Tremont Avenue

[Administrator]

A busy street.

[Street]

Street stood on the corner of Tremont avenue and the street next to it. She rocked back and forth on her heels slowly, whistling a happy tune. This street had lots of rich folks coming and going, and though they tried to give Street a wide berth, the busy crowd did not always allow that. So, there was a good chance she'd score something valuable today. She's already managed to grab a silk hankerchief, an almost empty coin purse someone had dropped, and a brooch that had on miniscule diamond in the middle. Street could not read numbers, nor letters, but she knew how much money she could get from things. She was totaling about three dollars right now. One good score and she could enjoy her favorite thing in the world; a cinnamon bun.

She edged forward, a woman was coming her way, pulling a child alongside her, clearly distracted. Her handbag was open slightly, if she planned it right, Street could throw her hand in, grab the first thing she came in contact with, and run down the block. If she was lucky. The woman was level with her, she stuck her hand in, grabbed a soft, coin purse-like object, and tried to remove her hand. But the woman was moving to fast and the coin purse was too large! Street stumbled, the woman pulled her child (and therefore her bag) forward, causing Street to lose her grip on the coin purse and she fell to her knees, angry tears springing to her eyes, later tears of pain as a man stepped on her smallest finger.

[Queenie]

Queenie walked along, done selling for the day. The necklaces she wore making sounds as the bumped into eachother. Today was a good day, lest to say for her. Sure, people stared as she walked by, but so what? She was used to it. Besides, she was crazy, what did she care? Walking by, she slowed down when she saw some guy step on a girl's fingers without an apology. Walking up to the guy, she put on her infamous glare of death, grabbed the guy by the arm, spun him around and glared at him, trying to make the guy intimidated.

"Hey, I t'ink you owe my friend an apology," she jerked her head towards the girl, the glare on her face.

The man retorted angrily, "Why? She's just a street rat," he poked her in the chest for the last three words, "Just. Like. You." Queenie grabbed his arm and spun him around so the man's arm was in an uncomfortable and painful position, grabbing his hair with her other hand and pulling him down, hissing at him.

"Apologize. Now." The man apologized, and she let go, jerking her head forward, "Go. Get out of my borough or I'll beat ya to a pulp." The man grumbled, and Queenie walked over to the girl, holding her hand out, "You'se ok? I'se dont like it when people dont show othah's in me borough." The girl seemed nice, so Queenie had no clue why the guy couldn't apologize to her.

[Street]

Street stood the instant the girl addressed her, she rubbed her skinned palm on her ragged dress, trying to take the sting out. "Oh I'm fine, it's fine. Ya know how it is, people don't care, why should they?" She laughed nervously. This was... Queenie! Leader of the Bronx, in the flesh... Street bit her lip. "How'd ya... How'd ya do that, make that man apologize and all? Ya just spun 'im around and he was quick about it too!" Street gazed at her in awe and admiration. She glanced down at Queenie's feet. Her ankles weren't skinny... "I'm sorry, I got distracted. Ya know how that can happen! Or... Do ya? Maybe leaders don't get distracted... Should I be quiet now? I can do it, if I try hard!" Street put her finger to her lips, to show that she could in fact, be silent for a few moments.

"But, really, don't worry about me none. Nothin's permanant... I've had worse... I think. It's me own stupid fault for plungin' me hand inta the lady's bag without checkin' ta see if I could get me hand back out or not..." Street tapped her head. "I ain't too smart, ya see, so it can be hard ta think things through..." She broke off, looking at the girl in front of her. "Sorry, I'm Street Lexeme." She held out her tiny, dirty hand, the one that was not skinned, because that would have been rude. Offering a leader a skinned hand to shake! She shivered at the mere thought of it.

[Queenie]

"How'd I make 'im apologize? Simple, put pressure on areas it hurts, and they'll want to get out of it, and give ya what ya want." Queenie listened to the girl ramble. and laughed a little, shaking her head, "Dont worry 'bout it. I get distracted too, besides, dont worry, I've met newsies who can talk faster than a speeding horse at Sheepshead. Besides, I probably get more distracted than the other leaders, so dont worry 'bout it." She stopped laughing, and offered the girl a reassuring smile. The girl was definitely a nice kid, but far too skinny.

