Raindrop woke up early, before even Kloppman was up. She dressed and leaned back against the wall her bunk was next to.

I wonder what dis is gonna be like...nevah been a newsie before...nevah really payed much attention ta newsies till I met Jack 'n' Race...but den, da sellin'll be easy. Mush an' Blink, an' Race 're all real good, an' dey'll make shoah I knows evert'in'...but dis Spot Conlon. 'e sounds dangoirous...maybe I kin talk Jack outta dat part. Ain't like I'se goin' anywhere wit out one ah me boys anyhow...dey'll poitect me. On da uddah hand, I don' wanna be helpless, cause I am a newsie, and newsies have ta fight sometimes. Still don' wanna go ta Brooklyn though. Blink could teach me ta fight. Dey all could...but what about Jonathon? 'e's gonna be mad when 'e finds out I left. Mad enough ta kill? Maybe. Hoit me at least, I'se sure. Blink yawned and rolled over. In a minute he sat up and saw Raindrop. He sleepily walked over to her and sat down.

"Ya look like Spot, in 'is clothes, wit dat frown. What youse doin' up dis oily?" he asked. She shrugged.

"Jist t'inkin'...about bein' a newise. An' about dis Spot." She frowned.

"I don' like dat sound of 'im." Blink smiled.

"Ya know," he said, "Spot's not as bad as ya seem ta t'ink. Really." Raindrop raised her eyebrows.

"Oh? Da t'ree ah youse were pretty against me goin' ta Brooklyn yestahday, awright." Blink shrugged.

"Well, lemme 'splain ta ya. Ya see, da Brooklyn newsies is real tough. Dey fight a lot an', dey're kinda like demons, like Race said. Ya don' wanna be in a big fight wit'out dem on yer side, an' ya nevah wanna have dem on da uddah side. Now, Spot's deir leadah. 'e's jist like da rest ah dem, only tougher. 'e taught all da rest ah dem. 'e's also a real nice guy too, so long as ya don' cross 'im." Raindrop interupted.

"So den what's bad about me goin'?" Blink laughed.

"I'se gettin' ta dat. Ya see, Spot kin be a real lady's man. Ta tell da truth, 'e's got halfa New Yawk's goils aftah him, an' da uddahs 're terrified ah 'im. Now, coise, we knows ya ain't silly 'r scared, eiddah one, but dat's don' mean Spot won' get no ideas, ya understan'? Since you'se real poitty an' all." He grinned. Raindrop nodded.

"Yeah, I understan'." She frowned. "Don' make me wanna go ta Brooklyn any more dan I did. Jist less." Blink laughed.

"Aw, you'se gonna be jist fine. 'r Spot'll have t'ree very angry newsies ta answer to." By now Kloppman was walking up the stairs. The few newsies who had just been waking up dived back under their covers. One of their daily rituals, Raindrop had discovered, was that whether they were really awake or not, all the newsies purposely made Kloppman's job harder by making him wake them all up. Finally everyone was up and they all walked to the Distribution Office. Raindrop got in line after Jack, and Race, Blink, and Mush stood behind her. Jack handed her a dime and told her to get twenty papes. Then he stood back to watch. She walked up to the desk and slammed her dime on the counter.

"Twenty papes!" she said, and tried to glare at the fat man named Weasel like Jack had. Morris grabbed her papes and looked at her.

"Hey, you'se real poitty...what's yer name?" Blink stepped up behind her.

"I don' t'ink so Morris. She's me goil." Mush and Race stood on either side of her.

'Mine too," Race said.

"An' mine," Mush added. Morris looked at them.

"She's awright, but she ain't dat good loikin'!" he said, not understanding what the three had meant. They all laughed, and Raindrop joined Jack, with her papes. Jack grabbed the arm of a tall boy and a younger boy walking next to him.

"Hey, Dave, I'se goin' wit Raindrop today, teachin' 'er ta sell. Awright?" David nodded, having briefly met Raindrop at Tibby's. Raindrop waved back at Race as she and Jack left.

"Da foist t'ing ya gotta know is dat headlines don' sell papes, newsies sell papes. It don' mattah what da headline is. Good headlines jist make da job easier." He pointed at one concerning the Mayor.

"See dis? No one would be in'trested in dat headline. But if ya improve it a bit...like...got it." He held up a paper and began yelling a headline to the people in the streets.

