Brooklyn Baby | Spot Conlon ¹

Chp. 4: Brooklyn

I have to suppress a laugh. Jack isn't the brightest, but on the streets, you better hope you have him.

"Say, Jack, I'll take Harlem," Kid Blink speaks up.

"Tell Skid I say hey," I told him before he walked off.

"I got Midtown," Race volunteers.

"I got the Battery," Mush calls.

"I'll take the Bronx, Jack," Crutchy says. He hobbles off.

"Bumlets, Specs, and Skittery, you take Queens," I order. They nod and take off.

"Pie Eater, Snoddy, you got the East Side! Snipeshooter, you join them." Jack assigns. Everyone heads off in different directions, eager to spread the word.

"Alright, how's about Brooklyn?" Jack says. Everyone looks away, avoiding Jack's eye. I squint at them all. What's with Brooklyn? "Come on, what's da matter with Brooklyn?"

"Why don't ya want to go to Brooklyn?" I repeat. They stare at Jack in awe.

"You ain't told her about Brooklyn?" Boots asks in astonishment. I just stand there, confused.

"O'course I ain't tell her about Brooklyn," Jack says.

"What don't I know about Brooklyn?" I ask impatiently. David agrees, probably just as lost as I am.

"She ain't goin' to Brooklyn."

"Come on, Jackie, I can handle Brooklyn. If Crutch can handle the Bronx, I can handle Brooklyn," I joke. "What's so bad about Brooklyn?"

"That's Spot Conlon's territory," Boots pipes up softly.

"Who?" This new name sticks in my mind.

"She's me little sista, and you know Spot, he can be..." Jack says.

"Nah, Jack, he ain't like that with goils," Boots says.

"Who the hell is Spot Conlon?" I ask again.

"You ain't gonna know, 'cause you ain't comin'." Jack says to me. "Davey, Boots, let's go."

"I'm comin' to Brooklyn, whether you like it or not, Jackie." I demand. He sighs and looks at me. I give him my look, the one I give him when I really want something.

"Fine, but you's stayin' behind me."

Jack ended up having to try to talk to Pulitzer, demanded by David. They threw him out in an instant.

Just then, a reporter walks over to talk to David. I hang back for a bit, going back to the lodge to change. I gotta make a good impression on Brooklyn, don't I? I've never been there, and they ain't ever seen me, so it's a chance to make a good first impression. I wear jeans, and a fitted shirt tucked into them, my suspenders clicked in place. My brown, wavy-ish hair is somewhat tamed by my cap.

I make my way to Tibby's, where the newsies usually hang out. I enter, the bells on the door jingling. I spot them at the booth, chatting up the man.

"Does Pulitzer scare you? I hear the reporter ask. "You're going up against the most powerful man in New York City."

"Can't you see, he's tremblin' in his boots." I say, and Jack turns to see me. He grins, and introduces me to the man, who's name is Denton.

"Keep me informed," Denton says before standing up to grab his coat. "I want to know everything that's going on."

"So, our names are gonna be in the papes?" Jack asked.

"Any objections?"

"As long as you get it right. Kenny Kelly, and me brother Jack." I say firmly. Denton smiles, and leaves the restaurant. I stand up, eager to see a new city, while Jack, is not so happy about it.