, 2000
Walking through the streets of Manhattan, Jack was taking a drag on his
cigarette. It had been a long day of selling; it seemed like no one
wanted to by a paper. He was tired, and just wanted to go to bed early. He
stopped walking when something caught his eye. He figured it was a
person, but wasn't sure. He inched up to it, and came across a head of
disheveled, sandy blond hair. Jack started to shake the little warm body,
to see if it was still alive. The figure stirred, and opened its eyes.
Even through the darkness, Jack could tell it was a little girl.
" Wat?" she said groggily, tilting her head in confusion.
" Hey, kid, ya gotta place ta stay?" Jack asked, deeply concerned that
a little girl would be in an alley way alone this late at night.
" No, I'se been lookin' for me brudda, Thomas. He left home a long time
ago." she replied softly. You could tell this was a sensitive subject
for her to talk about.
" Yea, well, dat's da least a' ya problems, kid. How old are ya?" Jack
asked..
" I'se fourteen, if ya must know, and wat's wit' all da questions?" she
spat back at him in an icy tone. Jack could tell he shouldn't be
pushing it right about now. " Wow," Jack thought. " she's a tiny
liddle thing for fourteen, but boy does she have a tempa'. Plus she gots
no place ta stay. She could come wit' me. Nah, who am I kiddin', she'll
neva come wit' me wit'out puttin' up a fight.....well, I should at
least try." After Jack finished thinking of what to reply, he said:
" Listen, me names Jack Kelly, I'se a newsie. I bet youse see dem
sellin' papes in da street all da time. What I'se tryin' ta say is........ya
should probably come wit' me ta where I live, it's only a few blocks
ahead." Jack finished, not realizing that the girl had fallen asleep.
Jack took this opportunity to pick her up, and carry her back to the
Lodging House. She was as light as a feather, as Jack noted. When he
arrived, Jack paid for the rent, and bounded up the stairs into the
bunkroom.
" Heya Cowboy, watcha' got?" a short Italian asked, trying hard to
balance his ever-present cigar in his
mouth while talking.
" Shaddup Race, ya don't wanna wake 'er do ya?" Jack hissed, as he put
the girl down on a nearby bunk. By this time, almost everyone in the
room had crowded around the bed that the girl was in, to see who Jack
brought in.
" Uh, Jacky-boy, dat's a liddle goyl, why do ya gots a liddle goyl,
Jack?" Mush asked nervously.
" Don't worry, Mush, I jist found 'er in an alley way, and brought 'er
back here. She said she was lookin' for her brudda, Thomas, who eva dat
is. It ain't like I kidnapped her or nuttin'." Jack shrugged.
" Watta' wese gonna do wit' her, Cowboy?" Swifty asked, leaning over
the sleeping form. All of Jack's newises raised their eyebrows at him,
expecting an answer.
" For now, wese gonna let her sleep, she'll tell us her story when she
wakes up.....I doubt it though, she's a spitfire, dis goyl is." Jack
replied, ushering everyone away from the sleeping girl.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jack sat uncomfortably, in a chair, by the girl's bed, waiting for her
to wake up. She groaned lowly, and opened her icy blue eyes.
" Ah, so ya up, ya okay?" Jack asked, grinning.
" Yea, look, I'se sorry I was so rude, but I'se gots me fadda's tempa'
and patience....so I'se hoid. Uh, if ya don't me askin', who da heck
are youse, and where da heck am I?" she asked, her voice was even, and
calm, a pleasant change to what Jack witnessed back in the alley way.
" Oh, me name's Jack Kelly, er Cowboy, as youse can see." Jack said,
showing off his cowboy hat and bandanna. " I'se seventeen years old, an'
I'se da leada' a' dese bums." Jack added, gesturing to his newsies. At
the sound of the word: " Bums," all of Jack's newsies turned their
attention to the conversation that was going on. ( sad, really... but hey,
their used to it!) " Kay, now dat ya know a liddle 'bout me, let's hear
a liddle 'bout you."