She listened to the girl, and shrugged, "Dont worry, we all make mistakes. And not smart? Your a good pickpocket, 'hats for sure," Queenie nodded at Street when she said her name, "Street? Good name, you'se obviously know who I'se am, so I really dont think I need an intraduction," she rubbed the back of her head, chuckling a little. She looked Street over, and held back a frown .The girl was malnourished. "Say Street... where you'se live? I aint seen ya 'round any of da lodgin' houses." was she thinking what she was thinking?

If asking Street if she needed a place to stay, then you thought correct. Queenie didn't like seeing kids malnourished, so she figured she would help Street. Not out of charity, she just figured the girl might need a place to stay.

[Street]

Street turned thoughtful. "Places it hurts..." She bit her lip, thinking hard, which was rare for her. "Hmm... Like the stomach right? 'Cause I got hit their once when I was younger and it hurt so much that I couldn't breath... But ya grabbed the man's arm, right? Well I suppose if ya twisted it like this," She demonstrated on herself, her arm reaching behind her back. "It would hurt alot... I'll have ta try that."

She listened to Queenie, her head tilting to the side like a dog. "'Course I know who ya are! Yer da leader of da Bronx! Yer Queenie!" She laughed a little, grinning. She flushed at Queenie's compliment. "I'm a good pickpocket! Gee... Never had so much as a thank ya before... I'm really embarrassed now," And she was, but she also looked please. Why! If a leader said she was a good pickpocket... She practically squirmed with pleasure.

"Say Street... where you'se live? I aint seen ya 'round any of da lodgin' houses."

Street bit her lip again, it seemed like she was trying to chew it off. "Well uh, I live where ever I can... I tend ta stick ta under da Brooklyn Bridge, 'cause it's real nice and cozy... Course, I stay on the 'Hattan side 'cause I don't mess with the Brooklynites," She leaned closer to Queenie. "They scare me." She told the leader in a whisper. She smiled nervously. "I've been on me own since I was seven, 'cause they kicked me outta the orphanage for knickin' some goils bread..." She shrugged. "Sometimes I sleep in the park, or in one of da sewers, under da grates. But they smell, so I like the Bridge, by da river, 'course." She nodded, then looked at her suspiciously. "Why?"

Street had a good reason to ask. She was secretly terrified of closed in spaces, that is why she never slept in the sewers, not because of the smell. The orphanage had been very crowded, with kids crying and running around, and the lady who ran it screaming at them all. So, she did not like closed in spaces. But... A lodging house would be nice. She heard everyone got their own bunks and there were bathrooms and food and warmth and they could get you a job if you needed one. 'Well,' Street thought, 'Even if I have ta sleep in a trunk in da Lodging House, I'd still take it... 'Course it'd be a rather large trunk...'

[Queenie]

"Yeah, hit someone in the stomache and you'll definitely knock the wind out of them," Queenie replied, and watched as she showed how, "Yeah, like that. Trust me, it hurts, really bad." she winced at the time the old leader had done that to her before. It was very painful, especially since she had been pretty young at the time, but he let her do it to him as payback, so it was all good. That, and, well, let's just say other newsies had to fear the wrath of that painful move from her when they wouldn't shut up.

Queenie laughed a little, "Dont be embarassed! And yeah, I'se leadah, but I didn't know Ise was popular." for all she knew, or cared, she was just a leader, not as popular as Cowboy, not as feared as Spot, no where near as sane as Scout, so it was kind of cool to be knowned. But then again... who didn't want to be known? Lots of people wanted to be famous, she really didn't care about fame, but others did. She knew a lot of her newsies wanted it, and would do anything.

