Dottie spun around her room letting her nightgown spin out as she twirled and pressed her hands to her heart. "Oh Maudie!" She said exuberantly. "You should've been there. You're right we are making progress he actually stopped to talk to me for awhile!"
Maudie frowned. "I warned you child. I don't like you in this infatuated state with him. He's a lady user. "
"I know he doesn't care one bit what my feelings are." Dottie rolled her eyes. "But it'll be different! I can sense it. And if not you can say I told you so." She sat down on her bed and hugged her knees. "I just can't believe its working. Tipping him everyday and hurrying away quickly its making him intrigued."
"I'll help you win him over if you promise me this." Maudie said, a thick layer of cautiousness spread over her voice like warm butter. "You will not give your heart to this womanizer, alright? It'll end bad for the both of ya."
Dottie nodded. "Thank you so much Maudie!" She exclaimed and slipped into her covers for a good night's rest only to awake and travel with Maudie to Brooklyn and tip Spot and leave. And that's what she thought she'd do.
Saturday morning the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Dottie arouse happily. She slipped on her slacks and shirt and a sundress over it and packed her bag. She practically floated to the trolley. She stripped of her sundress and she stuck out like a sore thumb. But she liked it.
The salty marine smell the resided below the bridge of Brooklyn wafted up into Dottie's nose. Her eyes looked eagerly for the boy with red suspenders until her gaze met with his. Her pace quickened as they met each other at the bridge.
"How are the headlines? " Dottie asked.
"As terrible as yest'rday." Spot groaned. "Hardly can make a livin' off a good headline."
"I'm sorry." She sympathized. She handed out her usual tip and turned on her heels.
"Wait." Spot said his fingers enclosing around her wrist. "I'm confused. Who are you? "
"Dottie." She replied.
"No really. You come everyday, I've never seen ya in Brooklyn, and tip like it's pocket money. Not ta mention da knickers. "
Dottie sighed. "Long story."
"Maybe ya could tell me temorr'w at six? I'll ee'n show ya 'round Brooklyn." Spot replied.
Dottie couldn't help but smile. Was the Spot Conlon asking her out on a date?
"What are you saying Newsie?" She replied snarkily. "Like a date?"
"Well, sure. I guess. Six?" He replied.
"Four?"
"Done."
Dottie quickly hurried off and smiled to herself.
"Looking forward to seein' ya tomorra," he yelled after her.
Dottie had promised she would give her heart to this Newsie but golly goodness he was so charming. She practically floated all the way home, skipping down her street until she realized, she had forgotten to change her clothes.
Dottie panicked and slipped into a restaurant trying to hide her face with her hat and headed to the restrooms.
"Dorothy?" A familiar voice said as a hand tugged at her arm. Her heart dropped as she stared Anderson in the face.
"Damn," she whispered. She had never said a swear in her life. "Andy it's not what it looks like."
He pushed her through the back exit and stared her ragged clothes down. "I'm not even sure what this looks like Dorothyann."
She shrugged not wanting to explain herself.
"Where have you been running off to the past couple days? I come to ask and Maudie always says your out. Is this what you are doing? Playing peasant?" He questioned.
"Andy, please don't tell anyone. I can't let mother or Hearst know. I trust please don't tell." She begged as she took his hands.
"Tell me what you are doing first," he said rubbing his thumb on her hand.
Dorothy thought for a moment, she didn't want to tell Andy about Spot at all. What to say. "I uhm, Beatrice told me I was just a poor girl enjoying her father's money so I wanted to get away from the family and the rich lifestyle for a bit. See what it's like on the streets. Please don't tell."
Anderson looked down at their hands in each other's and sighed. "Fine but you owe me. And you know that girls shouldn't be wearing pants. If anyone recognizes you, that's your problem and I didn't know okay?"
She sighed in relief. "Thank you Andy!" She hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek. "I owe you big time!"
"How about a date?" He said touching his cheek. "Tomorrow at 4?" He smiled.
"Oh, I um, having something then. But I'm not booked on Thursday."
"Thursday at 4 then," he smiled and brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it tenderly. "See you then,"
Dottie changed in the bathroom and headed quickly back home. That was too close for comfort.
