I'll tell you right off that I am Spot Conlon. I am the most respected newsie in all of Brooklyn, and I rival anyone else anywhere else .My motto is "If they're in your way or have a problem with you, thrash them." I have my own group of newsies in Brooklyn: I take on the toughest guys who can withstand anyhing, teach them the fine art of using a slingshot, and turn them loose on the streets. I'm their leader, and anything that goes without my saying or approval isn't anything.

One afternoon, I sat on a wooden crate watching two boys go at it. They do well, they're under my instruction, of course. I don't particulary like fighting - people knocking other people around is so uncivilized. I have fine tastes, and so I prefer to plan out a way to get back at a person that is harsh and cruel. Nothing so obvious. I can fight anyone though, and I'm not afraid.

These two had been fighting over the "he came and sold his papers in my street." If anyone fights anyone, it seems to be for this reason. The two fighting were Ginger, who had a temper and bright red hair, and Wheels, who has blond hair and wants to be a train conductor. Both are ranked high in my group, and both are good friends of mine. They brought their troubles to me, so I told them to fight it out. Something where it can be sure who won. So far Ginger was taking the beating. He's tall and awkward. Moves like a giraffe. Wheels has a good fist, although he's only 13 and short. He can duck around quickly. It's like watching a turtle being harassed by a cat, who can get its paws anywhere.

"C'mon Ginger! You're bigger then he is! You have to beat him!" "Yeah! That's the way to go Wheels!" " Geez-what kind of a whack is that?" People where shouting all around me. I didn't say anything- I try to stay neutral. It seems like half the people in New York had turned out to see this fight. It's hard to cram this many people into a little abandoned warehouse.

"The duece! All right I give up!" Wheels trust both hands into the air triumphantly. David and Goliath or something. Now Wheels was completly happy-he had the street. I hopped down from my perch.

"Good. Now if Ginger comes lookin to get his angle back, tell him to see me. I always find outs about anything." I shook hands with the winner, and walked over to Ginger. A path among the crowd parted for me to get though. It's like being royalty. "You stay away from Wheels, hear?" I said shaking my cane at him. He nodded.

Good. Now that was over. The fight had lasted a good hour according to my pocket watch. Usually some one's whipped within the first ten minutes. But now we were free to do whatever we wanted. Everyone had sold their papes early to see the fight. I voted for a poker game, and half a dozen voted with me. The other wandered about the warehouse looking for something to do.

The warehouse is our own "Lodging House." We needed someplace to stay where we can be together, and no one is "risking their lives to take care of us." Gimme a break- we wouldn't plain out murder someone! So we got our own place. All it is is a big room, with windows to let in some light and electricity. It's built out of red brick, and sits right on the street. We always go in the back or side doors, and keep the front one barred. Everyone knows we live here, so no one bothers us.

I went to one of the back corners of the warehouse. It was my "Room," I had hung blankets for walls. An old matress with several holes was in there against the side. There was a small wooden box beside it, and from that I withdrew a pack of playing cards. I always knew where everything was, and didn't allow anyone in.

I stepped back into the open area of the warehouse and pulled an upside down box over to play on. I sat on a chair, and delt out the cards. Satisfied with my full house, I led on the game. I stayed up late into the night playing, although I would have gotten more sleep if I knew how little I was going to get due to circumstances of the next few days.

I was still in my bed at five o'clock the next morning. I stared at the ceiling far above me, thinking of how Jack an the bunch were. I should go down to see them. I have my own bunk there, and kind of float around between staying here and there. No one's allowed on my bunk there either. I designated Crutchy to keep everyone off it. I kinda felt sorry for the guy, because he tries to be so helpful and everything.

A head poked in through the "walls." It was Millie. We nicknamed him because when he first came to join us he had run away from his rich parents. His name is now Millionaire, instead of Edward Belancesis Johnston the Fourth. Millie is my personal flunkie: he'll run errands, bring me news on what's going on, I give him money and he'll buy my papes for me. Nice guy to have around, huh? In return I stick up for him because he's so timid.

"Spot, sir? There seems to be a bit of trouble brewing around this place. Ginger left during the night, taking seven or eight of our men with him. Do you want to instruct on matters which should take place?" Millie asked in his quiet voice. He went to school, and talks really weird. You practically have to learn another language to understand him.

