Spot walked quickly back to Brooklyn, avoiding the areas of Manhattan he knew Jack's newsies most often sold at. After awhile he arrived back the pier. About half of his newsies were hanging around, or swimming. He climbed on top of his usual crate, and surveyed the view. Things were pretty much the same as they always were. Tricks walked up to Spot.

"Hey!" he grinned, "Good ta see ya back. Nuthin' much 'appened while you'se was gone." Spot nodded dismissively, his mind on other matters. Tricks shook his head as he walked away. Frequently when something would bother Spot a lot he'd disappear, and he wouldn't come back until he'd figured out what to do. It usually took a day or two. Never a whole week. And he never came back without a solution. Tricks shrugged to himself.

It's not like I can say anything to him. He silently reminded himself.

Spot watched Tricks walk away. It was pretty obvious Tricks knew something was up. Spot sighed.

Der ain't nothin' I kin do 'bout it. Raindrop pro'ly hates me by now. I wanna jist git on wit life, but I kain't stop t'inkin' about 'er. She's always der·in me mind. Like I kain't git rid of 'er. Not dat I wanna. I jist·he sighed again. I love 'er an' I kain't stand not bein' wit 'er. Dat's all der is to it. I always have, an' I always will. Suddenly Spot grinned, and laughed to himself. What 're ya goin' off da deep end heah? Yer Spot Conlon! If ya wanna goil, den ya git 'er, no mattah who she is. An' if for some fool reason she don' wan' you'se, den you'se make love ya. Dat's jist da way it is. Spot jumped off the crate and walked to the Distribution Center and sold some papes. Then he sent word to newsies all over New York, telling them to come to a poker game in Brooklyn that night.

The Brooklyn Lodging House was filled with newsies that night. They came from all over New York. No one left unless they had already lost, and many remained to cheer on fellow newsies. Spot was having a lucky night and was on top of the world. All of his friends were there and he not much could have made him happier, spending the night with a bunch of rowdy newsies playing poker. Only four newsies he expected weren't there. Spot questioned Jack about it when Manhattan first arrived.

"Heya, Jacky-boy, where's da rest o' dem?" he asked.

"Dem who?" Jack replied blankly. Then it dawned on him. "Oh, ya mean Race, 'n' much, 'n' Blink an' all? Dey said dey's stayin' at da Lodgin' House fer some reason. Wit Raindrop ah coise." He frowned. "Dey was real vague 'bout what dey's doin'·I shoah hope dey ain't gittin' in trouble." Spot nodded, particuarlly disappointed Raindrop didn't come, but didn't bring it up again.

Meanwhile, Raindrop, Blink, and Race were sneaking out of the Lodging House. They climbed out of the window and snuck down the fire escape. It was against one of Kloppman's most enforced rules: No leaving the Lodging House after the 10 o'clock curfew. Naturally he excused the boys going to the poker game in Brooklyn, Kloppman always had exceptions. But he made it clear that anyone who wasn't going had to be in by curfew, and that everyone who did claim to be at the poker game had better actually be there. But that night Raindrop, Mush, Blink, and Race had other plans.

They reached the street and ran through the alleys and back ways until they were blocks away from the Lodging House.

"What now?" Raindrop asked. Blink grinned.

"Whatevah ya want. Der's a couple t'ings I'se wantin' ta do, and I guess it's da same wit da rest o' you'se·?" Race laughed.

"Ya bettah believe it!" Mush nodded and asked, "Awright den, what foist?" Raindrop grabbed Mush's and Race's hands.

"Fellahs, der's sumpt'in' I'se always wanted ta do. D'ya t'ink we kin go ta Central Pawk?" Blink grinned.

"And do what?" A sly grin covered Raindrop's face.

"Well·ya evah played Lake?" They shook their heads. "Ya go fin' a lake 'r sumpt'in'. Den you'se an' a bunch o' you'se buddies start fightin', an' da last one left outta da the lake wins."

"You mean push each other in?" Race asked incredulously.

"Yup," Raindrop replied. He grinned.

"I like it."

They went to Central Park and began what was the hugest water fight they had ever had. Mush was the first to fall in, and after he got back out he worked on shoving Kid Blink in. Just as Blink fell he grabbed onto Raindrop and Race and pulled them in after him. After they had spent a good while getting wet (and somewhat cold) they went to a theater Race knew of in MidTown. That night, "The Phantom Of the Opera" was playing at the Fox Theater. While they all warmed up and their clothes got dry, hiding in a balcony, Race made imitations of the actors on the stage. They arrive in the middle of the first Act, and they decided they'd had enough by the time intermission came.

"If dat's cultuah, den I'se ain't int'rested," said Blink.

After that they went to Sheepshead Races on Racetrack's request. There, he sat in one of the nice, fancy boxes reserved for the richest betters. Blink and Mush imitated horses and raced each other around the track, while Raindrop covered the progess of the race over the megaphone for all who would listen. Which was about three people. Well, one person and two horses. After playing Race had won it big they went back to the Lodging House and crept up the fire escape to the roof. There they lay on their backs and gazed up at the starry, cloudless sky.

"D'ya evah wonder what da stars 're?" Mush asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"When I was liddle I always t'ought dey's liddle fireflies dat flew too high an' got stuck," laughed Race.

"Me muddah always said dey was angels watchin' ovah us·dat da foist one ya see is yer angel, an' it always glows 'specially bright ta you'se," said Raindrop wistfully. Blink nodded.

"Da nuns at da orphange said dey was our family dat had died an' dey were watchin' ovah us." He moved around a bit. "But I nevah t'ought much o' dat." Raindrop looked at him.

"Why not?" she asked. Blink shrugged.

"A bunch of dead people watchin' me jist don't seem noimal. 'Sides it ain't like dat'd do me any good. Raddah have me fam'ly wit me." Mush frowned.

"I know what dat's like·" The others nodded in agreement. Then Raindrop spoke.

"But t'ings 'r bettah dis way. Git ta do whatevah we want, an' if we weren't newsies den we wouldn' be frien's."

"Now der's a point," Race agreed. They lay on the roof for awhile more. Finally Blink sat up.

"C'mon, if we's gonna fall asleep we outta be in bed at least." Race and Mush slowly sat up and stood. Race laughed and nudged Mush.

"Look at Raindrop. Fell right alseep." The all laughed, and Blink shook her.

"C'mon Raindrop, wake up," he said. She shifted and woke.

"Sleepy?" Mush laughed, "Let's go ta bed, awright?" She stood up slowly and they walked down the fire escape to the open window and climbed in. They flopped down on the first bunk they reached and promptly fell asleep in a pile.

Around five in the morning Jack and most of the rest of the newsies were coming back to the Lodging House to change clothes and get ready for another day of selling. They walked in and looked at the four newsies who were left behind in shock.

"What's been goin' on heah?" Jack asked. Raindrop, Mush, Blink, and Race slowly woke up.

"What d'ya mean?" Blink asked sleepily. Jack laughed.

"Da place ain't a mess, you'se all look like ya slept in wet clothes, an' we come in an' find you'se all still sleepin', all in one bunk. Ya goin' 'splain?" The four stood in group uncomfortably.

"Well·" Blink said slowly, "No."

"No?" Jack questioned, raising his eyebrows. They shook their heads.

"No." Jack frowned, but didn't push it.

"Alright. If da what ya want."

"It is," confirmed Race. The three walked out of the room grining and went to the Distribution Center to get their papes. Jack watched them walk out and laughed.

"I shoah hope dey weren't in too much trouble last night."