"MAYOR IS SEEN WIT YOUNG GOIL AFTAH DARK! WIFE IS T'INKIN' ABOUT DIVOICE! HUGE SCANDEL!" Jack smiled and thanked several people for buying a pape. Raindrop grinnned. The pape read 'Mayor's Niece Arrived For A Visit'. She nodded at Jack and walked down the street a ways to sell her own. A few hours later she sold her last pape, and went looking for Jack. Instead, she found Itey, who told her there were probably some newsies at Tibby's and everyone else would be there as soon as they were done. The only people at Tibby's were a few real costumers, and Snipeshooter and Boots. She joined them, and they told her about some of the stuff they did during the day, considering how early they finished with their papes. After awhile they went to Central Park and made towns with sticks and rocks. Once tired of that they threw rocks in the pond and other various things. Snoddy walked up to them and picked up Snipeshooter and Boots by their shirts.

"Well...what do we have heah? Two little watah rats?" He grinned. Raindrop looked at them curiously, but Snipeshooter and Boots refused to look at her, clearly not wishing to discuss it. Snoddy let go of them and they all headed to Tibby's. Snoddy hung back and whispered to Raindrop.

"Last year they fell in the pond while they were goofing around. Pie Eater found them and made them go to Tibby's before changing. They swore they'd never go back, but I still find them here pretty often." Raindrop laughed. They walked into Tibby's and were greeted by a loud chorus. Raindrop walked to the table Jack and Race were sitting at and sat down by Race. Soon Kid Blink joined the group. After dinner they headed back to the Lodging House. Inside, sitting on Kloppman's counter was a boy Raindrop had never seen before. Jack stood next to him talking like olds friends. As did most of the newsies. Raindrop turned to Kid Blink.

"Who's dat? Should I recognise 'im?" Blink laughed.

"Dat would be da infamous Spot Conlon." Raindrop looked at the thin and somewhat short boy. After her initial shock wore off she burst out laughing. Almost everyone in the room looked at her. She turned red and tried to stop laughing, only succeeding in coughing.

"I'se goin' upstairs," she mananged to choke out. Blink followed her, shrugging when Jack looked at him. Awhile after the rest of the newsies came upstairs, leaving Jack and Spot to talk by themselves. Jack pulled Race aside before he left.

"Tell Raindrop ta get ready. I'm sendin' 'er back ta Brooklyn wit Spot. Tonight." Race looked at Jack in surprise.

"Awready?!" Jack nodded. Race went upstairs and Jack went back to talk to Spot.

"So Spot, what're ya heah fer?" Jack asked. Spot looked at him.

"Boy came inta me Lodgin' House last night. 'Bout fifteen, I'd guess. Real nutcase. 'e's killed before, too. Not long ag eiddah, I imgaine. 'e's loikin' fer a goil, Lissa Allen. Keep an eye out fer dis kid, 'e's real wacko." Jack nodded.

'e's talking about dat bruddah ah Raindrop's!

"Awright, t'ank's Spot. Now, wouldja do me a favah?" Spot raised his eyebrows.

"What do you want, Jacky-boy?"

"Well," Jack said, "I'se gotta a new newsie. Doesn't know anyt'ing about fighting. I don' want ta risk gettin' dis kid hoit. Will ya help me out heah?" Spot laughed.

"Is dat all Jack? Dat's fine." Jack grinned.

"Good. Now c'mon." They jumped off the counter and walked upstairs.

Raindrop, shoved her dress in the bag Blink had given her and a few other things she had aquired since she met the newsies, including the pape Boots gave her, and put the cap Jack had given her the night before on her head. Blink and Race pulled her into the washroom, giving her last minute advice and such before she left. At last they finished and they got ready to say goodbye.

"How long d'ya t'ink I'll be dere?" she asked. Blink shrugged.

"Hard ta tell," he said, "At least a month, I'd guess." Raindrop looked at him in shock. Race laughed.

"Don' worry, we's planning on visitin'." Raindrop smiled half-heartedly.

"I feel sick," she admitted, "I don' like dis Spot Conlon." Race turned the faucet on in a sink and flicked some water at her. Raindrop turned slowly back at him.

"You'se are so gonna pay fer dat." Blink pulled her back around.

"Latah, Raindrop. Ya gotta meet 'is royal high 'n' mighty now." Raindrop sighed and walked out of the washroom between Blink and Race, clutching their hands. Everyone looked up when they came back out. Jack grinned.

"Raindrop, dis is Spot Conlon. Spot, dis is Raindrop. She's our newest newsie, and da one you'se gonna teach ta fight." Spot looked at Jack.

"You didn' tell me I was teachin' a goil."

"Look Spot, don' be difficult. If we could teach 'er well enough ourselves, we would. You know as well as I do, it ain't gonna be safe fer 'er, an' she needs ta be real good." Spot sighed.

"Awright. Need somet'in' new ta do anyhow. Well c'mon Raindrop. Time ta be goin'." She looked at Jack.

"But Mush ain't back yet. I can't go wit out sayin' goodbye ta 'im." Jack frowned.

"Ya may have to Rain. Takes awhile ta git back ta Brooklyn." Blink squeezed her hand.

