Chapter 2
A/N - So Lilli is officially back in the past! How will she handle this?
"It's a goil!" a voice said.
"Whatssa mattah, Bat? Ain'tcha nevah seen a goil befoa?" another voice teased.
Lilli opened her eyes and saw two boys standing over her.
"Are youse awlright, miss?" one of them asked.
"Keep your dirty rotten hands offa me!" Lilli screamed as she tried to stand up. It was kinda hard considering she was dripping with water. She was on the docks.
Only…not.
Where were the fancy sailboats? All she saw around her was tugboats and crates.
"Who the fuck are you? Where am I?" she asked them. Lilli could see the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance, so she knew she was still in Brooklyn.
The boys around her were dressed in 1900's style clothing with newsboy caps on their heads and their accents were thick. Much thicker than hers. The boys' eyes went wide, like they'd never heard a girl use such language before.
Lilli crossed my arms over my chest and glared at them.
"Hey! 'er glare looks just like yers Spot!" one of them said.
"Yeah, she could be yer twin!"
Wait…
"Spot?!" Lilli yelled in shock.
A boy not much older than herself sauntered up to her, his hand on the cane near his waistband. He looked exactly like he did in her grandmother's picture.
This couldn't be happening.
Lilli felt her legs give out and Spot caught her.
He picked her up in his arms before turning to the boys. "Don't youse have woik ta do?" he snapped. Spot carried her to the Lodging House, past a very worried Blue. "I'se got 'er", he told her. He took her to the sick room and laid her on the bed.
Lilli looked up at her ancestor.
"Where did youse come from?" he asked, "Wese had ta fish ya outta da rivah".
"I'm from here", she told him.
"Youse sound like a Brookie, but I'se ain't nevah seen youse 'round heah befoa. Was youse tryin' ta kill yoaself?"
"No!"
Spot chuckled. "Youse got fiah, kid. I'se give ya dat. Ya got a name?"
"Lilli".
"Well, ya ain't no delicate flowah, dat's foa suah".
"And what? Are you a dog or somethin'?" Lilli asked him, glaring up at him.
"I'se tink wese gonna cawl youse Tempah. Blue, youse can come in now".
The girl from before came into the room holding clothes.
"Dis heah's me goil, Blue. She's gonna clean ya up befoa da boys see ya", Spot said. He pecked her on the lips and then left the room.
Blue was pretty with long blonde hair and huge blue eyes. So this was the girl who refused to look at any other man besides Spot.
Lilli admired her already.
"Dese are some 'a Spot's old clothes. Youse are 'bout da same height", Blue said. Blue helped her out of her soaked clothes and placed them on the heater to dry them.
As Lilli dressed, she noticed how Blue kept touching her stomach. "You're pregnant", Lilli said.
Blue turned to her, embarrassed. "Yeah. Don't tell Spot. I'se don't wanna tell 'im yet".
Lilli nodded at her ancestor.
"Now come on. Da boys will be wantin' ta meet youse. Dey's should be back from sellin' now", Blue said, taking her hand.
They went into the bunkroom where the Brooklyn newsies sat.
"Now, listen up! Dis heah's our new newsie Tempah! Bat, Bolt, and I'se fished 'er outta da rivah", Spot said.
"Whatssa mattah? Can't she swim?" one of them asked.
"Shut-up before I knock yer lights out!" Lilli yelled at him.
"Oh yeah, she's a born and bred Brookie!" another one said.
"Off ta bed wid ya bummah's!" Spot yelled and the boys started getting ready for bed.
"Wait. Where am I gonna sleep?" Lilli asked.
"Oh, dere's an extra room in da attic", Blue told her. She walked over to Spot and pecked him on the lips.
"G'night doll", he told her.
"G'night Spot", Blue said, before taking Lilli's hand and leading her up to the attic.
"So you and Spot don't…share a bed?" Lilli asked.
"Oh, no, wese normally do, but wese tought dat youse might feel moa comfortable if youse spent yer foist few nights wid me", Blue explained, "Just until youse adjust".
Wow, so Spot was actually a gentleman underneath all the bravado.
Lilli could see how Blue had fallen for him.
"Well, g'night Tempah", Blue said.
"Good night Blue".