Lessons in love and war

Spot walked into the Brooklyn bunk room. Since he was the care taker of the Lodging house it was his job to get the boys and Crazy up in the morning. He always gently woke Crazy up first and then would yell at the boys to get out of bed and carry the banner. Spot carelessly walked over to Crazy's bed to wake her up.

"Hey Crazy time to get up" He said gently into her ear. Crazy stirred in her sleep. She turned over on her side facing Spot. He sweetly smiled down at the beautiful sleeping girl. Spot has never felt for any one the way he did for Crazy. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He longed to be with her, he wanted to hold her in his arms. His feelings confused him, how is it that he could take on twenty men with clubs and stay calm and fearless but this one girl could make him nervous when she would walk by? How is it that Spot could stare death in the face, which he has many times, and remain fearless but when Crazy had gotten hurt that brought on the worst fear of his life? How can this five foot four, hundred and twenty five pound seventeen year old girl bring him to feel these alien emotions. Spot wanted her so bad, and he knew it too, but he was afraid, afraid that her being with him would put her in danger. She was a black girl and he was a white boy, there would be a lot of trouble just for that reason, but that didn't worry Spot as much as the fact that he had a lot of enemies and he knew that they could use Crazy to their advantage. She would be his one and only weakness, and Spot could not let anything happen to her because of him, because he had enemies. He refused to be weak; he had to be strong for his boys, Brooklyn, and most of all Crazy. His smile faded into a frown and sorrow and longing filled his eyes as he softly shook Crazy awake. Her eyes fluttered open and Spot put on a smile, but his eyes still were filled with sadness.

"Time to get up Crazy. Gotta carry da banna." He then turned away and walked to were Trouble was sleeping. He came to her bunk but when he didn't see her in it his eyes got wide with surprise and confusion. He touched the bed as if expecting to feel her. Then he stood up and scratched his head. "A ok?" He said confused. He bent down and looked under the bed and he could see on the other side a person curled up in a ball on the ground. Spot got up and walked over to the other side and squatted down next to the sleeping form of Trouble. An amused smile spread across his face as he shook her awake. She was a lot easier to wake up then Crazy and woke up as soon as Spot had started to jostle her. "Hey a Trouble good Mornin. Time to get up and sell" Trouble sat up and stretched her arms and Spot smiled at her; "A so are me beds really that bad that you'se ratha sleep on da floor, or did you'se just fall outa bed and not get back up" he said with a cocked smile on his face.

"I usually sleep on the floor cause I can't fall asleep on a bed. I'm too used to sleepin on the streets" She said sleepily as she got up and stretched again.

Spot stayed in his squatting position and starred up at Trouble still grinning; "You is one of a kind you'se know dat" Trouble smiled back at Spot and walked to the wash room and joined Crazy. Spot gave the girls a couple of minutes to get dressed and then he woke up the rest of the Newsies; "Alright you bums time ta carry da banna. Come on get you'se ass's outa bed". The way Spot ran Brooklyn was a lot different then the way that Jack ran Manhattan. All the Manhattan Newsies usually left for the distribution office together, but in Brooklyn you left when you were ready. The Distribution office was just right down the street from the Lodging house. Crazy, Spot, and Trouble with Penny at her side all walked down the street to the distribution office. "Seventy papes" Crazy said putting her money down on the counter. She collected her papes and waited off to the side for her companions.

"Hundred and fifty papes" Trouble said putting her money down on the counter.

"You sell dat many! You neva cease to amaze me Trouble." Spot said shaking his head in amazement. Trouble grabbed her papes and waited by Crazy for Spot to get his papes.

"Hundred and fifty" He said smiling over to Trouble.

The three of them went selling in the streets of Brooklyn. Trouble started hawkin the headlines. She was surrounded by costumers. Spot watched in amazement as Trouble sold her papes. She just had this energy about her that drew people in and between her Penny her cute side kick and her dramatic way of improving the headlines Trouble was selling more papes the both Spot and Crazy combined. She was like a magnet and every time she would hawk a headline it was like a performance.

