Spot sat down heavily on a bunk. The Manhattan newsies had all quickly gathered and wanted an explaination. He leaned back, thinking the whole situation was ridiculous. For the past hour Race had yelled at him, and Jack wasn't looking to pleased either. At last he stood up, his patience gone.

"Jist shut up Race," he said in a cold, flat voice. Race became even more outraged, if possible. He began to yell some more, only to be intrupted once more.

"Jist shut up!" Spot finally yelled. He swung at him and hit Race in the stomach. Race doubled over in pain. Spot's mind became a little clearer. "Jonathon was comin' up da stairs. Her bruddah. 'e can' find out where she is. Dere wasn't any time da get outtah heah, so I did da only t'ing dat I could t'ink of ta keep 'im from finding out it was 'er. It woiked too. Now, I have ta get ta Little Italy an' tell ah friend ah mine dat we won't be der aftah all." His footsteps were the only sound in the room as he walked out and slammed the door behind him. No one said anything for a good while after that, until Mush spoke.

"Nice goin' Race. Next time why don'cha jist accuse Cowboy ah moidah an' call da bulls on 'im?" Race glared back at Mush but didn't reply. Mush stood up. "I'se goin' ta find 'er." Jack stopped him.

"No, I should go. You'se stay heah." He got up and walked out.

Raindrop wandered listlessly through Manhattan. At last she reached a park and curled up on a bench, to think. Her thoughts danced through her head, barely pausing before new ones entered. She felt dizzy. At last she forced herself to start at the beginning.

Foist I was jist glad ta see Spot, but den 'e told me Jonathon was downstairs and I was scared. Den when we hoid 'im comin' I'se more scared den I'se evah been before, like it didn' mattah what anyone did ta try an' stop 'im, dat 'e was gonna hoit me more den I could evah imagine an' dat dere wasn' no one who could do anyt'in' about dat. But den Spot said fer me ta trust 'im. I didn' really dough. I jist said I did. An' den 'e got dat grin on 'is face...I'se nevah seen 'im look like dat b'fore. Like 'e was a wolf 'r sumpt'in' about ta kill an' animal. 'r dat 'e knew sumpt'in' dat I didn' an' t'ought it was funny. 'e looked dangerous. An' den when 'e started kissin' me...I didn' even have time ta t'ink, I jist reacted. But when 'e did it again...I ain't nevah felt like dat before. I was still scared an' surprised an' all, but dat all faded under dat incredible feelin'. Felt like I'se flyin' 'r sumpt'in', an' der wasn't nuttin' in da woild dat could bring me down. An' Spot...I guess wit all dose goils aftah 'im 'e's gotton real good at kissin'. Real good. 'e knew exactly what 'e's doin'. Felt like 'e jist wanted to stand der like ferevah. An' den Race walked in an' ruined all ah it. 'e's been 'orrible lately, but dis was da last straw. But dat wasn' what hoit me, it was Spot tellin' Race dat it was jist nuthin'. Dat 'im kissin' me meant nuthin' ta 'im. I ain't even got Spot ta be mad at fer it. T'inkin' it meant anyt'in' was all my idea, 'e was jist helpin' me out. I'se been a total fool, an' I ain't got no one ta blame fer it 'r nuthin'. 'Cept...'cept if it didn' mean nuthin' ta 'im, an' I mean nuthin' ta 'im like dat, den 'e shouldn' ah kissed me like 'e did. But now I'se made an' idiot of meself, an' I ain't got no excuse. Plus, now I'se got ta worry about Jonathon findin' me. She lay her head on her knees and silently cried.

Jack walked quickly through Manhattan, looking all over the place for short, dark-haired girl. At last he saw her on a park bench. He walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped and then raised her head. A look of startlement soon replaced relief. Her eyes were red and her cheeks stained with tears.

"Heya Jack," she said quietly. He sat down next to her, very concerned.

"Raindrop, are you'se awright?" he asked. She looked at him for a moment, searching his eyes. She lay her head down again and continued watching him. At last she nodded. "Ya shoah?" Jack questioned. She nodded again, quickly. Jack tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear and smiled softly. "Ya know ya kin tell me anyt'in', if ya need to. Is der anyt'in' I kin do fer ya?" She thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Yeah," she said slowly, "I don' wanna be by meself evah...not wit Jonathon in New Yawk. An'..." she said and then hesitated.

"Go on," Jack told her.

"I don' wanna go back ta Brooklyn. Not fer a long time. An' I don' wanna see no one from Brooklyn eiddah." Jack smiled.

"Is dat all? I woulda t'augh a goil like you'se woulda wanted sumpt'in' impossible." He stood, and pulled her to her feet. "Yer wish is my command," he told her. "We ain't gonna let no one hoit you'se anymoah." His face was sober, and he hugged her. "It's gonna be awright Raindrop. I'se promisin' you'se dat." Suddenly she started squirmming.

"Jack, lemme go! Lemme go, I feel like I'se jist a liddle kid 'r something!" she cried though her laughter. Jack grinnned and released her. They walked back to the Lodging House exchanging jokes and laughing. Jack didn't say anything concerning his questions about what was going on between her and Spot.