" Kay, me name's Bits. I'se called dat on account I'se so small for me
age." she said the last line as if it were a curse. She was extremely
petite, with two braids running along the side of her head, and reaching
mid back. " Dat's jist me nickname though, I gotta real name too, but
ya don't need ta know dat, it ain't important." she continued quietly.
Jack and the others nodded in understanding, they all had nicknames too.
" Newsie Names" is what they called them. It seemed that no one liked
their original names anymore, or they needed to change them to get away
from the cops. " I'se fourteen, and I used ta woik at da factory a few
blocks ahead. Dat is, till me fadda' kicked me out of da house last
month, cause I got fired. I sprained me wrist, and couldn't woik, so dey
let my go. Me fadda's an abusive drunk, so he didn't, and still don't
gotta job. I supported us both wit' me salary. 'Cause I was one more
mouth ta feed, me dad kicked me out. Oh but not wit'out givin' me a
good-bye present." Bits said sarcastically, as she pulled some of her hair
away from her neck, so the boys could see the long gash along the side of
her neck where her father had cut her not too long before. Most of the
newsies weren't suprised, for most of them had had abusive parents
before they were thrown out, or ran away.
" Anyways, I'se hopin' I'se kin stay 'ere till I find me brudda,
Thomas.......if dat's okay wit' ya, Jack?" Bits asked with pleading eyes.
Jack put on a pensive look to make it look like he was actually thing
about the question. The rest of his newsies yet again, were waiting
impatiently for their dramatic leader to make up his mind. Jack smiled warmly,
and said:
" Sure 'ting, Bits, I'd be glad ta have ya be apart a' me newsies."
" 'Tanks, Cowboy!" Bits exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck,
hugging him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Get up! Get up! Sell da papes! Sell da papes!" Bits awoke to the
sound of the owner of the lodging house, Kloppman, waking the newsies up to
get to work. He was more like a grandfather to the newsies, rather than
their landlord. Bits reluctantly got out of bed, and walked over to the
washroom to get ready. When she returned to the bunkroom, she walked
over to Jack's bunk to find him sleeping soundly, as usual. Bits grinned
wickedly, as she walked back into the washroom, and returned with a
bucket of water. She held the bucket high above his head, with a grin
still spread across her face.
" Oh, Jack!" she said in a " sing-song" voice. Jack opened one
eye to look at her. His expression quickly changed from annoyed, to
terrified, as the cold water engulfed him. Bits laughed at his reaction to
her...." wake-up call."
" Ooooooo I'se gonna getcha' now!" Jack exclaimed in a threatening
voice, but Bits knew it was all fun and games. Jack jumped out of bed and
started chasing her around the room. This carried on for about five more
minutes, until everything started to calm down. That day, Jack showed
Bits how to
" Carry Da Banna'," or what newsies called selling papers. At around
lunchtime, Jack and Bits met most of the other newsies at Tibby's. There
she met David and Les Jacobs. After they ate, Jack and Bits went back
to the lodging house so she could meet other newsies she hasn't met
yet.
" Now, ya've awlready met, me, David, and Les Jacobs...." Jack said,
walking into the lodging house with Bits at his side. " but, here are
some a' da guys ay haven't met yet. Dis is Racetrack, er as wese like ta
call 'im, Race, Snoddy, Skittery, Bumlets, KidBlink, or Blink, Swifty,
and Mush." Jack said as each newsie waved or kissed Bits' hand as Jack
mentioned their name.
" Heya' Bits, ya eva been ta da tracks?" Racetrack asked. Some of the
newsies around him groaned at the overused pickup line.
" RACE! Ya say dat ta every goyl ya meet.... dat's why ya don't
got one!" Blink exclaimed, hitting Race
in the back of the head in frustration.
" I have ya know, dat da tracks is a very romantic place ta go on a
date, thankyaverymuch!" Race said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
" And how would YOU know, Race? When was da last time ya went on
a date?" Specs asked Race, cocking an eyebrow at him.
