|
|
Post by Poet on Sept 12, 2009 19:08:01 GMT -5
She could feel the tension coming from a few of the younger kids in her Borough, but she knew what was best, don't step in unless they ask for it. She kicked her feet up on the desk infront of her as she leaned back in her chair, the old lady that ran the place was out running errands as usual, so Poet sat there instead. She looked around seeing a few kids scattered here and there, some playing cards others playing with wooden swords. She smiled to herself, these kids were great they had such imagination. She pulled out a cigarette from her pocket and brought it to her lips taking a drag after lighting it before she took her cap off her head and set it on the desk. She was feeling rather calm today, almost nothing would be able to phase her unless one of the older newsies were to come in with a major problem for her to handle. She took another drag as she ran her free hand through her hair and looked up at the ceiling humming a soft tune to herself. She had sold her papes easy within the first few hours this morning so she figured she'd come back and relax maybe take care of few minor details. She wondered if anything bad had happened recently in any of the other Buroughs, she contemplated giving one of the other leaders a visit if she had time today. She looked around one last time making sure all the kids were behaving.
|
|
|
|
Post by Street on Sept 12, 2009 20:08:51 GMT -5
Street walked into the Queens Lodging House well aware of the fact that Poet was at the desk. She had bribed a little boy into telling her. Street didn't know how she felt about the Queens leader yet, they hadn't even met.
Street waved her hand in front of her face, trying to clear the air of smoke. "Hey, Poet. How are ya taday?" Street asked, feeling very much like a child. She was fifteen, she was the youngest leader. And here was this girl-woman-sitting there, looking very much like a heartbreaker. Street forced herself to stop thinking these things. She was Street Lexeme. A tough Brooklynite to the core.
"Spot ain't too happy with me bein' leader. Ya don't mind, do ya? I mean, Goldie was kinda anti-social." Street said nonchantly, leaning against the end of the high desk, she kept a weary eye on the older girl.
|
|
|
|
Post by Poet on Sept 12, 2009 20:28:10 GMT -5
"Hey, Poet. How are ya taday?"
Poet looked away from the kids to the young girl infront of her, she had heard about Street, but didn't think she'd get the chance to meet her so soon. "I'm jus' fine and how are ya doin yerself?" she asked in a sweet tone. Poet seemed to come off as looking tough, which yes she indeed was very capable of handling herself and her newsies, but at heart she was a total doll. She tilted her head and dropped her feet from the desk to lean forward resting her elbows on it and looking the girl in the eyes.
"Spot ain't too happy with me bein' leader. Ya don't mind, do ya? I mean, Goldie was kinda anti-social."
Poet smiled and laughed softly,"well dats Spot fer ya, he'll come around you'll see and Goldie, well I ain't had much chance ta talk ta her myself, we're pretty much on the standing of talking when we need ta and dats about it it seems, but I'm sure Spot'll be jus' fine he prolly jus' havin a rough time maybe he's got a marble up his arse,"she said teasingly toward the comment about Spot, she knew Spot was a great leader and she respected him fully.
|
|
|
|
Post by Street on Sept 12, 2009 20:35:20 GMT -5
"I'm jus' fine and how are ya doin yerself?" she asked in a sweet tone.
Street blinked. "Ah, okay I guess. As fine as one can be on this 'ain't it great ta be alive day'."
Poet smiled and laughed softly,"well dats Spot fer ya, he'll come around you'll see and Goldie, well I ain't had much chance ta talk ta her myself, we're pretty much on the standing of talking when we need ta and dats about it it seems, but I'm sure Spot'll be jus' fine he prolly jus' havin a rough time maybe he's got a marble up his arse,"she said teasingly toward the comment about Spot, she knew Spot was a great leader and she respected him fully.
"See I told ya Goldie was anti-social. She's been callin' me crazy lately. Her cousin Eli told me. I think she's just mad 'cause I bet her in that card game. After all, she was the idiot who bet the leader position." Street said, then she leaned in closer. "I don't think ya should be sayin' that too loud. Spot might get a little angry. He keeps callin' me a hobo on account I live under his Bridge, but I'm afraid of what he might call ya... He tried ta kick me out from under the bridge once, can ya believe that?" Street tilted her head like a small puppy. Her large grey eyes seemed larger then usual as she looked at Poet.