Listening to Street, she nodded, "Dont worry 'bout da Brooks, the only t'ing that they can do ta hurt ya is to smack talk you, I dont t'ink Spot would allow it, not while he 'as his boids woikin' ovahtime." Queenie didn't like the birds at the moment, because she couldn't see who was a bird or not, and Spot was trying to catch a glimpse at the chess board, which she would let no one look at without permission. But other than that, she was perfectly fine. That's when Street asked the question, why. Now she'd have to talk.

"Well da lodge aint that crowded, and youse seem like a good kid, I wouldn't mind lettin' ya in. 'esides, we could use someone sane at da lodge, seein' as most of us are off our rockers." Queenie had no problem stating the truth, cause there's no better truth then the full blown truth. Sure, she loved her newsies, but they could make even the nicest of people turn into murders. That's how crazy the Bronx was. And she was glad she made him that way too, in one of those weird ways.

[Street]

"Dont be embarassed! And yeah, I'se leadah, but I didn't know Ise was popular."

Street looked shocked. "Of course yer popular! I'm always hearin' stories about ya everywhere I go! I always said I'd like ta meet Queenie the most out of all da leaders." She waved a dismissive hand. "Don't care for none of them flashy or sneaky ones, yer direct, up front. That's the best way ta go about things, head ta head like." She finished, looking up. "Then again, I don't know ya that well, so I could be wrong, but that's what I'm gettin' from ya... Tell me if I'm wrong or anythin'."

"Dont worry 'bout da Brooks, the only t'ing that they can do ta hurt ya is to smack talk you, I dont t'ink Spot would allow it, not while he 'as his boids woikin' ovahtime."

"True, they may not hit ya, but words can hurt worse then the punches sometimes... Birds? What birds? I didn't know Spot liked birds? What kinds? I like the pretty blue ones, but someone said that they're mean, I guess I also like the sparrows, 'cause they sing an' all." Street continued on for a while about some other birds she favored, or did not, like the crows.

"Well da lodge aint that crowded, and youse seem like a good kid, I wouldn't mind lettin' ya in. 'esides, we could use someone sane at da lodge, seein' as most of us are off our rockers."

Street looked at her for a long moment, her mouth open slightly. "If I'm the sanest person ya know, y'all have some issues. But," She shrugged. "If ya don't mind, I'll be glad ta stay, maybe help ya out a bit. Can't read none, but I can get most anythin' ya want from off the street. I know a bunch of criminals, though... That might be a bad thing." She laughed softly, hiding her mouth behind her hand shyly. "I'll do anythin' ya want, so long as ya let me have a place ta sleep..." She lowered eyes, overcome by gratitude and a surge of affection for the vivacious leader.

[Queenie]

"Of course yer popular! I'm always hearin' stories about ya everywhere I go! I always said I'd like ta meet Queenie the most out of all da leaders."... "Don't care for none of them flashy or sneaky ones, yer direct, up front. That's the best way ta go about things, head ta head like." ..."Then again, I don't know ya that well, so I could be wrong, but that's what I'm gettin' from ya... Tell me if I'm wrong or anythin'."

She chuckled, rubbing the back of her head, which had become a bit of a habit of hers, "I'm flattered, and your not wrong, I do things up front, but also behind the scenes." Queenie definitely was the kind to tell another leader up front to shut up, though she kept the smart alec comments to herself, because those could be used up for later. Definitely to be used later. They came in handy for when you wanted to pick fights too, that way they only attacked out of rage.

"True, they may not hit ya, but words can hurt worse then the punches sometimes... Birds? What birds? I didn't know Spot liked birds? What kinds? I like the pretty blue ones, but someone said that they're mean, I guess I also like the sparrows, 'cause they sing an' all."

Queenie shook her head, "Spot calls his spies boids, his 'boidies' travel all 'round New York, gatherin' information for him," she looked around, trying to see if she could spot any, "They'se really hard ta find, especially his top two boids, Bear and Doll. They'se perched everywhere, any time, any day. Not too many people like 'em, but as long as dey dont mess wit' me, I'm ok." She always put up a front that she would be ok with them, but honestly.... well, she'd rather not be spied on.