"We'll tell 'im fer ya. Which reminds me. Spot, me 'n' Race need ta talk ta youse." The three moved over to a corner.

"What is it, boys?" Spot asked. Blink looked at him.

"Well, it's like dis Spot. Raindrop's real special to us, and we don't want you foolin' wit 'er." Spot nodded.

"Awright. If dat's what ya want," He smirked. "I won't try anyt'in' if she don' agree." Race shrugged.

"I don't t'ink we're gonna do much better den dat," he said. Blink sighed.

"Yer probably right." Spot smirked again.

"Of coise 'e is." Blink paused.

"An' we's gonna be vistin' 'er." Spot shrugged.

"What ya do on her time ain't me business, jist not durin' da day. Dat's my time." Race nodded.

"Awright." Spot walked over to Raindrop.

"Time ta go," he said. She nodded slowly and picked up her bag. She grinned at the newsies.

"See alla you'se latah." She walked to Race and Blink and hugged both of them. She grinned at Race.

"Next time ya throw some ah dat watah me I'se gonna soak ya so bad...an' I ain't talkin' wet." She turned to Spot.

"Awright. I'se ready," she said. They silently walked out of the Lodging House and into the street that was already beginning to get dark. Spot finally spoke.

"Tamorrah I got stuff ta do. Aftah dat we'll start." Raindrop looked at him.

"What am I supposed ta do tamorrah den?" Spot shrugged.

"I'll have one ah me boys git'cha a slingshot and start teachin' ya how ta use it." In awhile they crossed Brooklyn Bridge, and entered a building near the docks. By that time it had been dark for awhile. Everyone inside looked up as they entered. Several boys whistled.

"Hey Spot, goin' ta bed oily?" Spot glared at the speaker.

"Fellahs, dis is Raindrop. She's ah friend ah Jack's. 'e walked me ta teach 'er ta fight. An' if I fin' out one ah ya tried somet'in'..." he trailed off, letting them envision dozens of possible tortures and deaths. Spot walked into a little room off the main one, motioning for Raindrop to follow. Inside was a table, chair, kerosene lamp, small chest, and a set of bunk beds. He pointed to lower bunk.

"You'll be sleepin' der. I don' trust dem out der. You kin out yer stuff undah da bed." Raindrop nodded.

"I'se gonna go ta sleep now, awright." Spot looked at her.

"Awright. T'ink I'se gonna join ya in a minute." He walked out of the room for a bit. Raindrop watched him leave and then took her cap, shoes, and socks off, and put them in her bag, which she put under the bed. She was just climbing under the covers when Spot walked back in. He eyed for a moment.

"Dat's what yer wearin'?" Raindrop looked back at him.

"What d'ya t'ink I'se gonna wear?" Spot thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Well, g'night." Raindrop nodded.

"Yeah...g'night." She lay down and watched him for awhile before falling asleep. He tossed his cap and slingshot on the table, and leaned his cane again the wall. He took off his socks and shoes, shirt, and his undershirt and climbed to the top bunk. He lay awake for awhile afterwards.

So Jack wants me ta teach dis goil...seems awright...got some sense at least...real bothahed by sump'tin'...some ah dem boys is awful protective of 'er...don' blame 'em, her boin' so poitty...don' act too glad ta be 'ere dough.... He grinned to himself. Wondah what e'actly dey told 'er.

Spot woke up early and got dressed. Raindrop was still asleep. He leaned over her and shook her.

"C'mon, time ta git up." She sat up and began putting her shoes and socks on. When she was ready she stood up. Spot looked at her and then back to himself.

"Where'd ya git dose clothes?" he asked. She looked at herself.

"Actually, dey's yer's. Da ones dat you'se left at Manhattan." Spot was silent for a minute and then spoke.

"Look good on ya." He turned and walked out the door. Raindrop followed him to their circulation office. He grabbed a newsie and sent him over to her along with his slingshot, then got his papes and walked off. The newsie walked up to her.

"Hi, I'se Tricks. Spot wants me ta teach ya ta use ah slingshot." He handed her Spot's slingshot.

"I'se Raindrop." she said. Tricks laughed.

"I know. All ah Brooklyn knows, an' dey's all talkin' about ya. At least, dey's talkin' about why Spot evah brought ya heah." Raindrop raised an eyebrow, but Tricks didn't say anything else. He took her to an alley and they spent the morning practicing with their slingshots. During which they also got to know each other pretty well and became close friends. This was kept up for nearly a week. Spot rarely talked to Raindrop. During that first week she meet most of the Brooklyn newsies and learned to use the slingshot like an expert, thanks to Tricks. Every day she sold papes in the moring and practiced her aim in the afternoon, and silently cried herself to sleep every night missing her parents and Beverly, and hating Jonathon and Winston. Bit by bit her heart slowly healed and she began to like Brooklyn. She and Tricks had become close friends. One afternoon Tricks bought some food from a street shop and they went to the docks for lunch. They were sitting next to some crates talking when Spot looked up.