"Ya see, people think it's a cake-walk bein' a leader. But did ya know I've already had four kids come up ta me ta solve their problems? I can barely solve my own. This is what I told 'em, 'play some cards'. And they did! Right there in me office!" Street shook her head, amazed with this piece of information. "Everyone listens ta what I have ta say now, it's insane."
|
|
|
|
Post by Poet on Sept 12, 2009 20:57:34 GMT -5
"I don't think ya should be sayin' that too loud. Spot might get a little angry. He keeps callin' me a hobo on account I live under his Bridge, but I'm afraid of what he might call ya... He tried ta kick me out from under the bridge once, can ya believe that?"
Poet laughed softly again as she spoke about Spot,"he's jus' territorial is all, it's his bridge that's why he gets on ya 'bout it ya know? udda then that, he's a decent guy, he may come off hard but we all got our weak spots even if we don't admit it, I'll say what I please and I jus' joke around 'bout it he knows I ain't serious, and he knows if he starts mess wit meh I'll stand my ground it's jus how tings work"she said as she tapped her fingers against the desk and looked up at a group of the younger boys,"Knock it off,"she yelled and the boys dropped one of the other kids they were holding up in the air and taunting.
She sighed as the boy ran to her to take cover under the desk,"poor kid,"she muttered. "And as fer problems, we all gotta deal wit 'em, but as leaders we gotta prioritize and do whats best fer them not us,"she added as she looked down at the boy under her desk and smiled at him making his tears stop as he came out and she nudged him back toward the other boys.
|
|
|
|
Post by Street on Sept 12, 2009 21:04:41 GMT -5
Poet laughed softly again as she spoke about Spot,"he's jus' territorial is all, it's his bridge that's why he gets on ya 'bout it ya know? udda then that, he's a decent guy, he may come off hard but we all got our weak spots even if we don't admit it, I'll say what I please and I jus' joke around 'bout it he knows I ain't serious, and he knows if he starts mess wit meh I'll stand my ground it's jus how tings work"she said as she tapped her fingers against the desk and looked up at a group of the younger boys,"Knock it off,"she yelled and the boys dropped one of the other kids they were holding up in the air and taunting.
"Oh, yeah, he is kinda touchy about 'his' areas, ain't he?" Street shook her head. "When it comes ta the Bronx, all I care about is that no one gets hurt ya know? I was also worried about Goldie leadin' a revolt or somethin' so I gave her a little distraction. Now she's so busy she don't have time ta be anti-social." Street grinned, remembering handing over the 'distraction' to Goldie.
Street looked over at the boys that were being mean. She shook her head. "Them boys don't know how ta bet. I got five dollars outta them last payday..."
She sighed as the boy ran to her to take cover under the desk,"poor kid,"she muttered. "And as fer problems, we all gotta deal wit 'em, but as leaders we gotta prioritize and do whats best fer them not us,"she added as she looked down at the boy under her desk and smiled at him making his tears stop as he came out and she nudged him back toward the other boys.
"Best for them, yeah, I know. Goldie gave me a lecture when she realized she wasn't gonna talk me outta the leadership. I know the deal, it's just, these people are years older then me. I don't think they quite respect me yet, ya know? They kinda treat me like Spot does, like I'm just another kid on the street. I mean, I don't smoke or drink. Sure I gamble and I steal, but I do them things ta survive, ya know?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Poet on Sept 12, 2009 21:27:26 GMT -5
"Best for them, yeah, I know. Goldie gave me a lecture when she realized she wasn't gonna talk me outta the leadership. I know the deal, it's just, these people are years older then me. I don't think they quite respect me yet, ya know? They kinda treat me like Spot does, like I'm just another kid on the street. I mean, I don't smoke or drink. Sure I gamble and I steal, but I do them things ta survive, ya know?"
She smiled and looked down fiddling with a quil on the desk. She sighed and nodded,"I know what it feels like, there are olda newsies in my Burough too, and it took them ages ta respect meh, but they get past it when ya prove yerself to them enough ya know? it's give and take once ya give them what they want, in your case showin' them yer tough enough, they'll give you da respect ya deserve,"she said. She looked back up at Street and smiled again she like this girl, she seemed like a sweet kid. She thought for a moment wondering if Spot actually did have more reason than territorial to be mean to her, she'd have to go talk to him soon and ask. She stood and ruffled one of the younger boy's hair as she put out her cigarette and ran a hand through her hair,"Maybeh we should go have ourselves a chat wit Spot..."she suggested.
