The Window Tables

[Administrator]

These tables are the best, because you can get the warmth of the sun just by sitting next to the window.

[Doll]

Doll sat at one of the window tables, tapping her fingers on the table nervously. She needed Scout's help. Why? Cause god dangit Spot left her in charge. Her, in charge. She was a second in command, not a leader. This was not her forte, to be exact. Sure, making people shut up was easy, gathering information was easy, watching over a borough until your leader came back god knows when, was an entirely different thing. Entirely different. This was going to be mass chaos, but, she had already decided to promote Bear, and make Muse her second in command. It seemed logical.

But... she wasn't gonna go to Cowboy for help, and obviously not Queenie. There was no Harlem leader, and Queens was easier to talk to, on so many levels. That, and well, Scout was just easier to talk to cause Queens newsies and Brooklyn newsies just got along better than most people did. Doll trusted Scout, so hopefully this would work out. Looking around, a waitor looked ready to come over there and ask what she wanted, but sent him a look saying that if he even ame near here then she'd beat him up in a heartbeat. He went back to his post.

Sighing, she looked outside again. This was gonna be a long day, and if Scout didn't get oer there soon, she'd be just a tad bit mad that she came over here for nothing.

[Scout]

Scout expertly maneuvered her way through the crowd. It was around lunch time and usually the streets of Queens got packed quickly, even in the cold winter for some reason. She supposed it was cause people got to antsy being inside. Looking at the last few papers in her hand she stopped on the street corner and shouted the first thing that came to her mind. "Fire in Manhattan Cotton Factory! Twenty dead and many others wounded!" Keeping a tight grip in the papers she flung her hand in the air to get people attention. It seemed to work, and with a nice smile and a polite "thank you" she quickly sold the rest of her papers, giving her the extra money she needed for lunch. Maybe she could get a cup of coffee.

"Scout!" A voice sounded as the Queens Leader took to the streets again on her way to the Riverview, she was hungry and it was cold she wanted to get warm as quickly as possible. Pulling the old navy jacket she bought off a retired boat captain closer to her she turned and looked for the person who called her. "Scout! Wait up!"

"Dice?" She asked as she took a step forward to the kid who stopped in front of her and bent over his hands on his knees to catch his breath, that came out in quick puffs of air. She put her hand on Dices back and smirked a little. "Whatcha need kid?"

"Doll's... lookin' for ya... she's at the Riverview. She said it was something important." He said looking up at his leader with a happy grin. He had remembered the whole message.

"Alright, I was headin' over there anyways." She said as she pulled his hat over his eyes with a laugh. "Youse got enough money fer lunch?" Scout wasn't one to watch her newsies go hungry. If Dice needed some money she'd give it to him.

"I gotta few coins," He said pushing his hat back into its place and stuffed his hand in his pocket to show her.

"I'll take yer word," She said as she looked back down the street, towards the Riverview. "Head back ta da lodge and get warm alright, I'll go meet Doll." She nodded her heads back towards the lodging house and watched as the boy took off towards it. Turning back around she quickly pushed her way through the crowds and in what seemed like no time she pushed open the fancy looking door. Walking in she took her hat off and looked around the restaurant for the Brooklyn girl, spotting her at the tables she quickly made her way over. "Heya Doll, sorry if youse were waitin' long," She said as she dropped her hat on the table and took off her coat throwing it over the back of the empty chair before taking a seat, shaking out her blonde hair. "Heard ya need ta see me?"

[Doll]

"Heya Doll, sorry if youse were waitin' long, Heard ya need ta see me?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "Spot left for some giant thing goin' down in Boston, and... he left me in charge. You'se know I ain't a good leadah, I'se a boid, so if you tell anyone what I'm 'bout to ask you;se... well, Spot aint the only one who could strike fear into people, if ya know what I mean," Doll sighed, "I need help. Bad. I got no clue how to run a borough, and you'se do. Tell me how ta run a borough." Ok... so maybe Scout wouldn't be able to tell her how, but maybe a basic idea? Who knew.

The waitor came over, probably after figuring he shouldn't be scared of a girl, and asked, "Can I get you ladies anything to drink?" He seemed a bit shaky, to which Doll smirked at. This waitor obviously hadn't dealt with a Brook before. She had thought about asking Scout to meet her at O'Brady's, but... She was pretty sure it wouldn't be appropiate to ask for help in a bar full of drunks and criminals.

"Water," Doll said, quickly adding, "Please." The waitor asked Scout what she'd like, and she held back the urge to gag. The guy would probably die if she asked him too. He was a chicken, and probably would try and get her in trouble somehow. This wasn't quite on her agenda, but hey, either he was gonna leave soon, or he was gonna have a black eye. A nice shiner to match his uniform. That got her to thinking of Spot... god who knew how the Boston newsies acted, along with ones from Chicago, and Detroit... wow, she could laugh at herself. Being worried for Spot? That was probably the first for anything.

