Brooklyn Baby | Spot Conlon ¹

Chp. 33: Change

It's been a week since I came back, and Spot was cleared by the doctors to leave. I'd spent the whole week with him, just talking. A lot has changed since I left, but it was what I'd expected.

But when we went back to Brooklyn, things were different alright, but not the different I was thinking.

It started yesterday, when I tried to hug Spot. He dismissed me in a weird way, like he didn't want to be seen hugging me. I brushed it off, but I couldn't help but wonder what it meant.

The next day, he approached me inside the lodge. "Kenny, I need to tell ya somethin',"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well, I--"

Before he could make out a word, Fetchy came bursting through the door.

"Spot, Spot! Finally, I've been looking for you everywhere," He pants. "Stetson requested to see you,"

"Alright. I'm sorry, Kenny, I'll see ya later,"

I watched him leave briskly, and sighed. Something told me what he wanted to discuss had something to do with our encounter yesterday.

I left the lodge too, walking out onto the dock. Most newsies were selling papes this time of day, but Bucky was still here. It dawned on me that I've never seen him selling.

"Bucky!" I call.

"Kendall Sullivan, to what do I owe the hona'?" He asks.

"First, how come you don't sell papes? What's ya job around here then?"

He chuckles. "I don't got a job, Miss Sullivan,"

"Quit the formality ya doof," I lightly shove him. "Don't we all got jobs?"

"What's yours?"

I thought for a minute. "I didn't know I was officially apart of the Brooklynites."

"Ya always was, you's Spot's goil. Those closest to him don't work for him,"

"Hm, so you don't bow down ta the King of Brooklyn?"

"Not necessarily, but I do respect him," He chuckles again. "He is still my leader,"

I nod.

"Did ya need something else?"

"Oh, right. Who's 'Stetson'?" I ask. "Spot was about ta tell me somethin' but Fetch took him away because this 'Stetson' needed to see him."

"Stetson is the leader of Queens, and that's all I know."

"Oh, well whatever he needed to tell me seemed important," I say.

Something flashes in his eyes, and I'm not sure what it is. He clears his throat and nods.

"I'm sure Spot will be back soon,"
<>
When Spot didn't return for a few hours, I left for Manhattan. No sense in wasting my day, I thought. But, what else would I do? Before all this, I would probably go to Harlem. I walk across the bridge and decide to go see Race.

"Kensta! It's been a while,"
"Funny, it's been a week."

"It's been a year," He says, and I look up at him. His eyes still had traces of sadness, and I instantly hug him. Other than Skiddy, Race and I have been best friends since I lost Jack years ago.

"Well, let's catch up then. We got all day,"

He grins and grabs my hand, pulling me out into Manhattan.
<>
I laugh and lay against Race's stomach on the roof of Kloppman's lodge, like we used to do as kids. We'd sneak up here and Jack would throw a fit at Race. I'd only fallen once. In my defense, it was Race and Mush's fault.

"Ken, I gotta tell ya somethin',"

"You ain't the only one," I chuckle.

"What?"

"Nothin'. What's up?" I say.

"I met a goil,"

I sit up and whack him, grinning ear to ear. "You didn't!"

"I did! Her name's Marie, and she's the prettiest thing I ever saw,"

"I thought I was the prettiest," I fake-whine while he glares at me. "Where'd ya meet the little lady?"

"Today, while I was sellin' papes,"

"Slacking off on tha job, tsk tsk."

"No, I was workin'," He protests. "I sold it ta her. I charmed her up and she was gigglin' the cutest laugh,"

I smile. "I'm glad one of the boys besides Jackie has found himself a goil to keep him outta the refuge,"

He grins, shaking his head.

"So, when can I meet ha?"

"What are ya, me mudda?"

"Try sista," I say, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
<>
When I go back to Brooklyn, Spot still hadn't returned. I sighed, finding Bucky again.

Yes, things had changed.