"He cut? Why? Stupid curr . . . " I got up and pulled on my suspenders. My hair was pushed back and under my hat. Great, if he left with eight, he probably took the toughest. He'll need those body guards once I get my hands on him. I caught up my cane and slid my slingshot into my pants. Better take a look for myself.

Standing out in the open, I found I'd just as soon stay in bed. The place was a wreck.Tables and chairs were overturned-it must have been carefully to keep the boys from waking up though-clothes all over the place, and "Revenge" scrawled all over the wall in black wax crayon-the kind you buy five for a penny. "Dammit!" I said. The rest of my boys were standing around looking stupid. And I was right, Ginger had lured off my best fighters-Saber, Lefty, and a few others. That's okay, I still have the thinkers. And all the short ones-they moved faster.

"Okay. We's can't do anyting but clean up. If anys of you sees them gallavantin around, tell dem to remember dey's still workin fer me. I'm not goin to take dis, and if dey want war or right out murder, they'll have it on their hands if they don't get their asses back here. I have more reinforcements and men. An I'm the smart one." I rubbed my left arm. This could be interesting. They're going against me? I find this hard to believe. After all, I taught them to be who they are. Well, fight fire with fire some guy said. Only, I'm going to fight this little blazing with a bonfire.

I sold my papers quickly that morning. There was no telling what would happen. I was actually worried as I rushed to the warehouse- you know it's something drastic to worry me. I came to the side door and groaned. My boys were all there, but not in whole peices. Most of them hd bruises and assorted cuts. Millie had a bloody bandage wrapped around his wrist and hand, and Wheels had two black eyes. Novel, our bookworm, had some little cuts, but looked so sorry for himself it was pathetic.

"What happened here? You guys look like cows in a butcher shop." I leaned heavily on my cane.

"Well, we was doin what we do every mornin, and they came at us. They picked us off, on eby one. But deys weren't alone. Dey had the Delancey group wid em, and there was nothin we could do," Wheels explained. " If it had been jus them, we coulda done alright. But with them stinkin currs too, well . . ."

I groaned. My boys- being soaked! This is a first. This is a first everything! "Okay, we gotta get out of here and be bigger. We'll head down to Jack's place-I'm sure I can get them ta join. An we's can stay there for a while, cause them Delanceys will be lookin for us. Grab what you need, and let's go."

I sat on the edge of my bunk with Mille and Wheels standing at the foot. Jack and Race sat on the opposite bunk. "Look ere,"I said. "We have ta do sometin. This is the first time I've come to you all for help, so it better be good Jacky-boy." I looked up from studying my cane head.

"So whadder we gonna do? Go ridin in on some high horse and charge em? Why don't you talk plain sense to em first? I mean, let's face it, they're dumb, but maybe you can get some sense into them if you speak slowly," Race said, breathing out cigar smoke. Hmmm, I could use one of those.

"Maybe he's right. These are your ow newsies you're talkin about. See, if you can't talk to them, you can at leasts schedule a big fight where who ever wins gets everything and all. But, if you lose, Spot Conlon won't be his own man anymore," Jack said to me.

"Hang that. We're going to win, unless you do something stupid, Jacky. You're known to do that every once in a while," I scoweled back at him. "Ain't that right?" Wheels and Milie nodded their heads. They better, since the rest of em went down to Tibbey's to get something to eat.

"Okay. Let's see if we can't talk to them, and if not, showdown day after tomorrow," said Jack, looking confident that he had just solved everything.

I closed my eyes. I think they traded matresses on the bunks, cause this one's awfully hard. Things had not gone well trying to "talk to them."

After we had our conference meeting, we met with the Delanceys and Ginger, Saber and Lefty. It had begun with a trade of insults.Wheels was a born fighter, just like Jack, and wanted to soak em right there. After a minute or so, trading insults became a trading of punches. I got some good ones in on Lefty and Ginger. neither side won, but as we went back to the Lodging House, we decided that we'd meet them in the square at seven in the morning day after tomorrow. No guns or knifes, but sticks and clubs and fists only.At least I can still use my cane, and no one said anyhting about sling shots. Boots supplies me with some pretty good shooters, so I shot one at the back of Oscars head as we headed off.

