She managed out a "Tanks" and he left. Angel couldn't remember when the boy picked her up. All she knew was that her house was on fire. She looked up the three stories up to see smoke coming out of the windows and fire lighting the curtains. As she got up she realized that her family had just died. Angel held back her tears. Her mother always told her "it does no good to cry". She started to get up when she realized her bag on the ground next to her. She found all of her things and five dollars. It was her families savings.

The firefighter just arrived but it was too late. Angel didn't know where to go, but she knew that she had to get out of the memory filled Brooklyn. She picked up her bag and made her way across town, ignoring the crude remarks of men in the streets. Eventually, Angel crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and entered Manhatten. It had gotten very dark and she guessed it was around 11:00. She was so tired from walking that she found a small ally.

She knew allys werent the best place to be sleeping, but she couldn't sleep in the roads. She saw a pile of old newspapers and laid down in them, to hopefully keep her out of sight by people passing the next morning.

"Dammit!!" Mush yelled as he tripped and fell on his face.

"HAha! Whacha do Mush?" Jack laughed. "Trippin ovah yaself again Mush?"

"Na! Im not dat clumsly. Sumtins in dere!" He pointed to the pile of newspapers.

Soon they dug out a body of a young girl around 15 with brown curly hair a little past her shoulders, framing her small, delicate face, and dark skin which was stained with dirt. Her cheeks were flushed from exaustion.

"Looks loik she slept all day!"

Mush nodded. "Ya, howz a goil loik dat get stuck in an alley?"

"I dunno Mush." Jack stated.

At that moment, the girl shifted and slowly opened her eyes. All she could see was two siloettes against the sun. They colud tell she was frightened when she backed up against the wall.

"Don worry we aint goin tah hoit ya." Jack said. Mush was noticing her shiny, dark eyes.

The shorter one started talking, "Me names Mush, an dis ere is Jack Kelly. Whats your name Miss?" He asked this holding out his hand to help her up.

Angel looked at it nervously, and grabbed it, "Me names Angel."

"Dats rea poity." The one Mush said. He blushed.

"Well," Jack said, "From da lioks a dis, yous aint gotta place tah stay, do ya?" She shook her head. " Den its settled, yous stayin wid us at dah lodgiin house. If ya want, tamorrow, yous can sell papes wid us. How bout it Angel?"

She smiled, "Tank yous so much!" Jack was wearing a red bandana around his neck. A grey collered shirt with a black with white stripes vest over it. Mush was wearing blue pants cut right below his knee, a grey collered shirt and a brown vest. At that moment, she noticed her own burnt smokey clothes. 'I gotta change when Is gets dere!' she thought to herself.

On the walk to their lodging house, she realized how nice Jack and Mush were, both were funny and playful too. They got to be really friendly to her, and felt the same way about her that she thought of them. (if that didnt confuse ya enuf, haha)

"So Angel, do ya got any money, cuz it takes 2 pennys ta stay.I f ya dont, we'd be more den appy tah pay for ya ourselves!" He realized how that came out.

" Ya, I got 5 bucks. It was me families last money before our house burnt down nad dey were killed."

"Wes real sorry bout dat Angel." Jack looked really sad.

"No need tah be. Yous two didnt kill em." She paused. "Didja?"

They laughed and chased her down the street.

After a while of walking, the three finally reached a building and walked in. Angel handed 2 pennies to the Kloppman. She followed th boys up the stairs into a big room filled with boys. Some were on their bunks, the floor, and about 5 or six were in the middle of the room playing poker. She was smiling but felt really nervous.

"Heya Jack, Mush. Ow was sellin?"

"Ey Skit. ok i guess."

"Eh boys listen up! Is want yall tah meet Me and Jacks friend Angel!"

The boys stared and smiled. " Shes gunna be stayin wid us for as long as she wants tah!"

"Tanks Jack, Mush." She hugged them. "Ey boys!"

She was greeted with "Eys, Heyas, and Hi's." Jack went and joined the Poker Game.

Mush followed and waved for her to come. "Angel, dis ere is Race, Snipes, Itey, Bumlets, an Kid Blink." She nodded to them all. "Ovah deres Boots, Skits, an Specs." She waved to them and they returned it.

"Ey Mush!" the voice came from the corner. A boy about 5'9" walked toward us. "Ya forgot bout me!"

"ohh, Spot I din see ya ovah dere! Angel, dis ere is Spot Colon, dah leadah of da Brioklyn Newsies."

