A Race To Her Heart

Chapter 7

Teddy's POV:

Jack, Davey and I headed over to Spot Conlon's turf in Brooklyn to try and convince them to join the strike. 

"Well if it ain't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick." Said Spot.

"So you've moved up in the world Spot." He replies.

"And I see yous here is still dragging your sister everywhere yous go." Spot sneered. I rolled my eyes but at the same time, Spot had a point. I wanted to go and inform the Brooklyn Newsies of the strike by myself but Jack insisted about not letting me go alone.

The two boys came face to face, smiled and shook each others hands, not before doing the ritual spit beforehand. Something Davey and I both agree on is that is distgusting.

"So Jackie boy, I've been hearing things from little birds." Spot stated.

"Yeah?"

"Things from Harlem, Queens. All over." Spot announced taking the slingshot from his pocket and aiming it at some glass bottles.

"They're chirping in my ear. Jackie boys Newsies is playing like they're going on strike."

"Yeah well we are!" I interrupted.

"Yeah but we're not playing. We are going on strike." Davey confirmed. Spot shot Davey a look, taking his attention off the glass bottles. He made his way over to Davey standing directly across from him.

For a small thin boy, Spot Conlon still was the most intimidating Newsie in all of New York.

"Oh yeah? Yeah?" Spot teased. What is this Jackie Boy? Some kind of walking mouth?" Spot mocked. 

"Yeah its a mouth , but a mouth with a brain." Jack replied.

"And if you got half a one you'll listen to what he has to say." I chimed in. Spot smirked at my sarcastic comment. 

"Seriously Jackie boy, your sister really is out here beating you with these comments lately." Spot laughs.

Davey continues on to tell Spot about the Newsies strike explaining what would Brooklyn's participation mean to us. I was trying to read Spot's reaction to what Davey was saying but it was impossible. That boy doesn't give anything away.

"How do I know you punks won't run at the first time some goon comes at ya with a club?" Spot asks swinging his cane. "How do I know yous got what it takes to win?" He continued.

"Because I'm telling you Spot." I promised.

"That ain't good enough little Teddy bear. You gotta show me." He declared. Spot turned on his heels and disappeared without another word. Jack sighed. We walked back over the Brooklyn bridge feeling defeated. How were we ever gonna tell the boys?

As Davey, Jack, Les and I rested our heads against the circulation gate Davey perked up to speak. "Is anyone else coming?" He complained. 

"I got no clue!" Jack whined.

Race comes over taking the cigar out of his mouth. "Well you seen Spot Conlon right? What'd he say?" He asks eagerly. I walk away not being able to look at his hopeful face. I can't disappoint him even if we're still not really on speaking terms.

"Yeah sure we's seen him." Jack grumbled. "Him and about twenty of his gang." Davey continued. 

"Well I gotta say Spot was very impressed wasn't he?" Jack lied. "I'd say!" Davey agreed. Why are they lying?! They's better off just being honest and stop trying to bend the truth. 

Race smiles in glee. "So they're with us?" He grinned.

I couldn't take it anymore. I walked back over to where the boys had formed a gathering. "No! As of now Brooklyn is not with us. They wanted proof that we weren't gonna fold at the first sign of trouble." I snapped.

I met Races eyes seeing the hopefulness fade away. I broke away the contact before I myself would not be able to cope with it all.

The other Newsboys continued on to tell us that none of the other Newsboys around the city are gonna join unless Brooklyn do. Everyone was looking to Spot Conlon for a big decision like this. 

We were interrupted by the Delancey brothers coming to unlock the gate. "Hey Oscar, looks like we got bum information about a strike happening today. Hey not that I'm complaining, I know my skull-bustin arm could use a day of rest." Morris shouts.

"Hey, you done?" I asked sarcastically. 

The two brothers walk away towards the desk to Pulitzer. Little Les steps forward to have his say. "Are we doing the right thing?" He questioned nervously. "Sure we are!" Davey intervened placing his hand on Les' shoulder as a sign of comfort.

"Maybe we should put this off a few days?" Race gulped. He looked scared. Race rarely looks frightened. He was one of the bravest boys I knew. If he's even nervous who knows what the other boys must feel like.

"They need to see us stand our ground!" Jack announced.

"Teddy." Jacked stuttered. "You tell em."

I looked around to see the newsboys of Manhattan at their lowest. No confidence whatsoever. Race had his back turned to everyone with his hand resting leaning against a wall, cigar in its usual place. 

"Now is the time to seize the day." I started. I made my way over to Race placing my hand to his arm causing him to look down to me. "Stare down the odds and seize the day." I beckoned to everyone but still only staring at Race. I grabbed him by the hand bringing him back to the boys, still not breaking eye contact.

I stood up on an old barrel, with the help of Race. "Courage cannot erase our fear, courage is when we face our fear!" I preached.

"Behold the brave battalion that stand side-by-side." I shout gesturing to all the Newsies gaining a few smiles. "We'll say to the others that did not follow through, you're still our brothers and we will fight for you." I promised. My speech was interrupted by the sounds of bells and sirens. It seems our strike caught word of mouth.

I felt Jojo tense up beside me. Weasel along with the Delancey's and grown men with bats were standing at the gate waiting for us.

Weasel hit his bat against a steel post informing his goons to merge towards us. Jack pushed me behind. " Teddy get outta here." He snapped. "What? No! I'm staying and don't even try stop me!" I scolded. He gave me a disapproving look. He sighed. "At least try hide and don't get involved in the fighting part." I could see the pain and worry in his eyes. I nodded.

Jack let out a sigh of relief. He turned his attention back to the men who were getting closer. "Newsies!!" He announced.

"Get em!!"

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I just wanted to take some of the lyrics from seize the day and make it into Teddy's speech :)

I hope you're enjoying it so far!!!!