The Queen of New York

4

"So, is this Spot Conlon really dangerous?" Davey asked as we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge.

I laughed. "No, not really. I mean, don't get him mad or anything, but he's relatively harmless other than that. Besides, I'm gonna be there!"

"And that helps because?" Davey inquired.

"Because my lovely little sister here is dating Spot," Jack teased.

"Shut up," I mumbled.

Then, Skittery came over to us.

"Lucky! Hey!" He said, giving me a brief hug. "Hey Jack. Who's the new kid?"

"This here is Davey," I said. "Hey Skittery, where's Spot? We'se needs to talk to him."

"He's in his usual spot," Skittery said.

"Thanks," I told him. "We have to go now, sorry. See ya soon."

"Yeah, bye Luck," He responded.

"Lucky?" Jack asked me as we walked.

"It's what they's calls me," I told him. "Same wit Race."

"Race?" He inquired.

"Yeah," I responded. "He spends a good deal of time in Brooklyn. Him and Spot play cards wit each other."

We walked in silence for a few more minutes before getting to the pier where Spot's 'throne' sat. When I say throne, I mean an old wooden chair covered with cloth. Spot was there, looking out over the water, a dreamy, far-off look on his face.

"Spot!" I called.

"Lucky!" He smiled. He came down over to us and gave me a hug and a kiss on the top of the head. "What's up?"

"We're going on strike," I told him. "And we need your help."

"Strike, huh?" Spot asked. "Why?"

"Pulitzer raised the price of papes," I responded. "10 cents more a hundred!"

"How do I know you aren't going to fold at the first sign of the cops?" Spot asked Jack.

"'Cause I'm telling ya, Spot," He responded.

"That's not enough, Jackie Boy. I need proof," Spot told him.

"Then we'll give you proof," Jack said. "Let's go, Davey, Mads."

"I'll catch up with you in a second!" I called as Davey and Jack started walking. I turned to Spot. "Spot, please! Manhattan needs you. Do it for me?"

"I'll think about it," Spot told me. "But only because it's you."

I smiled and gave him a kiss. I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist and spun me back around to face him.

"Please be careful," He begged.

"I will," I whispered.

I gave him a kiss on the cheek and ran to catch up with Jack and Davey.