Unlocking Him: A Spot Conlon Love Story

Chapter Twenty Nine: Home

"So there I'se was--a victim of dis horrible tragedy when suddenly I'se used my rage and superior strength ta break my ropes an---"

Charlie came through the door to see Race entertaining the "awestruck" newsies with the story of his "narrow escape". Charlie smiled and held back from shutting him up.

"I'se used a knife ta cut Charlie free. We'se was bout ta run for it but she wouldn't leave Spot. I'se tried ta convince her, but it was no use fellas. She wouldn't leave da side of her one true--"

"Ok Race that's enough."

Race abruptly jerked around and turned bright red. He giggled and waved innocently. "Hi Charlie."

"Ok show of hands. Who believed a single word he said?"

Crutchie raised his hand. All the boys gave him a look. He slowly put it down.

"That's what I'se thought. Tell 'em how it really happened."

"I'se can't play hero once in a while?"

"Nope."

"Fine! Charlie saved da day again! She cut me free an let me go! Another great day of savin' my ass! Ya all happy now?"

"So this makes the tally seventeen ta four."

"Who's countin'? You'se countin'? Wait which one is me??"

"Seventeen. You don't gotta play hero, Race. You're always gonna be my hero." She hugged him tight. She then took his hat and hit him in the face a few times. "So make sure ya get da facts straight."

"No guarantees."

They all laughed an decided to turn in except Race and Charlie who decided to stay up to wait for Spot.

"Ya can go ta bed ya know. You'se gotta be beat."

"I'se gotta make sure Your Highness keeps his hands ta himself."

"Racetrack I'se swear ta you'se if you'se tell him I'se told ya literally everythin'--"

"Wait ya didn't tell 'im ya told me dat you'se two--"

"Hell no!!"

"Why not?"

"Racetrack!"

"Well?"

"I'se dunno it's weird!!"

"It ain't weird! If I'se made love wit a pretty goil I'd be tellin' everybody."

"Well that's you'se. And besides it was a secret."

"I'se glad ya told everybody cuz I'se couldn't hold it in much longer. And now when's ya gets engaged it'll make sense. Ya still considerin' me for flower girl?"

Charlie opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by the door opening and a familiar voice.

"Now Race do you'se thinks ya gots da hips ta pull off a dress like all them flower goils wear?" Spot smirked. Charlie slapped her hand to her forehead as Race stood up. He looked at his hips and loosened them up a bit.

"I'se thinks I'se can do it. I'se mean c'mon no one can look at me an say I'se don't got a hell of a figure and still call himself an honest man."

Charlie stood up and smacked him.
"As great of a philosophy that is, quit shaken' ya hips I'se gonna have nightmares!!!"

Race and Spot's laughter rang through the lodging house, waking a few boys up before Charlie could get them to shut up. Race wiped a tear from his eye and caught his breath.

"Happy days are here again." he said.

"Ya still bloody." Charlie motioned to his face.

"So? That ain't da point. I'se just hopes everythin' is back ta normal. Mostly." He gave Spot a look which was returned to him, but a bit scarier. "I'se watchin' you'se." he said playfully to Spot. "And you'se!" He said, poking Charlie in the stomach a few times. She laughed. She stopped once she saw a glimmer of depression in Race's eyes.

"What's wrong Race?"

"Are ya movin' ta Brooklyn for good?"

She looked at Spot and then back at Race. "I'se dunno. He neva really asked--"

"But he's gonna. An then I'm gonna have no one ta bunk wit. I'll be all alone!" He said both dramatically and pathetically.

"Poor thing. Besides you'll probably get more sleep witout me."

"Dat don't mean I'se don't wantcha around. Besides if ya move ta Brooklyn I'se won't see you'se much no more. You'll be sellin' papers ova there an--"

"Racetrack..." She hugged him. He was about to get sentimental. She hated sentimental. Or at least most of it. "Trust me Race. You'se is stuck wit me. Even if I'se did go ta Brooklyn, I'se would always sell ova here and visit everyday. I'se promise. I'se would probably bug ya even more than I'se do now cuz I'se got an excuse."

"You'se mean it?"

"Yeah."

They let go of their hug and Race wiped a few tears from his face. "Are you'se cryin'?"

"What---no! My good eye's just watery dats all."

"You're a terrible liar Race."

"Boy do I'se knows it."

She laughed and hugged him again. Spot felt extremely awkward during this entire thing. Of course he was going to ask her to move to Brooklyn, but he also felt a bit guilty about it. He didn't know what Manhattan newsies would feel about it. Was he taking her away from them? As soon as she bid goodbye to Race and he went upstairs, she started for the door but he stopped her.

"Ya don't gotta leave if you'se don't wanna leave."

"Gabriel..."

"I'se serious I'se not gonna make ya do anythin'."

"Race is fine. He'll be ok. It'll be...different but you'se heard what I'se said an I'se intend ta keep dat promise. And you'se never officially asked me ta..."

"Well if I'se did..."

"I'se would pack my things immediately."

"Are you'se sure? I'se mean aren't ya gonna miss 'Hatten?"

"No. Likes I'se said, I'll visit everyday."

"But it's your home."

"New York is my home. That means Brooklyn too. And besides, none of it wasn't anything to me until I'se met you."

He pecked her lips. "Charlotte, would you'se like ta live in Brooklyn wit me?"

"I'se thought you'd never ask."