" Actually, Race, I'se neva been ta da tracks, but me brudda used ta go
when we was liddle, and he told me 'bout it. He was a big gambla', me
brudda was, always at da tracks." Bits said with a thoughtful look on
her face. " As for me... I prefer pokah, ya play?" Race raised his
eyebrows at her. The smile on his face grew, as he turned to Blink.
" Didja' hear dat, Blinky? She might like da tracks, and she PREFERS
pokah, dis is my kind a' woman!" Race said as he patted Bits on the back.
" So Race, ya wanna play me? Course ya do, come on!" Bits exclaimed
enthusiastically, as she dragged Race up the stairs to the bunk room. "
Are youse guys comin', or are ya jist afraid ta git ya butts kicked by a
GOYL?" Bits asked, as she stopped in the doorway to the bunkroom, still
holding onto Race's arm tightly. Her brother always said she was
freakishly strong, from experience. Shouts of: " No way!" and "Put ya money
where ya mouth is, goyl!" filled the room as they followed Bits and Race
into the bunkroom.
A few hours went by, and a few hands were played, with various winners.
There were three players left, Snoddy, Bits, and Race. Mush delt out
the cards. Snoddy asked for four cards, Race asked for two cards, and
Bits asked for three. The players looked at their new hands.
" I fold." Snoddy sighed, and threw down his cards, and revealing his
hand, queen high. Now it was just Race and Bits left. Race threw in a
nickel.
" I see ya five, and raise ya ten." Bits said as she threw in her
fifteen cents. This went on for about another five minutes, and the pot was
beginning to get big, it was now up to seven dollars, and eighty-six
cents. That's more than what most newsies made in one week, never mind
one poker game! The pressure was on, and Race was beginning to sweat.
Bits, on the other hand showed no signs of nervousness.
" Kay Race, time ta show ya cards." Bits said, still without a stitch
of worry on her face. Race laid down his hand grinning.
" Full House, girly, read 'em and weep!" Race exclaimed happily, as he
started to scoop the winnings over to his side of the table.
" Oh no ya don't mistah, ya still haven't seen me hand yet." Bits said.
Race stopped rejoicing, to look up at his opponent. Bits laid down her
hand, as she said: " Strait Flush, sorry buddy-boy, but I belive dat
dis," she pointed to the winnings. " is mine." She chuc"+•+"+•+"+•+"Ê&~Ê&~2."+•+"+•+
the dice, and basically gamboling all together, accuse a fourteen year
old GIRL of cheating him at poker, you'd have to admit that it
would at least seem a little ironic. Realizing how ridiculous he
sounded, Race started to blush.
By this time, everyone was a lovely shade of blue, with the exception
of Race, being flushed, and embarrassed. As everyone started to calm
down, Bits sat down on a nearby bunk, and just watched the events, and
conversations going on around the room. She must have dozed off, because
she awoke to someone shaking her. She opened her eyes, and looked up at
the person who was shaking her. It was a boy, around Jack's age, with
these ice blue eyes, that mirrored her own. His gray cabby hat covered
his head, but you could still see some sandy blond hair, peaking out
the sides.
" Kin I help ya?" Bits asked in a cold tone, glaring at him. You could
ask anybody, and they would tell you that Bits was NOT a morning
person, and was very grumpy when you woke her. The boy pointed a gold-tipped
gentleman's cane in her face, and gave her a look that could kill.
" Yea, ya was sleepin' in me bunk, and when eva I visit Manhattan, I
ALWAYS git me bunk ta sleep in!" the boy said through gritted
teeth.
" Well, I'se sorry, but I'se don't see a sign wit'....... whateva ya
name is on it. And ya name is?....." Bits asked.
" Da name's Spot, leada' a' da Brooklyn newsies, ya eva hoid a' me?"
Spot shot back at her. Bits smirked at the mention of Spot's name, she
did hear alot about the famous " Spot" who helped out with the strike.
