FAMILIAR | Spot Conlon

Chp. 19: Brooklyn Business

"I's didn't even think of this Cam but what if theys recognize you"

"The only people who could recognize me are Spot, Jess, and maybe Shoots and Sprints"

"I's disguised pretty well though. I's don't look like the goil ya met before do I"

"Nah yous much more attractive now"I roll my eyes and everyone laughs.

"Thanks Jack"

"And if I sit back and stay quiet they shouldn't be able ta tell"

"Lord knows you can't do that"

"Yeah yeah whateva"

"I've neva been to Brooklyn have you" David asks the boys.

"Neva once in ma life Davey" One of them answers. Not sure who I'm too busy looking at the water. I miss getting to see it everyday.

"Really? I spent a month there one night" Well math is definitely not Boots' strong suit.

"Watch this" Jack says as he leans over the side of the Brooklyn bridge. I hop on the railing too cause I know exactly what he's gonna do. We yell into the water and it echoes slightly.

"So is this Spot Conlon really dangerous" The 3 of us laugh and David looks at us strangely.

"Nah, he's not. Don't let em fool ya" We keep walking until we get to the docks. I miss the feel of the soggy wood under my feet strangely enough. The newsies are all swimming just like the day I had to leave. Shoots hops out of the water and stops Jack and I who are in front.

"Goin somewhere Kelly and..." He looks at me.

"Cam" Jack just walks past him and we all follow. If only it were that easy when I first met him.

"Well if it ain't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick" The familiar voice surrounds me and I look up to see Spot on top of his crates like usual.

"So, ya moved up in the world Spot. Got a river view and everything" Spot hops off the crates and lands right in front of me. They spit shake and pat their backs.

"Hey Boots how's it rolling" Boots goes over to him and hands him some small circular things.

"Got a couple of real good shooters ere" Spot takes one and loads it in his slingshot. He taught me once and I was actually pretty good.

"So Jackie boy, I've been hearin things from little birdies"

"Yeah"

"Things from Harlem, Queens" He lets the slingshot go and he takes the top off a glass bottle. Everyone looks impressed except me of course. Davey especially.

"All over. Theys chirpin in ma ear"

"Jackie boys newsies are playin like theys going on strike"

"Yeah well we are" That gets Spots attention and he walks over to me.

"And who's this Jackie Boy" He looks at Jack then back at me. I miss staring into his beautiful green eyes.

"I'm Cam nice ta meet ya" I spit into my hand and Spot does the same. We shake.

"Well nice ta meet you too"

"And we're not playin, we are going on strike" I put my face closer to his and give him a hard stare.

"Oh yeah? Yeah? What is this Jackie boy some kind of walkin mouth?"

"Yeah it's a mouth but a mouth wit a brain. And if yous got half of one you'll listen ta what Cam's gotta say" I've been called a lot of things but never a mouth with a brain. Guess there's a first time for everything.

"Well we started the strike but we can't do it alone so we've been talkin ta newsies all around the city"

"Yeah so they told me" He looks like he might be considering it and I hope he is. Every one of us knows if he bails this won't go through.

"But what did they tell you"

"Theys waitin ta see what Spot Conlon does. You're the key" As much as I hate to play into his cockiness it's true.

"That Spot Conlon is the most respected and famous newsie in all of New York. And probably everywhere else" He smirks and I can tell he's enjoying this.

"If Spot Conlon joins the strike then they'll join and we'll be unstoppable"

"So yous gotta join us cause well, ya gotta!"

"Yer right Jack" That's the first time he takes his eyes off me during my whole big speech.

"Brains. But I's got brains too and more than just a half of one"

"How's do I know you punks won't run the first time some goon comes at ya with a club" He walks over to Jack and finally leaves me. Thank god. It felt like he was looking into my soul and was so close to figuring out who I was.

"How do I know you got what it takes ta win"

"Cause I'm tellin you Spot"

"That ain't good enough Jackie Boy" Are you kidding me? What's it gonna take to get him on board.

"Yous gotta show me" Then he turns back to me. As he's about to say something Sprints comes up to him and tells him something.

"Nick needs you. Says it's important" He ignores him and keeps staring at me.

"You look~"

"Come on Spot, now"

"Yeah Cam we should probably be going"

"familiar"

Spot finishes his sentence and we're dragged away from each other.

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ok so like I don't know what to call it but I guess there's your title sentence. Idk but it's where the title of the book is in the book. So ta~da there it is. I have something fun planned for next chapter so keep reading! We're almost at 1k reads which isn't a lot but i'm really excited!