When the waitor finally left she scoffed, "Pansy," turning her attention back to Scout, she stated, "Scout, you got an idea why Spot had to be the representative for New York? Why not Cowboy, he started the strike anyway." Ok, so maybe Doll was complaining a little. Not her fault that Spot left her with a bunch of criminals, besides, Jack should have been the one to go in her opinion. Why? Well, if any of the other newsies at that giant meeting mad Spot mad, no one would be there to voice reason and to stop him. That was one of Doll's major jobs, make sure Spot didn't kill anyone.

[Scout]

"Yeah,"..."Spot left for some giant thing goin' down in Boston, and... he left me in charge. You'se know I ain't a good leadah, I'se a boid, so if you tell anyone what I'm 'bout to ask you;se... well, Spot aint the only one who could strike fear into people, if ya know what I mean,"..."I need help. Bad. I got no clue how to run a borough, and you'se do. Tell me how ta run a borough."

She had known Spot was going off to Boston, the leaders meeting to decide who would go was only a few days ago and she knew that Spot would be a good pick. He was a strong man, and a great leader, if anyone could make people listen it was Spot Conlon.
"I won't tell a soul Doll, youse of all people should know that anything told ta me in private stays that way. Unless its about somethin' that will effect my kids." Scout said as she leaned on the table her arms crossed over the top. The way she was sitting was very unladylike, but she didn't care, who ever said she was a lady?

But when the Brooklyn girl asked her those questions she pushed herself back and leaned against the chair. Scout stared at Doll for a moment in surprise, she knew Doll pretty well and she had never seen her like this, so nervous, at least not that she could remember. It just wasn't the Doll she was used to seeing. Blinking she looked down at the table and played with her hat, trying to think of how to explain running a borough to her. She truly didn't know how she was able to run Queens, she just did. "That's a tough one Doll, running a Borough isn't easy but after a while ya sorta get used to it. I guess the only real advice I can give ya is ta just be you. You're the leader of the Birds, and ya handle them just fine. You're Conlon's girl, the Brooky's know that if they put one toe outta line their in trouble." Biting her lip she tapped her fingers on the table. "Think of it this way, if something goes wrong, ask yaself what Spot would do."

"Can I get you ladies anything to drink?"

"Water,"..."Please."

Glancing up at the waiter she mentally counted the coins she had on her pocket, and smirked a bit, she did have enough for a cup of coffee and even a sandwich. This was a good day, now all she had to do was convince Doll that she was able to run Brooklyn in Spots absence. "Coffee please." She said giving the waiter a perfectly practiced smile. Looking over at Doll again she gave her a true grin. "I hope that helped, if not I can try again."

"Pansy,"..."Scout, you got an idea why Spot had to be the representative for New York? Why not Cowboy, he started the strike anyway."

Scout chuckled when she called the waiter that, she knew that the waiter knew they could kick his butt any day. Shaking her thoughts from her head she leaned on the table again. "Spot's representing New York cause he's probably the only one that can make anyone stop and listen ta what we have ta say. Queenie's too out there ta be taken seriously, no matter how much of a strong leader she is. Cowboy's kids are all still too worried that he'll just up and leave for Santa Fe, if he went there is no tellin' how the 'Hattan kids will react. Harlem has no Leader, so their out. And I don't have a second in Command so I was sorta stuck, and I ain't leavin' my kids with just anyone. Don't worry Spot won't be gone forever, he'll be back before ya know it."

[Doll]

"That's a tough one Doll, running a Borough isn't easy but after a while ya sorta get used to it. I guess the only real advice I can give ya is ta just be you. You're the leader of the Birds, and ya handle them just fine. You're Conlon's girl, the Brooky's know that if they put one toe outta line their in trouble. Think of it this way, if something goes wrong, ask yaself what Spot would do."

Sighing, she replied, "Right. Conlon's goil," she looked at Scout, "Ya know, for how long I've known Conlon, I barely know anything about him? He don't tell anyone. So how can I ask meself what Spot would do, if I dont know what he'd do." Doll rested her head in her hands, closing her eyes, trying to keep her emotions in control. Lately, it was hard. She'd try not to snap at someone, but at times, she just wanted to hurt someone, punch something. That was the Brooklyn spirit in her, telling her to go do something, release the anger before it hurt you, even if it meant hurting someone else. That's how it was in Brooklyn, and always would be.

"Spot's representing New York cause he's probably the only one that can make anyone stop and listen ta what we have ta say. Queenie's too out there ta be taken seriously, no matter how much of a strong leader she is. Cowboy's kids are all still too worried that he'll just up and leave for Santa Fe, if he went there is no tellin' how the 'Hattan kids will react. Harlem has no Leader, so their out. And I don't have a second in Command so I was sorta stuck, and I ain't leavin' my kids with just anyone. Don't worry Spot won't be gone forever, he'll be back before ya know it."

"Right, be back before I know it," she responded, not looking up when the waitor put the water down.

"Anything else?"

"No," she replied coldly, "I'm fine. Just water, I ate already." Doll wasn't in the mood to talk to the waitor at all, and if he really thought she was going to be nice at the moment, then he was dead wrong. D-E-A-D wrong. Besides, hopefully he would be back before she knew it. But it still felt like forever.

