8 Days, 8 Letters; Spot Conlon

Uneasy

Song: Shadows of the Night by Pat Benatar

A/N: Hello everyone. Apologies for the notifications you all likely got from me earlier. I was fixing a format issue that I realized occurred. Shout out to 123girafe123 for the song recommendation. I hope I did it some justice. Anyways go check them out. They have a couple newsie stories out that are amazing. My favorite was their mean girls one. Anyways please enjoy the next chapter of 8 Days, 8 Letters.

Present Day: October 1899

Jaime's POV

The last few months had been great. Spot and I were still meeting up every 8 Days, sometimes ending in sleepovers.

The boys had been happier than ever. Even Kloppman was happy.

Medda's was going great. I even got hired to do a couple gigs a week.

Things couldn't be going better. Except for this overwhelming feeling I have when I go to the distribution center.

Mr. Brown is nice, but every time I get my papers, I feel uneasy.

Like something isn't right.

I wonder what it could be.

Today is no different when I got my stack.

I chatted with Mr. Brown who complimented me on my last gig. He pops into Medda's every now and then when he has enough money saved.

He is a huge fan of the theater.

Then the uneasy feeling comes when Mr. Eriksson gives me my papes.

It's like he's hiding himself from me.

He is rather antisocial with the other newsies like Mr. Brown told me our first morning back. But he doesn't hide himself from them.

It's only me and Jack.

But why? Why would he only hide from Jack and me rather than everyone?

As I sold with Race and Crutchy, the questions surrounding Mr. Eriksson faded away.

It was about one in the afternoon when we finished selling our stacks.

"Hey Books. Wanna head to Sheepstead with us before you's have to go for Medda's?" Race asked.

"I'd like that actually."

"Yes! Finally! It's been months."

"I's know. There's jus' been a lot going on."

"We know," Crutchy said. "I'm jus' happy you're finally joinin' us so I's don't have to be left with him."

Crutchy pointed at Race who gasped.

"How dare you's! I'm delightful company!"

"Sure," I laughed.

Race rolled his eyes at us.

"We should go," I spoke. "I've gotta be at Medda's at five."

They nodded and we headed off to the races.

We helped Crutchy climb a few steps and sat near the edges of the fourth row.

Crutchy was in the end, I was in the middle, and Race was on my other side.

"These seats ain't half bad," I said.

"Yeah. It's not a bad view," Crutchy responded.

"Not at all," Race smiled.

The betting man came around and Race put a buck in for a horse called Piker.

"Good luck, Racer," I said.