Spot managed to walk to Little Italy without having to address the hundreds of questions racing though his mind. He reached Pierre's and waited till Pierre walked up to him.

"Buon giorno, young friend. Where is Miss Lissa? She was coming, no?" Spot sighed and sat down, motioning for Pierre to join him.

"I went ta go get 'er at da Lodgin' 'ouse, but dat bruddah of 'ers was followin' me. I went in an' we was goin' ta go out da fiah escape, but 'e was comin' up too, an' dere wasn't time. An' I had ta do sumpt'in', I mean, I couldn't jist let 'im find 'er. So I did da foist t'ing dat came ta mind." He stopped here, and Pierre encouraged him to continue.

"What did you do? Did you fight this boy?" Spot shook his head.

"No. Dat wouldn' ah done any good. I couldn' let 'im find out she was dere even. So I kissed 'er. It woiked too. But den Racetrack, dis uddah newsies dat ain't too fond ah me came in an' saw us. 'e was real angry, an' was about to start fightin'. Coise I woulda hoit 'im real bad, but dat ain't da point. So den Raindrop told 'im off an' everyt'in', an' den I said I'se leavin', an' I asked 'er if she's comin' wit me, an' she said she's leavin', but not wit me, and den she walked out. I was dere fer awhile latah wit Jacky-boy an' Race real upset, but finally I jist left." Pierre nodded slowly.

"Is that all that was said?" he asked. Spot shrugged.

"I told Race dat I jist did dat ta keep Raindrop safe from 'er bruddah an' dat it didn' mean nuthin'." Pierre suddenly started shaking his head.

"Did you say this while she was there?" Spot looked at him.

"Some of it, yeah. Why?" Pierre looked at him.

"My young, naive friend...Miss Lissa left because you said that." Spot looked confused.

"But dat was why I did it. We both knew it." Pierre shrugged.

"Yes, she knew it. But maybe it still meant something more to her. Maybe you mean something more to her. Have you ever thought of that? Have you ever thought about how you feel about her?" Spot looked down and half-smiled.

"Pierre, you have no idea. She is the most incredible, amazing girl I have ever met. Sending her back to Manhattan was one of da hardest t'ings I've done." Pierre nodded.

"And I suspect very much she feels the same way. But you must remember. She has not lived on the streets her whole life, as you have. And I am quite sure she has never met anyone like you before. You must be careful. If you want her, you've got to show her. Just do not scare her...give her some time." Spot nodded slowly.

"I'se gonna go tawk ta 'er." Pierre smiled.

"You will be fine. There is nothing I have not seen you make through yet." Spot stood up.

"T'anks Pierre." He turned and walked back to Manhattan.

Spot walked into the Manhattan Lodging House and went up the stairs to the bunk room. The door was open and the newsies were lounging around the room. Skittery, Pie Eater, Snoddy, Dutchy, and Bumlets were engaged in a game of poker. Jack lay on his bunk looking at a booklet about Santa Fe. Boots, and Snipeshooter were sitting on a bunk playing with their money, and Kid Blink lay on his bunk drawing. Mush was sitting on the fire esape outside the open window. Race was sulking in a corner. The minute Spot walked in everyone looked at him. Jack stood up and walked over to him.

"Ya need sumpthin', Spot?" he asked.

"I need ta tawk ta Raindrop," Spot replied. Jack shook his head.

"No can do," he told Spot. Spot gave him a look.

"Well den where is she? I have ta tawk ta 'er." Jack shook his head again.

"Lemme explain. Raindrop ain't gone no where, she's washin' up. But she made it very cleah dat she don't wanna see you'se 'r anyone else from Brooklyn. Least ways fer now. So I can't let'cha see 'r." Spot was outraged. He glared at Jack with cold eyes, glittering dangerously. In a moment he turned and walked out of the room and back to Brooklyn.

A few minutes after he left Raindrop came back into the bunk room. It was unsually quiet. She looked around and then looked at Blink.

"What's going on?" she asked. Jack answered for him.

"Spot was here. 'e wanted ta see you'se. I told 'im ya weren't int'rested." Raindrop nodded.

"Awright, Jack. T'anks." She walked to her bunk and lay down. After awhile the Lodging House quieted, as the newsies went to bed. Raindrop lay awake for a long time, trying to sleep. At last she gave up, and turned her thoughts to what she knew was keeping her awake.

Yer sucha fool. She told herself. Ya got what ya wanted, didn'cha? Ya told Jacky-boy ya didn' wanna see 'im, an' 'e did what ya ast. She rolled over and sighed. But dat ain't da t'ing. You'se jist can' decide what ya want. Cain't make up yer mind. She sighed again. Naw, dat ain't it. Ya know what ya want, ya jist can't have it, and ya don' know how ta handle dat. Ya love 'im. Ya know ya do. But dere ain't nuthin' you'se kin do ta change anyt'in'. An' ya can't face 'im. Not after 'im kissin' you'se. Ya feel like a fool, t'inkin' 'e might like ya back. 'e don' an' ya might as well jist ferget ya evah met 'im. Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. At last Raindrop fell asleep.