"Trouble go to da oda side a da street you'se stealin all da costumers" Spot told Trouble with a smile on his face.

"You should move if you're not getting any costumers. I'm doin real well." Trouble smiled at Spot and stuck her tongue out. Spot shuck his head and ran across the street.

A young man came up to Crazy looking her up and down and licking his lips.

"Hey a sweet face how bout I give you this quata and you come wit me in da alley ova dere and show me a good time" Crazy glared at the man and then turned around to face the other way and started hawking the headline. The man seemed to get annoyed at her and forcefully grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him causing her to drop all her papers.

"Get off of me" Crazy said trying to control her anger and fear in her voice. The man laughed but then was suddenly forcefully grabbed and spun around to face a very scary and angry looking Spot. He punched the man three times in the face.

"Get outa here ya bum" He screamed at the man on the ground. The man quickly got up and ran away.

"You'se ok Crazy" Spot asked concerned looking equally concerned at Crazy.

"Yeah I'm fine. Why do they always come after me though?" She asked annoyed

"Because you is so damn gorgeous" Spot said smiling at her. Crazy blushed and looked down at her feet with sorrow in her eyes. Spot had no idea how much that statement had just made her so happy and yet so miserable at the same time. Crazy then felt a strong hand pull her face up to meet a pair of the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Spot caressed the side of her face and smiled down at her. She looked up and gave him a small smile back. Spot bent down and picked up Crazy's papers, handed them to her and went back to his selling spot across the street. Trouble noticed them looking at each other occasionally. They even made eye contact and then quickly looked away from each other. Trouble smiled at them and hoped that she and Mush weren't as bad and obviously in love with each other.

Lunch time came around and Spot lead the girls to a small and dirty little bar which was where the Brooklyn Newsies would stop for food. Trouble ordered a hot dog for five cents and then a huge burger for twenty cents for Penny.

"Geez dat mutt eats betta den you" said Spot.

"So when do the lessons begin" Trouble asked

"Afta sellin we'll go tad a docks"

Then there was an awkward silence. Crazy hadn't spoken, except for hawking the headlines, after Spot had saved her. Trouble felt awkward and quickly started up a conversation.

"So Spot why doesn't Brooklyn have a care taker for the Lodging house, I mean where is he, I haven't seen him"

"Well you'se lookin at him" Spot said looking very proud of himself

"You own the Lodgin house" Trouble said surprised

"Trouble I own Brooklyn" Spot said arrogantly

"But how could you afford to buy a house"

"I used ta live in dat house wit me family wit me parents and me brudda. Me muddah died givin birf ta me. Me fadda was a ragin alcoholic and would beat da shit outa me and me brudda. Made us tuff. One day he was found dead in an alley way. Da cops said dat he drank him self ta death. I was only eight and me brudda was sixteen and a Newsie. Da court was gonna take me away and put me in an orphanage unless me brudda proved he could take care of me. So he Turned da house into a News boys Lodgin house since Brooklyn neva had one. He became da leahda a da Brooklyn Newsies. Da winta dat I was thiorteen he got pneumoniaden and died. Da boys den looked ta me ta lead dem."

"What was your brother's name" Trouble asked sadly

"Dey called him chief, cause dats what he was. Da chief a his tribe. Brave, strong, and a born leahda"

"Well it must run in the family" Trouble said to Spot giving him a warm smile.

After they finished eating they sold the rest of their papes and then headed for the docks.

"Ya know you'se is a born preforma Trouble, da way you is so dramatic and you just got dis energy and you'se is just so entertainin, Your name is gonna be in lights one day." Spot said seriously looking over at Trouble.

