Brooklyn Baby | Spot Conlon ¹

Chp. 18: Confrontations

  "Aunt?" Jack asked.

"Vanderbilt?" I added. The Vanderbilts were one of the richest and most powerful brokers in the entire country, next to Rockerfeller and Carnegie.

"Yes, my husband, William, and I are your god-parents."

"Where have ya been the last, I dunno, seventeen years?" Jack asks.

"We couldn't find you," She explained. "Until the whole news of the strike broke out, and we saw your names. I immediately left to come here,"

"And ya found us," I say.

"Yes, and I'd like for you two to come back with me,"

"What?!" We both exclaim.

"Let's go sit down somewhere, yes?"

We go into Tibby's with Anne, and sit down at a booth.

"I'd like for you both to come back to Asheville with me. My husband and I live with his brother in their Biltmore estate,"

"Where is that?" Jack asks.

"North Carolina,"

But, what about our friends here?" I ask. "All tha newsies, and sellin' papes, and--"

"You won't need to sell anything, because you will have three meals a day, and wonderful clothes to wear! We're your family, and we'd love to have you back."

I look at Jack, who is probably thinking the same thing as me. We really want to go back with our family, but what about the kids here? I mean, we couldn't be with them forever.

"We'll go," Jack says.

"Great! Get all of your belongings tonight, and we'll leave first thing tomorrow," Anne says, kissing both of our foreheads.

I didn't know what Asheville or their estate was like, but I do know this: the newsies ain't gonna be very happy with Jackie and me.

"So, you's leavin'?" Mush asks with a sad expression.

"Yeah, to live with our aunt and uncle in North Carolina," I say.

"But what about carryin' tha banna'?" Race asks. I can see he's crushed.

"We'll come back ta visit,"

"They's goin' ta live with scabbas'," Skittery says.

"Nah we ain't, just tha Vandabilts,"

"They's worse! I hoid them be called robba' barons," He retorts. "I hoid they take money from tha poor,"

"You all would do tha same if ya had family, Jackie and me would be happy for ya, so why can't ya do tha same?" I say, angry at the newsies for not being at least a little happy that we found family.

"Yeah, have a nice life, fellas." Jack says.

We walk out of the lodging house, and turn to each other.

"I gotta tell Sarah," Jack says.

"And I's gotta tell Spot,"

"Meet back in an hour?"

"Alright,"

I run to Brooklyn, dreading telling Spot. He'd be upset, and I'm upset too. I don't wanna leave him. I'd miss him too much. I'd never admit to him, but I'd really miss him.

"Kenny, you's back," Wiz says.

"Yeah. Gotta talk to Spot,"

They let me in, stepping aside. I walk down the long dock, to where his crates were. Sure enough, he was up there. He looked down at me, and grinned.

"Back so soon?"

"Spot, I gotta talk to ya,"

He jumps down.

"What is it?"

"I got a visit today," I start. "From my aunt, Anne Vanderbilt,"

His eyes widen a bit. "What's she want?"

"She wants me 'n Jack to go live with her and her husband in North Carolina,"

"Whatdja say?"

"We said yes," I say softly. His expression changes from a sad one, to a slightly angry one.

"So, you's just leavin' then?"

"Spot, we don't got a choice--"

"Of course you had a choice, she asked ya didn't she?" He retorts.

"Fine, we had a choice. You 'n me both know that really, there was only one answer!"

"You know what, Kenny, leave. Go and live in ya mansion, and leave us all here."

"What was I supposed ta do, Spot?! If someone from ya family came to get ya, you would go too." I spat.

"My family is dead!"

"So is mine, Spot! I didn't even know they existed until now, and you's really tellin' me I shouldn't go? I shouldn't go and live a better life if I have the choice?"

He didn't answer, just glared at me.

"Have a good time rollin' around in money," He says. "We's done here,"

I look at him with my mouth hanging open. I couldn't believe the way he was acting. He turns around, and climbs back up his crates, dismissing our conversation.

I glare at him once, then walk off the dock, ignoring the questions from Buck and Peak. I leave the area, before letting a tear fall on my face. I furiously wipe it away, restricting myself from crying over him. I won't do it.

I won't let him get me upset.  

<><><>

:(((