"Nice tah meet ya Spot Colon." Angel smiled at him. He picked up her hand and kissed it. She blushed.

"Yous too Angel." He had icy blue eyes, not cold but mezmorizing.

"Come on Angie, I'll show ya your room!" He grabbed her arm, disturbing her thoughts. He brought her into a room with a big bed in the middle, and a nightstand. It even had its own washroom.

"Tanks for evrything Mush!" She went and gave him a big hug and kissed him on his cheek. He blushed.

"Any time. Ill let ya get ready, and Ill check back on ya in a little while." She nodded and he left.

She took her nightdress out of her bag and laid it on her bed. She took a quick shower and came out. She had just put her nightdress on when someone knocked on her door.

"Come in!"

"Heya Angel."

"Hey Spot, I tought yous were Mush."

"I was jist wondrin , well, I seems tah recognize yous from somewheres, I jist cant remember where."

"I tought ya loiked familiar too. Are ya stayin da night Spot?"

Ya but I don tink Katie'll be too happy bout dat."

"Katie?"

"Shes me goil."

"Ohh." Her heart sank, and she sighed, but not loud enought for him to hear her. "I gotta meet er sometime."

"You'd be lucky to see er here. She hates Manhatten. I nevah knew why."

"I gotta visit yous den right?" "Alright, but not if yous alone. Not all da newsies are as charmin as me!" He grinned.

"Aww shuttup!" She playfully punched him as he left. "Tanks Spot!"

"For what? I didnt do nuttin!" He left.

'Where have I heard dat before?' Angel thought. Jack and Mush walked in.

"Ows evrythin Angel?" Jack asked.

"Great! I haven't slept in such a big bed by myself in a long time!"

Both Jack and Mush had just realized how beautiful she was once you take away the burnt clothes, and dirty hair and face.

"Good, Dats real good!" Mush said. He was staring at her.

"Everythin ok Mush?" She was concerned.

"Es jist fine." Jack answered for him. "We'll leave ya ta sleep. Wes gotta get up oily tamorrow. G'night!"

"Tanks again guys!" She hugged them and went to sleep.

Angel was siting in her families bedroom in her tenement singing to herself. She was pretty good, when no one was listening. She smelled smoke and looked towards the closed door. Smoke was entering from underneath it. She opened the door and saw flames from the kitchen and heard a scream, and then another. The second was her own. She knew she was in danger so she went to her parents safe box in their drawer, and pulled out the last of her families money. Then took out an extra pair of clothes and shoved them into a bag. She inched her way ou the door and ran to the parlor. As she was running, she tripped on a burning piece of wood and her head slammed against the wall, and everything went dark.

The next thing she knew was being carried down the fire escape by a boy. When they reached the ground, he laid her down.

"Ey, yous ok?" "Ya, tanks so much!"

"Doncha worry. I didnt do anytin."

And he ran down the street.

She was shaking. No, someone was shaking her. She opened her eyes to see Spot standing in front of her.

"Are yous ok Angie?"

"You!"

"What?"

"It was you!"

"Angel, what are ya talkin bout?"

"Spot, you saved me life! Me house was on fire. I was knocked out! Yous found me and carried me outside! You saved me life!"

"Dat was you?"

"Ya! tank you soo much!" She pulled Spot down and hugged him.

Mush ran into the room. "What!? What happened?!"

"What are you takin about?"

"Ya screamed bloody murderand dats why i was here." Spot explained.

"Oh, Im so sorry!"

Boy is she pretty! both boys thought. "You guys should get back to sleep."

"Naa, We gotta get up in half an hour any wayz."

"Ey, yous wanna play sum cards?" Spot suggested.

"Im in. Mush?"

"Sure Ang."

About an hour later, they were at Newspaper Ally. Jack was gonna teach her how to sell papes. He bought 50 for her and 100 for himself. Angel was dressed in Mush's clothes. Girls couldn't be Newsies.

"Now Angel, da foist ting yous got tah know is dat Headlines dont sell papes, Newsies sell papes." She nodded and he went on. "Da second ting is if dere aint good headlines, papes wont sell so yous gotta improive da truth a bit." She looked puzzled. " Take dis for example, 'Pulitzer buys 'ous in da country', see dat wont sell! So yous gotta say sumtin like, aha! Like dis, 'Pulitzer goes broke by gambling it away'!" He smiled as he sold to 6 customers. "you try."