She was always wondering what was so intimidating about him, and she
was soon to find out.
" Spot, ah yes, I'se hoid alot 'bout chu, and I'se been meanin' ta ask
ya........ do ya like ta play fetch in da park, or did ya parents name
ya afta' a dog for anotha' reason?" Bits smiled sweetly, and rolled off
the bunk and stood up on the opposite side.
" Wat's ya name kid? If I'se gonna have a new enemy, I'se gotta know
her name." Spot asked, yet again through gritted teeth. You could tell he
didn't usually soak girls, but it looked liked he was willing to make
an exception.
" Bits Conlon. It's SO nice ta meet cha, Spot." Bits said,
sarcastically. She held out her hand, expecting a handshake, but instead,
Spot looked at her like she had two heads or something. Bits had never
said her full name before, she didn't think it mattered, none of the
other guys used their full names, well with the exseption of Jack, Dave,
and Les. At the sound of her last name, everyone in the room directed
their attention to the conversation Spot and Bits were having.
" Uh, Bits? How do youse spell ya last name?" Spot asked nervously.
Bits looked at him puzzled, then said:
" C-O-N-L-O-N, Conlon, why?"
Spot spit in his hand, and grabbed Bits' outstretched one. He laughed
at her expression as he did this. Most people's reactions are the same
when they witness the " Newsie Shake."
" Spot Conlon, C-O-N-L-O-N. Nice ta see ya again, SIS." Spot
said, grinning. It was amazing how something so impossable could happen,
like finding your brother in NEW YORK, that you haven't seen in about
nine years, and Spot could still keep his " Brooklyn Cool."
Bits was extreemly confused, she had finally found her brother, yet she
felt like hitting him in the head with a crowbar. Jack walked in the
room, just coming from the Jacobs' house. Jack stepped up to Spot, and
spit-shook with him.
" So, Spot, I see ya met our newest newsie, ain't she cute?" Jack said,
playfully pulling Bits' cheek.
" Yea, but not formally. Bits is me sista', Jack." Spot replied,
growing annoyed, like Jack should have actually known that by now. Jack's jaw
visibly dropped open. He couldn't belive that they were brother and
sister. " But I guess I should have known, I mean, dey do look alot
alike, both gots dat same sandy blond hair, same unidentifiable color blue
eyes, and dey both share dat same bubbly tempa', I should've seen it
comin'." Jack thought to himself.
" Uh, Spot? Do ya 'tink I'se could tawk wit' ya inprivate somewheres?"
Bits asked quietly. Spot nodded, and ushered her into the spare room.
Spot and Bits sat on the floor, facing eachother. There was an
uncomfortable silence for a while, until Bits spoke up.
" How couldja' leave me wit' dat drunk, Thomas? Eva since ya left, he
made me woik at dat factdown da street! When I couldn't woik no more, he
threw me out! Ya should've taken me wit'cha, Tom!" Bits shrieked,
letting all of her confusing emotions out, along with her words. Spot just
sat there for a moment, staring off into space.
" Ya were five years old, Lou! I had ta leave, I was gonna come back
for ya when ya were olda', but I guess ya found me." Spot said the last
line quietly. " Look, I know I can't make up for wat I did, but I could
start wit' tryin' ta convince ya ta come back ta Brooklyn wit' me.
'Sides, I'se gots nine years a' protectiveness ta catch up on." Spot said
as he playfully punched Bits in the shoulder. Bits cocked an eyebrow at
him.
" Are ya sure ya want a GOYL like me comin' back ta Brooklyn
wit' youse?" Bits said sarcastically. " And don't eva call me Lou again!
Ya know dat ain't me real name, it's Lucy, L-U-C-Y! Get it right, ya
bum!"
Bits said, returning the punch she had gotten earlier, only a little
harder. Spot grinned, ignoring the pain in his shoulder, and helped Bits
up off the floor. They re-entered the bunkroom once again.