"Well I am glad I entertain you Spot" Crazy looked up and smiled at Trouble giving a little laugh"

"I am serious Trouble. Can you'se for once not be a smart ass"

"Nope"

Spot shook his head and looked forward. Crazy stopped in front of the Lodging house;

"Hey guy I'm kinda tired so I'ma go lie down. You go to the docks with out me."

"You alright Crazy" Spot asked concerned

"Yeah I'm fine just tired" she said giving him a weak smile and turning and walking into the Lodging House.

Trouble and Spot started walking towards the dock.

"I wonda whats wrong wit Crazy" Spot asked.

Trouble sighed and rolled her eyes "I'll tell ya what's wrong with her. She is madly in love with you, and from what I have seen you'se in love with her too."

"She doesn't love me Trouble"

"A yes she does she told me. Why don't ya just ask her ta be your girl? I know you like her too"

"Cause it's dangerous. I have to many enemy's that would hurt her ta get ta me. I can't let her get hurt Trouble, not cause of me"

"You'se hurtin her anyways. It breaks her heart ta think about you and how much she longs ta be with you and can't. cause she thinks you don't care or that you could never love her because she is black." Spot looked at his feet. The thought of breaking Crazy's heart every day felt like someone stabbed his own heart. "You'se should tell her. Let her choose"

Spot looked at Trouble and nodded his head "I'll tawk ta ha, afta our lesson"

They two Newsies made their way onto the docks. The day was over cast and chilly. The Indian summer had finally died and October was only a couple of days away. The wind blew making Trouble's hair dance around her head and face.

"Tie your hair up" Spot told her giving her a piece of sting.

Trouble pulled her hair back and then stood in front of Spot ready for her lesson.

"Ok punch me"

Trouble looked shocked "Um are you sure"

"Just punch me" Spot said impatiently

"Alright you asked for it" Trouble pulled back her fist and thrust it as hard as she could at Spot's chest.

"Ok . . . that was terrible"

Trouble was surprised that Spot didn't even budge or flinch. She hit him with all her might and it was as if she had just poked him. Spot walked behind her and moved her fists and positioned them in a fighting like stance.

"Ok when you throw a punch don't pull your arm back so far it should go only about here" Spot was behind Trouble and he moved her arm in the correct motion for punching. "Ok now try again" Spot put his hand out for Trouble to hit. She copied the way Spot had shown her how to punch and hit him in the hand. "Ok betta. Do it again but this time faster and harder. Put force behind it" Spot put his hand out again. Trouble punched Spot the way he showed her how to but this time she put all of her strength behind it. She punched him but she accidentally missed his hand and almost hit him in the face. He ducked out of the way. Trouble put her hand over her mouth and bit her lip in embarrassment.

"Oops sorry Spot" She said smiling mischievously

"Again" he said putting his hand out "But this time aim" Trouble got ready and punched Spot in the hand with all her might and then brought her fist back to her body. Spot smiled "Alright that was good Trouble. Alright know I want you to use your left hand too and just keep punchin my hands" Trouble did as Spot instructed and throw punch after punch into his hands. After she had gotten really good at punching he then showed her how to upper cut. She practiced punching with Spot until sunset and then they called it a day and walked back to the Lodging House.

"You'se did real good Trouble. You surprised me. Ya learn really fast. It took Crazy a whole week ta loin everything you loined taday and to be as good as you got taday. Tomorrow I'll teach ya how ta block and duck"

Trouble smiled at Spot " Thanks Spot"

The two of them walked into the Lodging house and up the stairs. They walked into the bunk room and saw Crazy sitting on her bed petting Penny. Trouble smiled at Spot and nudged him forward. Spot walked over to Crazy and she looked up at him.

"Come take a walk with me" he said handing her his hand with a charming smile on his face. She took his hand silently following him out of the room. Crazy glanced over at Trouble giving her a questioning look. Trouble just smiled mischievously at her as she was lead out of the room, down the stairs, and on to the streets of Brooklyn.

