Shot: Chapter Number Two for all of Spot's Past. Enjoy.

Shout outs

Fidget Conlon- Thanks for reviewing my story.  Glad you like it.  Now go right more Journey.

HOPS- Yes, yes.  But don't go spreading it around.  All will be revealed in this chapter.

Wild Card- I'm updating.  Glad you like it.  You will have more of a part in this chapter.  I think.

Dreamer Conlon- Glad you like it Moody.  You should have more of a part as well. If I remember correctly.

Britta- I hope it turns into a good story.  If not I might just cry. 

Kate Lawrence- Um, Kate, Jaede Lorelai Conlon is the person who lent me Cynic.  I'm glad you like the story though.  Unless are you and Jaede one and the same. Please continue reviewing.

Sparks Conlon- You didn't review but you told me what you thought.  Yes sooner or later you will appear in the story.  Later is most likely.

Disclaimer: The Newsie DVD and VHS and various pictures of Racetrack are all I own. The real Newsies belong to Disney.

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It would be a year before anything exciting happened to the NYJP again. Sneak Conlon had become an official member shortly after he started living there. He quickly rose to the rack of a pick, normally working with Sketch, Sureshot, and Loudmouth. Then one day, word came that over in Manhattan living with the newsies was an exceptional pickpocket by the name of Snitch. Sureshot and Sketch believed he would be a good addition to the NYJP. They sent Sneak and Cynic to go and try to convince him to join. The two walked to Manhattan in silence. They reached the Newsboy Lodge House, quickly knocked and walked in. A tall blonde with a black cowboy hat and a red bandana around his neck stood talking to an elderly gentleman. Cynic walked over to the boy, "You Snitch."

The boy looked at her, "Naw, he's upstairs. I'm Jack Kelly, the new leader here."

Cynic glared, "I'm going to go talk to him. Sneak, you stay here."

Sneak nodded, "Sure Cynic."

Cynic ran upstairs and disappeared around the corner. Jack walked over to Sneak. He stood a good couple inches almost a foot taller then him. He laughed, "Sneak, you look more like a spot to me."

Sneak pushed him, "Aw, shut up. What'd you say your name was? Jack? Hmm Jacky-boy."

Jack pushed him back, "Don't call me that."

The elder man stepped between them, "I don't care who, just one of you go outside and cool down."

Sneak turned to the door, "Stay Jacky-boy. Tell Cynic I'm outside."

Sneak stepped outside and nearly knocked over a short Italian in mismatched plaids. Sneak's hand automatically reached into the boy's pocket. He also felt a hand go into his own. The two stopped each other and spoke together, "You're trying to pick my pocket."

The Italian laughed, spit in his hand and stuck it out, "I'm Racetrack Higgins."

Sneak copied him, "Sneak Conlon," he let out a short laugh, "You're shorter then me."

Racetrack pulled back his hand, "So what," he looked him up and down, "So you a new newsie or what?"

Sneak shook his head, "Naw, I'm a member of the NYJP."

Race chuckled, "Dangerous work. You should try being a newsie, you can still pickpocket and you still get chased by the bulls but not as often.  They tend not to want to deal with us."

Sneak shrugged, "Maybe. I am tired of running from the bulls all the time. But I don't think Jacky-boy in there would want me."

Race shook his head, "We ain't got room anyway you're a tough guy, you'd be better off in Brooklyn. Sides they just lost they're leader over there and you're leader material. You're tough and you don't take crap from no one."

Sneak shrugged again, "Maybe."

Suddenly the LH door banged open and Cynic walked out, "Let's go Sneak."

Sneak waved to Racetrack and followed after Cynic. He quickly asked her, "What'd Snitch say?"

Cynic sneered, "He turned us down. Said we should become newsies or factory workers and make an honest living. Says all he does is occasional snitching of unwanted items. HA yeah right."

Cynic muttered to herself the whole way back to the NYJP house. When they reached the house, they saw a boy about 16 with an elfish face, blazing ice cold blue eyes, and hair such a light blonde it was almost white stood outside with three young boys about 6 years old.

Cynic looked him over, "You need something?"

The boy nodded, "The four of us ran away from the orphanage.  There were stories there about a girl and guy that ran away a few years ago and had a house in Brooklyn.  Is this it?  We really need a place to stay.  I'm Thrash by the way.  That's Shade, Two-bit, and Marbles."

Sneak walked past them inside.  He yelled back, "Sureshot is in here if you wanna talk to her."

