FOUR

                                    

                                          
iv. BROOKLYN BOYS
JOSEPHINE WALKED BESIDES DAVID
they were talking amongst each other as boots and jack walked ahead of them. boots and jack looked back at the pair. they were walking too close together, it was clear they both had a thing for each other. "i've never been to brooklyn. have you?" david asked. in truth he was talking to josephine, but it was loud enough for boots and jack to hear too. "i spent a month there one night." boots commented. josehine thought for a second, "i think i've been once when i was younger." she smiled at the memory. 

"check this out." jack said. he grabbed onto josephine's hand and led her over the the railing of the brooklyn bridge. boots and jack leaned over the railing and yelled, their voices echoed. josephine smiled as she stared down at the water as the boys all laughed. david stared at josephine, a smile on his face. he discovered quickly that his new favorite thing was seeing josephine smile and laugh. he just wanted to make her smile and laugh any chance he got. david grabbed a hold of josephine's hand, also leaning over railing, josephine followed, both shouting below just like jack and boots had done. josephine was laughing as she stood up straight, pointing, "to spot conlon and the brooklyn boys!" 
the four continued their walk to go see spot conlon. "so is this spot conlon really dangerous?" david asked. the boys laughed before starting to tell small stories here and there about spot. josephine listened intently, her arm was once again linked through david's. "one time crutchie told me about when spot and jack were horsing around. they said they were playing, but jack came and visited me with a busted lip and bruised cheek." "that ain't from no fight with spot!" jack defended himself. josephine shrugged, "that's not what i heard from crutchie, skit, and blink." "jo, do you ever stop talking? and since when did you believe things that came out of skittery's mouth?" jack jokingly asked, giving his best friend a look. josephine shrugged as she leaned her head onto his shoulder, "i only speak the truth. ya know believe it or not i only believe him when multiple people tell me the same thing." 
finally the group had reached the docks. the brooklyn boys home sweet home. at least since it was around summer time. a lot of the boys were in the water, getting ready to jump into the water, or laying on the dock drying off and soaking up the warm sun. the brooklyn newsies all turned to watch as the group walked by. most of them were just staring at josephine, who hung closer to david. she didn't know the brooklyn boys like she knew her manhattan boys. "going somewhere, kelly?" jack pushed past him. boots, david, and josephine following close to jack. 
"well, if it ain't jack be nimble, jack be quick." josephine looked up and met eyes with the one and only spot conlon. "i see you moved up in the world, spot. got a river view and everything." jack commented. the boy dropped down from his makeshift thrown (it was made of crates) and spit shaked with jack. "heya boots. how's it rollin'?" spot asked. boots offered up a hand full of marbles, "i got a couple of real good shooters." spot took the handful and grabbed his slingshot from his pocket. "yeah. so jacky-boy. i've been hearing things from little birds. things from harlem, queens, all over. they been chripin' in my ear. jacky-boy's newsies is playing like they're going on strike. hi gorgeous." spot moved to stand in front of josephine. 
josephine instinctively moved more into david's side. "well we are." jack stated. david nodded, "and we're not playing. we are going on strike." david had wrapped a protective arm around josephine, his eyes narrowing slightly at spot's interest in the young brunette. "oh yeah? yeah? what is this, jacky-boy? some kind of walking mouth?" spot taunted, looking david straight in the eyes. josephine knew better than to sass someone like spot conlon. she would've defend david, but they needed spot's help with the strike. and he had seemed to take an interest in her so she knew she couldn't be rude to him. 
"yeah, it's a mouth. a mouth with a brain, and if you got half a one, you'll listen to what he's got to say." jack stated, standing close to david now too. josephine nudged david, nodding her head to encourage him. "well, we started the strike, but we can't do it alone. so, we're talking to newsies all around the city." david started. spot turned away, paying attention to his marbles, slingshot, and a few glass bottles. "yeah, so they told me. but what'd they tell you?" "they're waiting to hear what spot conlon is doing," david continued. josephine nodded, "you're the key." she had said, smiling at the newsie. david then nodded his head and contuined, "that spot conlon is the most respected and famous newsie in all of new york." "and probably everywhere else." josephine added, leaning towards spot. "and if spot conlon joins the strike, then they join and we'll be unstoppable. so you gotta join, i mean... well, you gotta!" david exclaimed. 
josephine was begging everything that her and david's words would help persuade spot. "you're right jacky-boy, brains. but i got brains too, and more than just half a one. the lady is smarts though. how do i know you punks won't run the first time some goon comes at ya with a club? how do i know you got what it takes to win?" spot asked. josephine had a feeling she knew where this was headed. "because i'm telling you, spot." jack stated, hoping that it would make spot join them. just like josephine, jack was left disappointed. "that ain't good enough, jacky-boy. you gotta show me." the four were heavily disappointed. "any chance you'd like to stay? we've a river view." spot smirked. david tightened his grip on josephine. spot just chuckled as he turned around, going back to his makeshift thrown. 
josephine sighed, "sorry i couldn't be more help." she said, frowning over at the boys. jack shook his head as he ruffled her hair, "don't sweat it. it ain't your fault even with your good looks and flirting." "i was not flirting, kelly." josephine defended herself. boots and jack laughed as they teased josephine. david had let go of josephine as they continued walking, past the newsies of brooklyn and back home to manhattan. jack hit david's arm, "oh i know, jo. trust me, i know." david's face got red as he put some distance between him and josephine. the teen rolled her eyes, "your just jealous cause i haven't flirted with you in the last five years." "oh my heart! i'm crushed, jo!" jack teased, his hand held onto his chest. josephine didn't care what jack and boots had to say. she didn't care what most people had to say. still she managed to linked her arm through david's as they made the walk back to manhattan.