Spot slowed his walk down and still had Crazy's hand in his.

"Crazy. . . Me whole life I always had ta be tough, fearless, and hard and that is how I have lived my life. I have soaked many a guys and I have been soaked many times, but neva once was I noirvous or scared. I can't remember a time I have eva been scared or noirvous. . . . dat is until I met you."

Crazy looked up questioningly and confused at Spot. The two reached the docks and walked onto them.

"Crazy that day that you'se got hoit in dat alley, da day we met Trouble, and I saw Boots dragin ya towards me, was the foist time in my life that I was scarred. I was scarred that you'se was hoit and it terrified me."

They had walked all the way to the end of the dock. The sun was setting into the river and the water was stained orange.

"Crazy you make me noirvious too. Around ya I become a noirvious wreck. What I am tryin ta say is dat I have neva felt the way I feels about you for anyone. . . Crazy."Crazy took her eyes off the sunset and gazed into Spots eyes. " Crazy I love ya" Crazy looked up at Spot wide eyed and in shock. "Crazy. . . from the minute I foist laid eyes on ya I loved ya, and it drived me crazy. . .and that's why I named ya Crazy" Spot gave a little chuckle; "I just am terrified Crazy. If I'se ask you ta be me goil it puts ya in danga. Ya see I got a lot of enemies and dey might try and hoit you ta get ta me and I don't want ta put you in dat kind of danga. . . cause if anyting eva happened ta ya I could neva forgive me self"

Crazy smiled at Spot and pulled his head down really close to hers; "Then I guess I can't ever leave your side so you can protect me and keep an eye on me" Trouble said pulling Spot down and kissing him softly. He kissed her back and a smile came across his lips as he kissed her back. They ended the kiss and smiled at each other " So what day a say Crazy, will ya be me goil" Spot asked with a cocked smile "Yes" she whispered pulling him into another kiss.

The couple walked back to the Lodging house hand in hand. They entered the bunk room and everyone looked up at them. Spot then turned towards Crazy and closed the space between them kissing her passionately. The bunk room broke out in cheers and clapping. After they ended their kiss Crazy looked over at Trouble and smiled. Watching Spot and Crazy made Trouble long for Mush. She missed him so much. Crazy walked over to Trouble and hugged her so hard it nearly knocked the breath right out of her.

"Trouble, you are the best friend in the whole world. . . I love you"

"I love you too Crazy" Trouble said smiling.

The next day after selling Trouble, Crazy, and Spot all went to the dock to teach Trouble how to fight. Spot told Trouble to punch into his hands just to see if she remembered and she did and it was perfect. Then he taught her how to block. Spot would throw some play punches at her so she could practice blocking. Penny didn't like Spot punching Trouble and kept barking at him and charging him. The dog would actually go in front of Trouble as if to block her from Spot. Spot started to get annoyed.

"Crazy can ya hold dat dog back cause it keeps getting in da way. . . tanks babe"

They continued until sunset and then called it a night. The next day Spot and Trouble continued practicing punching, blocking, and ducking. Spot would actually throw punches at Trouble. He would stop short of hitting her if she missed a block. Spot had great control when he fought. By the end of the session Trouble was blocking all his jabs and throwing hard punches. On Thursday Spot taught Trouble some fighting moves, maneuvers, and tricks. He also taught her how to kick. On Friday he taught her weak points and what to aim for to cause damage to her opponent. After that they practiced and practiced. The sun had been set for a good hour before they finally called it a day.

That night Trouble lay awake to excited to sleep for tomorrow Mush was coming to Brooklyn. Trouble really missed all the Manhattan boys but she longed to see Mush. She had only been a Newsie for a little less then a month but she had become so close to Mush that she didn't want to live with out him. She really did care about him so much and she just wanted to be near him. She didn't know how to be a friend, how to care, and most importantly how to love until she met Mush. She finally fell asleep a couple of hours after mid night.