|
|
|
|
Post by Street on Sept 12, 2009 21:37:07 GMT -5
She smiled and looked down fiddling with a quil on the desk. She sighed and nodded,"I know what it feels like, there are olda newsies in my Burough too, and it took them ages ta respect meh, but they get past it when ya prove yerself to them enough ya know? it's give and take once ya give them what they want, in your case showin' them yer tough enough, they'll give you da respect ya deserve,"she said. She looked back up at Street and smiled again she like this girl, she seemed like a sweet kid. She thought for a moment wondering if Spot actually did have more reason than territorial to be mean to her, she'd have to go talk to him soon and ask. She stood and ruffled one of the younger boy's hair as she put out her cigarette and ran a hand through her hair,"Maybeh we should go have ourselves a chat wit Spot..."she suggested.
"I am tough! I could probably send one of 'em boys to Hoboken and back if I wanted ta. I might even be able ta last a couple rounds with Spot-not that I'm interested in tryin' it out. Plus, I got the quickest fingers in New York." Street wiggled her fingers for effect.
She looked alarmed at Poet's suggestion. "Uh, haha, no." Street laughed nervously. "He might think I'm causin' trouble by comin' ta ya. I don't want no more trouble with him then I got. I especially don't want ta drag ya in ta it." Street said, shifting her weight endlessly. She chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head a couple of times.
|
|
|
|
Post by Poet on Sept 12, 2009 22:05:25 GMT -5
"Uh, haha, no."
Poet looked at her, she could tell that Street really didn't want to step foot in Conlon's territory at this point, she figured it was probably a good thing now then that Street had a place besides Brooklyn these days. She sighed as she put her cap on her head and looked toward the door.
"He might think I'm causin' trouble by comin' ta ya. I don't want no more trouble with him then I got. I especially don't want ta drag ya in ta it."
She laughed softly as she pulled out another cigarette and lit it taken a small drag before speaking,"it ain't gonna effect me none, it'd be you who gets effected by it, but I do gotta talk ta him anyway soon whether it's now or after ya leave,"she said as she leaned her back against the desk, she tapped her foot lightly against the wooden floor as she blew a small ring of smoke from her mouth, it'd been awhile since she'd seen Spot, it'd be nice to see him again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Street on Sept 12, 2009 22:08:05 GMT -5
"it ain't gonna effect me none, it'd be you who gets effected by it, but I do gotta talk ta him anyway soon whether it's now or after ya leave,"
"Well, I guess I could go. It's just I don't want ta make him so mad that he actually does kick me out of Brooklyn. I mean, it's my home. I was born and raised on the streets of Brooklyn." Street shook her head. "Ah, what the hell. Might as well face the lion."
|
|
|
|
Post by Poet on Sept 12, 2009 22:16:01 GMT -5
"Well, I guess I could go. It's just I don't want ta make him so mad that he actually does kick me out of Brooklyn. I mean, it's my home. I was born and raised on the streets of Brooklyn." Street shook her head. "Ah, what the hell. Might as well face the lion."
She smiled and pushed herself off the desk,"well ya know, heres da thing, ya gotta make the Bronx yer home, cause dats yer home now, I mean it's all ok ta visit Brooklyn and stuff but own the Bronx, cause yer the leader now, its yer home now,"she said as she headed toward the door. (Move?)
|
|
|
|
Post by Street on Sept 12, 2009 22:27:35 GMT -5
She smiled and pushed herself off the desk,"well ya know, heres da thing, ya gotta make the Bronx yer home, cause dats yer home now, I mean it's all ok ta visit Brooklyn and stuff but own the Bronx, cause yer the leader now, its yer home now,"she said as she headed toward the door.
"Gotta make Bronx me home?" Street repeated, dumbfounded.
She thought about what this entailed... Saying goodbye to all her friends under the Bridge, not being able to welcome the newcomers and talk to the regulars. She also knew she wouldn't be allowed to wander Brooklyn all day. If she made a base at the Bronx, she'd have to find a cozy alley or something. She certainly couldn't stay in the Lodging House, she was terrified of crowded conditions. Also, she liked the running water under the Bridge, it was easy to keep clean there. "I know, I know." She said finally.
Her hands had started shaking a little just thinking of sleeping in a Lodging House... It would remind her of the orphanage and she would remember the screams, the crying, and the matron's belt... Street shook her head, she clutched her hands together and slowed her breathing, hoping that the girl noticed nothing.
((Doesn't matter to me. Sorry, Street's got problems. And they're all mental... Sigh...))
|
|