Everyone was watching. "K." She scanned the paper until something caught her eye. "Dis has potential, 'Riots break out at Ellie Island, Many Injured!!" She was smling as she sold to ten customers.

"Eh, where it say dat?" Jack asked.

"Page 10!"

Spot looked at page 10 and smilied. "Whats it say Spot?" Mush asked

"Ellis Island too Crowded? Shes good." They all laughed.

After a couple of hours, everyone was out except for Angel. She said shed finish up and meet them at Tibby's. She knew the way well enough. Once she was done, she started walking in the direction of Tibbys. After a couple of Blocks, she was pulled into an ally with two big men.

"Well well well, its a Newsie." The bigger one said.

"Now, give us your money and you wont get too hurt!"

"I don tink dats such a good ideas boys." Angel said.

"Den give us a reason not ta soak ya?" The little one looked mad.

"Cuz." She took of her hat and let her hair hang down. "Ya wouldnt want ta hoit a goil no would ya.?"

"Whoa! Yous pretty for a newgirl. Cum ere!" He grabbed her wists and leaned in to kiss her.

Now I can think of tons of things ta do ta get outa a situation like dat, she thought. I wonda ow ditsy goils would andle a situatin like dis? Ahhh. She twisted her arms and dug her nails into the boys wrist. He screamed in agony. She noticed blood and skin under her nail.

"Gross!" She then kicked him as hard as she could in the shin and ran out of the ally, next to the wall. The older one came running out and Angel stuck out her foot, and he went sprawling into the street.

"HAHA." She walked down the street happily.

"Where da ell is she?!"

"Wheres who?" She asked.

The boys stared at her.

Mush talked first. " Wheve been so worried, where were ya?"

"I 'ad a little un in wid dese two creeps."

Spot was practically yelling, "Whadid dey do to ya! Deys gunna getit!"

"No day didnt do anytin. I got rid a dem."

"Wha? How?"

"Well, de tought I was a newsies, and wanted me money. I says dat I didn't tink it was possible and dey says whats gunna stop me from soakin ya, and I says dis and I took off me hat an-"

"What! Dey kno yous a goil! Deys gunna come afta ya now!" Spot looked stressed.

"lemme finish. So he says, i can make an acception, so he grabbs me arms an tried ta kiss me an-"

"WHAT?!"

"SHUTTUP! so I jist twisted me arm and pinched in real hard. By the way, lemme git is skin outa me nail." The cringed but laughed, then she continued.

"Den kicked im so ard in is shin. I ran outa da ally and waited for da second ta follow me out, then tripped im an e went sprawlin inta da street!" By the end they were falling out of their seats in laughter. After their laughter, Spot looked at her.

"Now yous gunna hafta loin how ta fight. Dey kno your tricks now."

"I tink is can andle meself Spot."

"OH ya, so u sayin yous kin fight?"

"Well not da way yous want me tah but-"

"Its best for ya ." Jack said. "So its settled, yous goin back ta Brooklyn for a while till yous kno ow ta fight."

Mush protested but Jack made it very clear.

After gathering her things at the Lodging house, Angel made her way around saying her goodbyes.

"Jack! Tank yous so much fer bein so nice tah me!" She gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"It aint like wes aint gunna see each odder again!" He hugged her back.

"Come on Angie. Its already gunna be dark when we gets dere! Lets go already."

"K Bye guys!"

"BYE ANGEL!" came the reply as she and spot walked down the street.

"Wait."

What?"

"I feel lke is forgot sumtin." She looked up at the lodgin house and saw a face that didnt see her.

"Ill be back in a min Spot, Wait ere." She ran back into the Lodging house.

"Ang, what are you doin back already?" Race asked as she ran by him. She opened the door to her own room and saw Mush standing near the window. He turned around and his eyes opened wide, then turned back to the window.

"Mush!" She said. exasperated. "I'm so sorry. I dont know ow I coulda done dat to ya! Tanks fer evrytin! Findin me, protecting me, and givin me a new family where people cared jist as much fer me as i did fer dem!"

He stood up and she hugged him, and didnt let go until she found his arms around her.

She let go and looked into his eyes. She kissed his cheek and ran out of the room yelling, "See ya in a month Mush!"

"So Spot, are yous gunna teach me how ta 'fight'?"

He laughed. "Naa, I couldnt hoit ya!" She laughed and hit him. "Na, but Katie is!"