The four boys trudged inside followed by Cynic.  Moody was sitting in the living room.  She looked at the boys, "We don't need anyone else so just leave now."

Ruhe poked her head around the corner, "Ignore her.  I'll get Mr. Harris and Sureshot for you," She yelled upstairs, "Christina, Mr. Harris.  We got new people here."

Mr. Harris and Christina came downstairs.  Mr. Harris looked at the boys, "Well, who do we have here?"

Thrash stepped forward, "I'm Thrash, that's Shade, Two-bit, and Marbles."

Mr. Harris' face tightened, "Do you have real names?"

Thrash shook his head, "No.  Well, we did but at the orphanage they went by nicknames and we forgot what our real names are."

Christina stepped forward, "I'm Sureshot Hunter.  The unwilling leader here.  We can give you a place to stay but you need to work with us.  We are the NYJP."

Thrash raised his eyebrow, "Unwilling leader?"

Sureshot shrugged, "Yeah never wanted it, they just sorta gave me the title.  I've always said that if someone else wanted it they can have it."

Thrash smirked, "I was leader over at the orphanage.  I loved it.  I'll take over."

Sureshot laughed, "It's yours."

Thrash smirked again, "First order of business, no more real names.  Everyone always goes by their nicks.  Second, everyone picks, no more lookouts or distractions.  Everyone picks.  Third, when I say everyone.  I mean everyone, that includes Shade, Marbles and Two-bit."

Sureshot shook her head, "You're nuts.  First, we go by real names for Mr. Harris' sake.  Second, we need lookouts and distractions.  Third, Shade, Marbles, and Two-bit are too young.  They're only six years old."

Thrash frowned and pulled out a black handled switchblade, "You got something you want to say Sureshot."

Sureshot sighed, "I guess not."

Sneak spoke up, "Sureshot, if you ain't leader no more, then I ain't a part of this no more.  I'm outta here."  He walked over to Sureshot and whispered in her ear, "If you ever need me I'll be a Brooklyn newsie."

Sureshot nodded her head and watched Sneak walk out the door.  Wild Card shouted out, "Wait, Sureshot, you're just going to let our best pick walk outta here."

Sureshot nodded, "Yeah I am.  It's his choice.  It's always been your separate choice on to stay or go."

Wild Card scoffed, "Then I'm leaving too."  She started to walk out the door only to feel Thrash hand grab her arm and swing her back. Everyone ran to her. 

Thrash shook his head, "No one leaves anymore without going through me first."

Meanwhile over inside Brooklyn

Sneak walked the streets of Brooklyn trying to find a newsie.  He finally spotted one about a block away from him.  He ran over to him.  The boy was obliviously Irish, he had wild red hair, freckles darted across his nose, and his bright emerald eyes shone with a kindness not always seen by those that live on the street.  Sneak walked up to him, "I want to be a newsie."

The boy looked at him, "Here in Brooklyn?  Think you can handle it?"

Sneak scoffed, "yeah I can handle it."  He suddenly pulled a move that he had seen the street boxers do.  He grabbed the boys arm, swung him up over his head and down onto the hard cobblestone street.

The boy stood up rubbing his head, "Yeah, you can handle it.  Names Red."

Sneak thought for a minute, "Names Spot Conlon.  Word is you need a new leader.  I'm looking for a group to lead."

Red looked at him, "Word?  Where'd you hear that from?"

Sneak, now Spot smirked, "I got birds.  They give me info that I need."

Red nodded, "Yeah. We need a new leader.  I'll introduce you to the rest of the newsies but they'll definitely take you in as leader."

The two walked the few blocks to the Brooklyn LH.  They walked in and a chorus of Hey, Hi, and Hello reached their ears.  A dark haired boy walked up to them,  "Hey Red, who's the shrimp?"

Red clapped the boy on the back, "Package, meet Spot Conlon.  Our new leader."

Package looked at Spot, "Can he handle himself in a fight?"

Red laughed, 'Package, whose the toughest fighter here?"

Package shrugged, "You are Red."

Red nodded, "Yep, and Spot here whooped me."

Package laughed and turned to the others in the LH, "Boys, we got ourselves a new leader.  Meet Spot Conlon."

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Shot:  Ok, I'm going to end it here for now.  I'm having a little contest.  For every review you give me I give you 5 points.  When you reach 10 points I give you the newsie of your choice for one whole week.  So if you reviewed chapter one then you already have five points.  Also if anyone can guess where I got Thrash's description from gets an automatic 10 points and their choice of any three newsies for a week.