| Back in the lodging house, it was late, and everyone went back to their usual card playing. Birdie lay in Spot's arms as they sat on the ground in his room, just cherishing every second. Spot had a bruised chin,and black eye, and Birdie had several bruises on her legs from struggling so much, but they ignored their injuries, happy that they were safe and sound. Birdie turned around and kissed Spot gently, but Spot winced and yelped, "ow!" from his bruise. Birdie laughed and then turned serious. "It's all my fault..." "What? What's your fault?" inquired Spot. "Foist, yeh gotta soak dat bum for tryin' to kill me, den dis, wit Harlem an' all...I'm so much trouble." Spot took her face in his hands and gazed deeply into her eyes. "You're worth it." and kissed her. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The next morning, Birdie and Spot sat and talked by the docks about the events from the previous day. "Yeh know, not all of Harlem aren't bad." said Spot. "Deyrse da newsies, and den deyre's Knuckles and 'his newsies." Birdie nodded and said confused, "Well, why would he want to get back at you? for what?" Spot sighed and said, "Well, believe it or not Knuckles was a Brooklyn newsie. Den, he gave me crap, I warned him an' even soaked him a couple of times, but dat still didn't woik. So I kicked 'im out." Birdie nodded and said, "So....he got mad?" Spot looked at her. Birdie laughed and said, "Guess so!" *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Summer came and went, and Autumn quickly flew by. Now came the coldest season, Winter. All newsies hated Winter because it meant the bitter cold, and another christmas without a family. After selling papes the newsies would run back to the lodging house before they got sick. Especially the Brooklyn newsies because they lived right next to the water. Birdie sat in the lodging house gazing out the window, watching snowflakes fall. From behind her Spot came up which caused her to jump up and smile. She ran up and hugged him. "Is dat all I get? A hug?" joked Spot. She kissed him. "Now dat," he said, "Is how ya greet Spot Conlon." she laughed at his ego and grabbed his hat. She lay in his arms on the ground as they gazed out the window. Birdie suddenly said, "Do yeh eva miss Christmas?" Spot's eyes flickered and said, "yeah....but every newsie gets used ta it. We're all like a family, so it kinda is like christmas, 'cept no presents and big dinnah." He kissed her neck as she said, "It's weird...knowin' dat me bruddas are out deyre somewhere....dey might 'ave a family, dey might be a newsie somewhere else, or dey might be dead. All dose possibilities." Spot sighed and said, "Dat's what it's like bein a newsie. Yeh gotta leave da past behind." They both didn't say anything for a while and Birdie closed her eyes peacefully. She smiled as Spot kissed her. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Birdie walked back to the lodging house, hurrying away from the cold. She slowed down at the docks and looked out into the water. It looked so dead and grey. Usually she would see newsies swimming, but now it was still with no ripples at all. She sighed and turned around to head back. *SPLASH1* Birdie slipped on a patch of ice and tumbled into the icy cold water. She felt a huge burst of cold shoot through her body, and it stung like a thousand needles. Her body felt frozen, as she kicked up to the surface, her fingers, feet, and face numb. She swam back to the docks and climbed up the ladder. Shivering, she ran back to the lodging house, freezing. She ran up to Spot's room and saw her extra pair of clothes and put them on. She brushed her hair and looked into the mirror. Her lips were purple and her face was flushed. She sighed and lay down on her bed. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Birdie's eyes fluttered open at the sound of Spot's urgent voice. SHe lookedout the window, it was still night. She must have dozed off. "Birdie!" urged spot. "Why are your clothes all wet?" birdie sleepily said, "Oh..I feel into da wadda on me way back here." Spot sighed and shook his head. "Yeh gotta be careful!" but Birdie had drifted off to sleep. He muttered to himself and took off his shirt and got into bed. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The next morning, Spot kissed Birdie on the head and whispered, "rise and shine." She opened her eyes and tried to get up but fell back into bed. Spot looked at her with concern. "Listen, I dont feel so good...i don't tink I'm gonna be able ta sell papes wit ya today." said Birdie weakly. Spot said, "All right, you get some rest. I'll be back as soon as I can." He walked out the door, closing the door quietly behind him as Birdie closed her eyes. Spot ran back to the lodging house, rejecting two card games and even soakin' a scab. He opened his bedroom door and sat at Birdie's bedside. Her breathing was raspy and her face was flushed. her kissed her forehead and drew back in shock. Her head was burning hot! Birdie got worse. She was coughing so much that she coughed out blood, she was burning hot but claimed she was freezing cold. Her breathing was raspy and her face was flushed. For days and nights Spot sat by Birdie's bed side, not even bothering to go buy papes. Ocassionally when she woke up she would see him sleeping in a chair right next to her, holding her hand. Part 6 |