"Wow!" Angel said sarcastically, but he didn't notice. "So what is she like?"

"Shes tough and'll show ya ow ta fight real good."

"uhh, dats good?" He laughed. "Where am I stayin?"

"Wid da goils if ya want, but I'd rather keep an eye on ya at me lodgin ouse."

"Dats where Ill be den!" They smiled

Everyone was asleep when they arrived at the lodgin house, so they climbed in through the window to Spots bedroom. They both went straight to bed. The next morning Sport woke her up early and headed to the girls lodging house.

"Ey is Temp ere?"

"Ya, foist door on yer right, top a da stairs."

"I thought ya said her names Katie?" Angel whispered.

"It is, but i hafta call er Temp when shes around er friends."

"Ohh" Angel said when she walked into a room.

A girl was sittin on her bed puttin on her shoes. She had straight, dirty-blond hair, and a freckled face with blue eyes. Not what Angel would call Beautiful, but not ugly.

"Spot!" The girl shouted when she noticed them standing there.

"Eh Temp!" He hugged her. "Dis ere is my friend Angel," She nodded at Angel, "an I want your goils ta teach er ow ta fight. Is dere a possibility?"

"Uhh, I guess, meet me an me goils at da docks in bout alf an hour, K?"

"Sure ting Temp!" He gave her another hug, and they were off.

They wandered around for about 15 minutes then headed to the docks. A group of girls were already there.

"Ey Angel. dese are me goils." She nodded at the all. "Lets get started."

Angel looked nervously at Spot, and when he smile, she smiled back.

"Wese got ta know what ya know already, so uhh, Phea, yous gotta fight er."

"Sure ting Temp."

A girl about 4 inches taller than Angel stepped into the circle. They circled around for a whilc when Phea lunged at her. She easily dodged that but when Phea came back, tripped Angel and she fell to the ground. Phea was about to kick her but Angel spun and kicked Pheas legs out from under her. Phea got back up and tried to punch Angel, but she blocked every one, then gave a kick in the stomach and a punch in the face. She then did a 'flying back kick' and Phea landed in the water.

Angel stood up and walked over to Spot who had his mouth hanging open.

"Dats enough for today, lets go girls. See ya Spot!" As they left, Angel looked at Spot.

"What?"

"You said you couldnt fight!"

"Noo, I said I cant fight the way you do."

"How did ya loin dat den?"

"Well, my father lived in China for a couple years and learned karate. He taught me. I was his best student!" She laughed, and Spot cought on soon after.

"Do ya mind if I got out tanite wid some a me boys and Temp? I avent seen dem in tree days so would ya mind? yous kin come if ya want?"

"Naa, ill be fine, yous kin go."

"Yous sure?"

"Yea!"

Later, they arrived back at the Brooklyn Lodging house.

"I gotta intraduce ya to da boys, Dats River, Jokah, Parakeet, and Turtle. Wheres da rest a da boys?"

I dunno, avent seen dem" Jokah answered.

"Oh, well dis eres Angel. Im goin out tanight an shes stayin ere. If any of yous try anytin, I'll kill ya!"

About 45 minutes later, Spot left, and Angel was wandering throughout the Bunkroom.

"ey, Angel!" she looked up. "Ya wanna play pokah wid us?" River asked her.

She smiled, "Sure!"

At the first round, the winnings were up to a doller. Turtle smiled and said "I call. Flush!"

"1 pair."

"Straight."

"2 Pair."

They all looked at Angel. She smirked and said "Royal Flush!" flashing her hearts. She laughed but gave the boys back their money. "Dat was a practice round!"

They were amazed but figured they liked her. The game went on like this forever, until Angel headed in for the night.

'What are ya doin!' Angel thought to herself. 'Fall asleep! why are ya waitin fer him?' she heard footsteps outside and pretended to be asleep as Spot barged into the room, closing the door loudly behind him.

"Spot?"

"Ohh, sorry Angie, did I wake ya?"

"Naa, I was up." It was the truth! "Sumthin wrong Spot?"

"No, well ya, well, its jist, she aint me goil anymore."

Yes!! she thought, but kept those feelings inside. "What happened Spot?"

"Well, she said she dont feel dat way bout me anymore. I dont really mind cuz I was gunna do it to er tanight to, its jist it makes me feel like I was let go, not her. It nevah appened ta me before."