My shoulders were sore. I don't know why, but they better not be in a few days. I had to be able to fight. If I didn't, I would never be able to do anything without the jeers. It's a matter of dignity, I told myself. But boy, that seven in the morning was going to come to soon. They said they'd had enough of how I handle things. No one else has even brought that up before! It must be them who was wrong, not me. And even if I am wrong, I'm going to fight to keep me at the top.

At five thirty I was wide awake. I felt like I'd hardly slept at all. As I listened to Blink's snoring, I imagined what things would be like if we lost-but it was too hideous to dwell on long. So I thought of what I'd do as soon as I won. First, see my girl. I hadn't seen any girl in a few days, and it was killing me. There's somehing in the feminine nature that melts my heart like butter in a New York summer. Second, get everyone together for some big party. A "Congratulations Spot-You're-the-best-and-of-course-we-all-knew-you-were-going-to-win-don't-you-always" party.Just to make me feel better. For some reason, this calmed me down and I fell back to sleep. i have no idea why, because my plans for parties are anything but boring.

Six forty five. Final breifing before the fight. I stood on the terrible staue of Greenly and lectured.

"Yous going to win. We always do- or at least anyone under my instruction. These guys are nothin, and we's going to walk all over them, right?" There was a loud shout of affimation. "Thank you. I knew you'd see it my way." There was some nervous laughter after I said that. They knew that if they didn't see it my way, they better split quickly. "OK. Every one have weapons? First rule, keep it dignified. If you lose, which is NOT going to happen, do it with your heads and noses in da air. Fight fair. That's all I have to say- except SOAK EM!"

There was a general uproar after this. We formed a line on one side of the square as the Delancy gang started trickling in. I was somewhere towards the middle, but in front of everyone. Wheels, Millie, Jack, Blink, and Race stood with me.

"Should we wait fer all of them, or just thrash dem as dey come in?" Jack asked, with a mischievious twinkle in his eye.

"Whatever hurts the most," I replied.

"Well, then . . . Charge!" Blink yelled.

Everyone was taken by surprise. The Delancey's stood like trees as everyone ran pell-mell towards them. Clubs were swinging, insults shouted, and there was general choas. I ran in with my cane in front of me, htabbing anyone I didn't know. Race heaved his stick over his head to deliver a blow, but going back it hit Mush. The Delanceys tried feebley to fight back, but there was too many of us. I didn't think as I fought, but just did so. I couln't see anything properly after being struck at the back of my neck, but I swung in a blind rage. The roar was deafining.

It took me a minute to realize that targets were harder to find and there was rejoicing laughter around me. Jack danced up and swung an arm around my neck. "We did it! We caught dem before they knew what was happenin! Ha ha!" he hugged me and then backed away, spitting in his hand and holding it out.

My face broke in to a smile as I looked breathlessly at his blurry image. I spat into my hand, and thrust it into his. We stood there grinning like idiots as everyone crowded around.

"A victery ceegar!" Race said as he shoved one in my face. There was a black eye on his face, but he looked happier then he'd ever been.

I looked around. yup, just as I'd planned it. I'd never had a moment of doubt. Of course we'd won. I directed everything. It was perfect, thank you. And no, I was never worried.

"You don't have ta be worried no more, Spot. Works like clockwork when we do it, eh?" Jack said.

Well, maybe I had been worried. Actually, I'd been very worried. But, as Jack said, together we could beat anyone.

Jack and I had beat them. Of course. We had our fight, and then came the celebrating. Our ware house became home to the biggest blowout to hit Brooklyn. Ginger and the rest were never seen or heard from again. I found some other people to replace them.I spent an entire week with my girl, or at least every minute possible. She made a big fuss over the cut and bruise at the back of my neck. Sight returned normally within the month. Novel said I'd probably had a bad concussion. I just smiled and nodded, not really listening to him. Jack and I see more of each other on the streets now. It's nice ot know there's someone there in the moment of crisis. Oh- those are his thoughts about me being there for him. I don't get soft. I'm Spot Conlon, and I'll never worry or lose my head. Or at least not again.