"T'anks Tricks, ya kin go sell yer papes now." Tricks didn't look pleased but he also didn't say anything. Once he was gone Spot sat down.

"Ya any good wit dat t'ing?" he asked, pointing to the slingshot beside Raindrop. She picked it up and broke a bottle a couple yards away. She tossed it down again and resumed eating.

"I'se okay." Spot laughed.

"Say yer okay..." he said shaking his head, "Goil, yer one ah da quickest I'se seen at loinin' dat." She shrugged.

"I ain't stupid," she said bitterly. Spot looked at her, frowning.

"Who told ya dat ya were?" She shrugged again.

"Me bruddah...and me sistah's 'usband. Dat's part ah why I left," She sighed. "Me bruddah'd kill me if 'e found me evah again."

"Sounds a lot like a real joik ta me," Spot said. Raindrop nodded.

"'e was." They sat silently for awhile.

"Well, come on," Spot finally said, "I'se gonna show ya around Brooklyn a bit so's ya won't git lost so easy." Raindrop rolled her eyes.

"I'se been heah a week. I'se gotta pretty good idea ah where places is." Spot looked at her, frowning, daring her to object again. She didn't. They stood up and began walking, each thinking to their self. Raindrop looked at Spot thoughtfully.

Well, 'e's been pretty nice, like Blink said. Jist kinda...far away, like nothing dat I say really gets ta 'im. 'e's awful cute dough. Spot analyzed her likewise.

She seems real upset...somet'in' 'appened dat hoit 'er real bad. Dat bruddah, I guess. Sounds kinda like dat boy dat came inta da Lodgin' 'ouse a few days ago. Looks kinda like 'im too. Suddenly Spot stopped.

"You'se Lissa Allen ain't'cha!?" Raindrop whirled around, the terror bright in her eyes. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the hard look on Spot's face stopped her. She nodded slowly. "Yeah. How'd ya know?" Spot frowned.

"Yer bruddah's loikin' fer ya. Came inta da Lodgin' 'ouse da oddah night." Raindrop turned pale.

"I gotta git outtah heah," she said, "I'll go ta Boston 'r somet'in'." She turned to leave, but Spot grabbed her arm.

"Ya ain't goin' nowhere. Yer stayin' heah. Safest place fer ya ta be." Raindrop shook her head.

"'e'll find me. I know it. I gotta git outtah New Yawk." Spot took ahold of her shoulders and looked at her.

"'e won't find ya. I'll make shoah ah dat. I won't leave ya alone evah, if it'll make ya feel bettah." Raindrop looked in his eyes.

'e's got da most beautiful eyes. She thought in shock. Spot waited for an answer. She nodded. Spot grinned and continued walking. Raindrop trailed after him relieved and shocked.

Beautful eyes? Beaustiful eyes? 'e offahs ta keep ya safe from yer bruddah, an' an ya kin do is t'ink about what 'e loiks like? 'e's Spot Conlon! Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and pulled into an alley.

"SPOT!" she screamed in terror. Spot ran into the alley and punched the guy. A few more hits to the head and he fell unconcious. Spot helped her up.

"You awright?" he asked. Raindrop nodded.

"T'anks alot."

The next night Raindrop sat next Spot and watched him play poker, trying to learn the game. The doop opened and Mush walked in, grinning. Raindrop jumped up and ran and hugged him.

"Mush! What're ya goin' heah!? I missed ya so much! I didn' wanna leave wit out sayin' g'bye, but I couldn't wait any longah." Mush laughed.

"Dat's what da boys said. I was late 'cause I didn' get all me papes sold. I'se real sorry about dat."

"You'se kin go ta da bedroom an' talk alone, if ya want Raindrop," Spot said without looking about from the game. Raindrop smiled.

"T'anks Spot. I'll loin poker tamorrah night, awright?" Spot shrugged.

"Whatevah." Rainrop and Mush left and Tricks laughed. Spot raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

"You'se ain't jealous ah 'im, are ya Spot?" he teased. Spot laughed.

"Of 'im? 'e's jist 'er friend, an' dat's all 'e'll evah be, an' you knows it too." Tricks shook his head.

"Coise I knows it, so does you'se, but yer still jealous." Spot laughed and shook his head.

"Da goil wouldn' even be heah if Jacky-boy hadn' ast me. An' da only reason I'se not done anytin' about 'er at all is 'cause I ain't int'rested." Tricks raised his eyebrows.

"Oh?"