"Sorry Spot." Angel went over to hug him. She really did like him. His strong arms were comforting to her.

"Tanks Angie," He whispered.

"Ya saved me life Spot."

She pulled away and was an inch away from his face. He leaned in and kissed her.

The sun was shining through the windows, and Angel woke up to Spots face.

She sat up and kissed him.

"We goin to da harbor?"

"Na, I decided ya know how ta handle yourself, sos Is gunna teach ya ow ta use a slingshot." She hugged him.

"I dont got one though."

"Yous kin use mine, til we get yous yer own"

"Tanks Spot."

"ya, we gotta go to da Bronx ta get one. Dats where dey make da best ones. Now lets git goin, Ill teach ya da basics on da way dere."

Angel was a fast learner, and by the time they got to the Bronx, she could handle it just as good as anyone else,well that is, except spot himself.

"Now when we walk in there, I'm gunna ave me hand around your waist, so dey kno yous me goil an not ta touch ya. Den follow me lead, k?"

"Yep!"

The two walked into an old warehouse. On a mountain of crates was a boy around 17 with a cane.

"Well if it isnt Spot, da leadah of Brooklyn. how ya doin Spot?"

"Da same as always, ow bout yous Gunnah?"

"Fine. whos dis fine goil dere?"

"She's mine gunnah." She smiled. 'I hope he ment that' she thought. "Ive come ta state some buisness."

"Yea, what about?"

"Well, dis ere goils twin bruddah is me new newsie. E needs a slingshot, an I knew jist where ta git da best ones."

"Youve come to da right place Spot." He showed the two, a wall of slingshots.

"Angie, yous wanna try da right one out?" She nodded. She walked over and started to take one off the wall when gunner steped in front of her.

"Whats da big idea wid dis Spot?"

"Eh, shes got a bettah shot outa all me boys tagetha, she knows a good slingshot when she sees it-"

Gunner backed away, and handed Angel a marble. She took aim at a bottle on the dock, at least 50 feet away. BAM, perfect shot. After about 20 trys, she found the one she wanted.

"Tanks Gunnah," Angel said, and gave him a smirk. Spot laughed and the two headed off to Manhatten.

It was around lunch so they knew exaclty where to find them. Tibby's.

They entered and slid into Jacks booth giving them all a suprise.

They all stood up and hugged her. Angel kissed them on the cheek and hugged Mush.

When they sat back down, Spot was telling the story of her first 'fight'.

"So then, she kicked the goil in da face and da goil fell inta da wata!" The place broke down with laughter.

"Then she beat Gunnah at shootin marbles!"

The boys gasped "Gunnah, ya mean da Bronx Gunnah?" Mush asked.

"Da same!"

"Holy cow! tree cheers fer Ang!!" Race yelled.

The place erupted!

"Hip hip!"

"HORAY!!"

"Hip Hip!'"

"HORRAY!"

"Hip Hip!'"

"HORRAY!"

The brokedown with laughter but stoped when Angel and Spot kissed.

They all stared.

"Ohh ya... Uhh..." Spot started.

"Im spots goil" Angel finished his sentence.

Everyone but Mush was happy. He left Tibby's. Angel ran after him.

"Mush!" he kept walking. "MUSH!" he stopped but didn't turn around.

"Mush, I'm sorry, but I forgot to tell you. I love ya Mush! Yous like a bruddah to me!" He just stared at the ground. "For god sakes Mush, say something!"

"I love ya too Ang. Yous like me sistah. Do yous kno ow much i missed ya?!"

"She shook her head. "A lot, den when I hoid yous two where togetha, I got mad. Spot isn't so dependable wid goils, ut da ting dat bugged me most is dat e really cared about you. Hes nevah acted like dat round his friends wid 'is goil. I jist got bugged dat goil was you. ya kno i loved ya da foist day imet ya. instead a bein me goil, yous me best friends instead. So now im your best friend instead of a boyfriend. Im not disappointed though, cuz I wouldbe about anythin jist to be around you."

Angel started to cry. "Dats da nicest ting I've evh hoid Mush! I lova ya too!" He hugged her.

Spot ran up to dem, but realized they had worked everything out.

Once Angel stopped crying, he spit on his hand and held it out to Mush. Mush spit in his own and shook Spots hand, then hugged.

"Im wid dah two boys I love da most!!" Angel said, and the three walked back to Tibby's together.

---

stories by phea / hosted / categories / main page