The Goils from 'Hattan

Chapter 9

The day of the rally finally came and Tori and I’s meet up outside the lodging house after sellin’." C’mon Angel we’s gotta get ready.” she pulled me all the way up to our bunks and opened our draws and started pullin’ out everything we both owned. “You’s really don't have anything to wear to da rally, do you’s?” I raised an eyebrow at her," What do you’s mean? I’s not performin’ you’s is.” My friend shook her head with a smile, “Yeah but you’s gotta look you’s best for Spot since you’s gonna be up there next to him and Jack.” I’s sighed knowing there was no way around her." Fine. So what are we’s gonna do?” She clapped her hands and jumped up and down in excitement." you’s can borrow some of my stage clothes.” She pulled out the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. It was a knee length maroon dress with white lace on the bodice." Are you’s sure, Tori?” She nodded and it to me." Now go get ready!”

Later that night we all went down to Medda’s theater for the rally. The place was packed with newsies from all over New York. Tori pulled me aside once we got inside," Are you’s sure I’s should do this? Blink is gonna be here and he's gonna see me and i’s just won't be able to handle it if he thinks less of me’s after tonight and-” I cut her off by placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling. “You’s’ll be fine. He'll love it. He already told you’s he loved you’s dancing down at Tibby's. Besides there are a whole lot of newsies here. If he don't like it then somebody will.” she smiled at me." alright, well, I’s better go get ready then I's’ll see you after the rally.” I waved goodbye as she left when I suddenly felt a hand wrap around my waist." Evenin’ Spot” I said as I turned my head to look at him." Evenin’ Doll you’s look stunnin’” I smiled," Thanks Spotie Boi”He laughed at my nickname for him." C’mon Doll, we’s gotta find Jack.” We walked around the theater looking for Jack. I noticed I was getting a lot of attention from other newsies but it wasn't a bad attention but more of an acknowledgement. "There he is over there.” Spot pointed to a table with Jack, Davey and a girl. “oh, that must be Davey’s sista I've heard ‘bout. I’s also heard that Jackie and her like each other.” Spot smirked, “that makes two of us den” I giggled and pushed him slightly as we made our way over to Jack and the girl. “Jackie Boi, it's time.” Spot said putting his serious face on.

Spot, Jack, Davey and I were all up on the stage. We walked out to the middle of the stage and everyone was still yellin’ and being loud. Jack put his hands up and waved them down to quiet everyone. Everyone eventually calmed down enough for Jack to start talking. “CARRYIN’ DA BANNER” Jack yelled. All the newsies cheered. “ So we've come a long way but we ain't dare yet and maybe it's only gonna get tougher from now on. But that's fine, we’ll just get tougher wid it.” Jack yelled to the newsies." Yeah!” everyone yelled in agreement including me. Spot looked at me and smirked grabbing my hand and holding it." but also, also we’s gotta get smart and start listening to my pal David. He says stop soakin’ the scabs” Spot and I gave Dave a look as if he was crazy. “Well, what are we’s supposed to do to the bums, kiss ‘em” I said. Spot squeezed my hand lightly and have me a stern look. “It was a joke, Spot” I whispered to him. He turned to Jack and Davey. “ Hey, look, any scab I’s see i’s soak ‘em. Period.” Newsies cheered. Dave stepped forward and waved his hands. “ No, No, No, that what they want us to do. If we get violent it's just playing into their hands.” Spot let go of my hand and walked up Dave, “They're gonna be playin’ with my hands, alright?! It ain't what they say it's what we say and nobody gonna listen to us unless we make ‘em” Spot said getting into Dave's face a little causing me to have to pull him into a hug to calm him down. The newsies erupted in shouts; yelling at one another. “you’s got no brains. When we’s startin’ to fight each other, it's just what the big shots wanna see. That were street trash, street rats with no brains. No respect for nuttin’ includin’ ourselves. So here's how it is. If we don't act together then we're nuttin’, if we don't stick together then we're nuttin’ and if we can't even trust each other than were nuttin’” Jack ranted." Tell ‘em Jack” Blink yelled from where he was hanging off a balcony. “so what's it gonna be?” agreements were heard throughout the theater." so what do you say, Spot?” I asked. Spot walked toward Jack looking out onto the crowd. He glanced back at me and turned to Jack. “I’s say that what you’s say is what i’s say.” both jack and spot spit into their hands and shook them. Cheers when up throughout the theater. I wrapped my arms around Spots neck in a hug. He quickly hugged me back around my waist. Suddenly a spot light came on and Tori and Medda came out from behind the curtain. All the boys stood and cheered at the sight of them. They both began to sing in perfect harmony. “ High times, hard times, sometimes the living is sweet and sometimes there's nothing to eat.” Tori walked over to where Blink was and smiled at him as he hang from a bannister reaching out to her as he sang, “but I’s always lands on my feet." Medda and Tori made their way to the bridge on the stage." sooo when there's dry times, I wait for high times and then I put on my best and I stick out my chest and I'm off the the races again.” He boys in the front cheered as loud as they could. Spot and I’s could see Race take off his hat and swing it around cheering. “ Hello, newsies, what's new?" Medda asked. The newsies all cheered," Well I've got a nice surprise for you. I introduce, Tori Taylor!” Tori stepped forward in front of Medda as the crowd cheered for her. She had a huge smile plastered on her face as she looked over to where I was as I gave a nod and a smile for encouragement and with that she began to do her solo. “ So your old lady don't love you no more. So you're afraid there's a wolf at your door. So you got street rats that scream in your ear.” Everyone in the theater pitched in at this point," you win some you lose some my dear.” Tori and Medda danced around the halls of the theater with several newsies on their arms. Medda has race and Tori with kid smiling, blushing and having a good ol’ time." oh, high times, hard times, sometimes the living is sweet” Spot grabbed my hand a pulled me out to Medda and Tori. We all started to dance around. Spot sang, “ and sometimes there's nothing to eat, but. I’s always lands on my feet” he spun me around as we danced. Blink and Race both helped Medda and Tori black up onto the stage where they finished their song. After the song some newsies lifted Medda and Tori up in celebration. Spot strapped his arm over my shoulder as we sat back down at our table with Davey and Sara.Davey leaned over to Spot and whispered something urgent into his ear. Spots expression darkened at what Dave told him. “ What's wrong?” I ask Spot who stands and this time grabs ahold of my wrist tightly." I’s gotta get you’s out of here.” he stated pulling me toward an exit." why? I can't just leave Tori!” Spot whipped at pub to me and put both his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes with his steel blue ones. “Snyders here and i’s ain't lettin’ you’s go to the refuge.” and just like that we heard the sounds of people screaming and running. “Tori will be fine. I promise.” Spot said still looking into my now terrified eyes. “ alright but if she's not I's gonna kill you’s” I let Spot lead me out of the theater.