[Scout]

"Right. Conlon's goil,"..."Ya know, for how long I've known Conlon, I barely know anything about him? He don't tell anyone. So how can I ask meself what Spot would do, if I dont know what he'd do."

Scout sighed a bit, this was going to be harder then she thought it was. She knew that Doll was capable of running Brooklyn, she knew she could do it. Nodding her head she never took her eyes of the girl in front of her, she always knew Spot was a private person, a lot of the leaders were. It wasn't like you would see her running around telling everyone she ran away from home cause her parents were going to send her over seas. That was just something she didn't want to have to explain or even want to think about. Leaning forward she placed her hands on Dolls in a friendly calming way, "Then you tell me what you think you should do if somethin' happens." Scout said as she watched the girl in front of her.

"Right, be back before I know it,"

"Anything else?"

"No,"..."I'm fine. Just water, I ate already."

"He will Doll, Spot wouldn't just leave ya in a lurch," Scout said as she leaned back again taking her hands from Dolls and watched as the waiter set the coffee in front of her, looking over at the Brooklyn newsie and she knitted her eyebrows together and glanced at the waiter. "A roast beef sandwich please. Thank you" She said as she looked at Doll again while the waiter left with her order. "I hope ya don't mind if I eat, haven't eaten yet." Grabbing some sugar she mixed it in the coffee along with some milk that waiter had brought for her. Taking her spoon she placed it in the hot drink and stirred it a little thoughtfully. "There's somethin' yer not tellin' me. What's goin' on Doll? What's got ya all worked up?"

[Doll]

"Then you tell me what you think you should do if somethin' happens."

She groaned, "I don't know. I'm a boid not a leadah," Doll really wasn't the kind to complain, but at the moment, it seemed fair, "Couldn't he pick someone else who's got da brains ta do it? I'se bet Trash woulda come back and watched over the borough." Trash had been the leader of Brooklyn before Spot, and apparently he worked somewhere in New York, cause the lodge owner still talked to him, from what she knew. He would of definitely come over and watch the borough, cause then he could have seen how tough they were.

"He will Doll, Spot wouldn't just leave ya in a lurch,"...."A roast beef sandwich please. Thank you I hope ya don't mind if I eat, haven't eaten yet."...."There's somethin' yer not tellin' me. What's goin' on Doll? What's got ya all worked up?"

"It's fine, I wasn't that hungry anyway," taking the water she drank some, she had been more thirsty than hungry, which was one of those rare things that happened to her, since being a newsie meant sometimes you went without a lunch or dinner, maybe even a breakfast. Listening to Scout's question, she replied monotoniously, "I'm fine. Just worried is all. That and maybe instead of leaving a note for me saying I was in charge he could of actually told me he was leaving." Ok, maybe that was the reason why Doll wasn't in a good mood, but hey! she wasn't the one who started it by not telling her in person!

[Scout]

"I don't know. I'm a boid not a leadah,"..."Couldn't he pick someone else who's got da brains ta do it? I'se bet Trash woulda come back and watched over the borough."

Scout sighed a bit and set her spoon off to the side as she sipped her coffee. She really didn't know what to say to make Doll believe that she would be able to run Brooklyn in Spot's absence. Scout had never known Trash, but she had heard rumors that he had been a good leader. "Doll you have da brains ta be a leader and the skill too Ise don't understand why ya think ya do it. I've seen the way you handle the boids, you can handle the newsies just as well and you'll have help. Ya have Bear and Muse. You can do this Doll."

"It's fine, I wasn't that hungry anyway,"..."I'm fine. Just worried is all. That and maybe instead of leaving a note for me saying I was in charge he could of actually told me he was leaving."[/b]

"You can have the other half of my sandwich if ya want. I probably won't eat the other half." Scout said leaning her elbows on the table. She didn't mind sharing the sandwich with Doll, taking another sip of her hot drink she choked a bit when she heard that. "Spot just left a note?" Didn't he know anything about girls? You can't just leave a note! Especially with something like this. Rolling her eyes she shook her head, Conlon really had to start using his brain more.

[Doll]

"Doll you have da brains ta be a leader and the skill too Ise don't understand why ya think ya do it. I've seen the way you handle the boids, you can handle the newsies just as well and you'll have help. Ya have Bear and Muse. You can do this Doll."

"That's the t'ing, I can lead boids not a whole borough. Besides, Spot's the better leader, Trash trained him for it," Doll remembered watching all that went on when Spot was being trained by Trash. It was amusing, but also kind of weird, because of all the things Trash told him involved things at first that didn't seem important, but then came in handy when they were played out. She guessed Scout was right, in a way, she could lead a group of birds, so why not a whole borough? Right?

"Spot just left a note?"

"Yep," she popped the p in yep, "Left with a note, stating that he was out of town and that he would be back later, so now, I am in charge of something that I wasn't even asked to do," Doll grumbled, "and maybe a good bye would have been nice too." She wasn't the most, well, emotional person, but she still would have liked Spot to tell her where he was going, and maybe a good bye too. That way she wouldn't have had to look everywhere for a trace of him before he left.