" Spot, ya gots one heck of a pokah playa' for a sista'!" Race said,
walking up to them. " She took everything I own! Ya should take her ta
Crap Game Alley!" almost everyone in the room was crowding around the two
" newfound siblings."
" So, Spot, is Bits comin back ta Brooklyn wit'cha?" Jack asked
quietly, fearing the answer. Jack had taken a liking to her in the short time
they've known eachother. Plus, he had Snipes eavesdrop from the other
room.
" Yup, she's gonna own half a' Brooklyn wit' me." Spot answered
proudly, putting a protective arm around Bits' shoulder. " Wese gonna have TWO
Brooklyn leada's now." Jack nodded slowly.
" Dat's great, Bits. Ya must be really happy, finding ya brudda and
all." Jack said, his voice even and emotionless.
" Awwwww, cheer up, Jack, ya can't get rid a' me DAT easily! I'se gonna
be visitin' almost every day!"
Bits said enthusiastically, trying to cheer Jack up. Some of the guys
groaned jokingly. Jack smiled a little, trying to hide what he was
REALLY feeling about having Bits leave his newsies. They both agreed that it
would only be temperary, until Bits found her brother.
" When do ya hafta' leave, Bits?" Jack asked, still fearing the answer.
Before Bits could say anything, spot opened his mouth and said:
" Tomorrow maybe, she still has ta git packed."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day, Bits was ready to go to Brooklyn at sun up, she had never
been to Brooklyn before, so she was a little antsy. When everyone else
was up and ready, they headed off to the distribution center, to get
their papes. Spot's plan was to: buy their papes, say good-bye, and get
out of there as soon as possable. Spot was always in the mood to go
home.
" Bye guys! Bye, Jack." Bits said as Jack gave her a bear hug.
" Ya know, ya pretty cool, for a fourteen year old GOYL. Now
don't let Spot control ya, kay?" Jack said, pulling on her cheek. Jack
loved belittling her, and hey, it was easy to do, with Jack being a full
foot and a half taller, and a full three years older than her; but
today, JACK felt like e was the smaller one in this situation. And in a
way...... he was. Now I know what your thinking: " He only knew her for
three freakin' days! And he STILL doesn't know much about her!" But that's
the thing, Jack wanted to get to know her, he wanted to become close
with Bits. Jack has never before had a female newsie living with him,
heck, he's never even had a female newsie peroid. So to cut things
short....Jack was just plain going to miss her. He'd t miss the way she could
whip Race at poker, the way she had a sly comment for everything that
was said, and the way she reminded him of his previous best friend,
Spot.
" Spot? Ha! He can't control me! I could whip his butt any day a' da
week!" Bits said confidently. She gave Jack one last hug, and waved
good-bye to everyone.
" ALL HAIL TA DA QUEEN A' BROOKLYN!" Jack shouted, as Bits walked off
with Spot in the direction of Brooklyn. Everyone cheered, shouting
good-byes to Bits and Spot. Jack sighed, and waved good-bye to the little
big mouth, they liked to call......... Bits.
~* EPILOUGE *~
Bits kept her promise, and visited the Manhattan newsies almost every
day. Spot kept HIS promice, by sharing half of Brooklyn with Bits, what
a good brother! ( Ha ha! Just kidding there!) Over time Spot and Bits
became more and more famous as the TWO leaders of the Brooklyn newsies.
Bits had the same fiery temper as Spot, which never seemed to cool
down, she also had an extreemly big mouth, but most people thought that was
because she got that from hanging out with Race. Jack had newsies come
and go, from time to time, but he would never forget his former
Manhattan newsie, Bits. ( PS: Most of the characters in my story aren't mine,
exsempt Bits, she is, but the rest of the newsies, and Kloppman, belong
to Disney, so PLEASE don't sue me! I don't make any money off of this,
I wrote this story for my brother, Ben, because he asked me to, he
loves this movie! Well, so do I, but you know what I mean! And if you DO
decide to sue me, all you'll get is probably about ten bucks, and a few
Cds. Thank you, and
good-night!)