Spot Conlon: A New Adventure [2]

Chapter 12

*Spot's POV*

She betrayed me. She hurt me. Jus' when Ise was winnin' 'er ova, she left me. Broke me heart. Ise angry, angrier than Ise eva been in me life. Ise walkin' on da Bridge, kickin' any rock Ise find. Two Lizzy's in one life time. Both of dem lost, foieva. Ise got a broken heart, and it can't eva be mended.

*Jazzer's POV*

Ise finished sellin' me papes, and decide ta go foi a walk. Ise don't care where Ise go, jus' as long as Ise don't run inta any newsies. Ise walk foi three hours, until da sun is gone and da moon is watchin' ova me. 

"He, girl. Are you okay? Walking outside when it's this dark is dangerous, you know that?" A man tells me, walkin' up to me. 

"Yeah, Ise know." Ise say. Ise look up at him. He looks familiar. 

"Boy, you look just like your mother."

Ise stare at him in shock. "Youse knew me modda?" 

"Yes, and your father. And they still owe me something." He says, pullin' out a gun. Ise freeze. Ise don't know what to do.

He grabs me arm and pulls me into an alley way. Then Ise start fightin'. Then he shoot me in da leg. 

"Dat ain't no way ta treat a lady, mista." Ise hear. It was Spot. He fights da man off and helps me up. While he was fightin' Ise used a long strip from me pants which Ise keep in me pape bag as a bandage so that he won't see my wound. 

"Youse hoit?" He asks. His voice holds no emotion. 

"Nah, Ise fine." Ise say. 

"Good." He begins to walk away. 

"Spot! Wait." Ise say. 

"Why? Youse a scabber. Ise dis why youse didn't escape last night?" 

"No, it's.." Me voice trails off and Ise start cyin'. "Pulitzer said dat h-he would h-hoit youse and Race real bad i-if Ise didn't w-work foi him. Ise had to, Spot. I-Ise care 'bout youse and Race too much. Ise can't lose youse like Ise lost me parents." 

"Youse want me to believe dat?" He growls. 

"Yes, Spot, Ise do! He said dat he would have you killed if Ise didn't. Spot, youse gotta believe me." Ise plead. He stares at me foi a long time, straight in me eye. Finally, his eyes soften. 

"Ise believe youse." He comes to me and pulls me into a hug. 

"Spot?" Ise say. 

"Hmm?" 

"What did youse mean last night when youse said youse couldn't lose somethin'?" Ise ask him. Ise can feel him sigh. He pulls away from me. 

"There was anodda goil, when Ise was eleven. Ise was workin' and a case ta prove one of me bois innocent, but dis was before Ise was da King o' Brooklyn. Her name was Lizzy, too. Wese called her Tiga because she was strong, fast and fierce. Ise was gettin' close to here, more den friends. Not inappropriately, youse undastand.  She was gettin' close ta me, too. But... she was shot in da head. Killed. It devestated me. Ise vowed neva ta fall foi anyone again because Ise didn't wanna lose dem again." Spot said. 

"Spot..... Ise am so sorry. Ise wouldn't have teased ya back at da docks if I'd known." Ise say. A tear slides down his face. Ise wipe it away. 

"Ise okay." He says. He smiles at me. Not his dumb smirk, but a real, genuine smile. Ise smile back.  

"C'mon. Lets get youse home. Race'll be glad ta see youse." Spot grabs me hand and pulls me wit him. When wese get to da Manhattan newsie lodge, Spot pushed da door open and leads me upstairs. Me bois are still awake, playin' poker. They all stop and look at me.