"If I'm the sanest person ya know, y'all have some issues. But, If ya don't mind, I'll be glad ta stay, maybe help ya out a bit. Can't read none, but I can get most anythin' ya want from off the street. I know a bunch of criminals, though... That might be a bad thing. I'll do anythin' ya want, so long as ya let me have a place ta sleep..."

Smiling at Street, she shook her head, "I know I know, us Bronxies are crazy, but hey, we'se smart. I can teach ya to read in no time. And don't worry 'bout the criminals, we'se seen them, they've seen us, we got a mutual understanding. 'esides, if ya can pay ten cents for a week your in." Queenie honestly thought Street was a good kid, who didn't deserve to live under the bridge. So it wouldn't be bad to take her in, "But be forwarned, my kids are crazy, so you might just end up insane yourself."

[Street]

"Spot calls his spies boids, his 'boidies' travel all 'round New York, gatherin' information for him,"... "They'se really hard ta find, especially his top two boids, Bear and Doll. They'se perched everywhere, any time, any day. Not too many people like 'em, but as long as dey dont mess wit' me, I'm ok."...

Street looked around too, though she did not know what to look for. "Spies? Like in them mystery novels? The librarian at the library reads me some sometimes if he's not too busy, 'cause he likes it when I talk with him." She shrugged. "But spies... Why does he need spies? He could just ask what he wanted and mind his business where need by..." She looked worried. "But... uh, don't tell 'im that, I get some of me best business from Brooklyn. Lotta people who drink and forget how ta bet..."

"I know I know, us Bronxies are crazy, but hey, we'se smart. I can teach ya to read in no time. And don't worry 'bout the criminals, we'se seen them, they've seen us, we got a mutual understanding. 'esides, if ya can pay ten cents for a week your in."... "But be forwarned, my kids are crazy, so you might just end up insane yourself."...

Street looked at her suddenly, almost cricking her neck in her haste. "Ya'd... ya'd really teach me ta read?" She asked hopefully. She blinked rapidly. "Yer so kind, I'd heard of yer talent as a leader and how yer so smart and I've even heard of how yer... Well, insane, sort of. But any rumors I'd heard of yer kindness, but I never imagined it'd be so great!" She smiled widely up at her. "Thank ya, I'll do anythin' ya ask, oh... And I can get the ten cents, no problem. Does that... include food?" She asked.

[Queenie]

"Spies? Like in them mystery novels? The librarian at the library reads me some sometimes if he's not too busy, 'cause he likes it when I talk with him. But spies... Why does he need spies? He could just ask what he wanted and mind his business where need by..."..."But... uh, don't tell 'im that, I get some of me best business from Brooklyn. Lotta people who drink and forget how ta bet..."

Queenie sighed, "Spot came ta power 'round the same time as me. He almost takes aftah the old leader, Trash. But unlike Trash, Spot ain't afraid to push one of his newsies off the roof of the Poplar Street lodge and into the river... literally. But their are two boids you should look out for. The first is Bear," she held her index finger up, "He isn't the chief boid or second in command, but he's good. He's dating my second in command, that aint no problem for me. The second," she help up another finger, "Is Doll. She's Spot's second, his chief boid, and apparently now his goil. She's practically his eyes and ears, where ever he aint. Thos two, they'se a double threat put together. So be careful 'bout those two."

She really had no problem with Bear, she knew him. But she didn't know Doll, nor did she care. The little bird was enough to handle, so it would only be a matter of time before Spot got into something big about his spies.

"Ya'd... ya'd really teach me ta read? Yer so kind, I'd heard of yer talent as a leader and how yer so smart and I've even heard of how yer... Well, insane, sort of. But any rumors I'd heard of yer kindness, but I never imagined it'd be so great! Thank ya, I'll do anythin' ya ask, oh... And I can get the ten cents, no problem. Does that... include food?"

Queenie smiled, "Dont worry, I'd teach ya how ta read, and eh," she shrugged, "Most hear 'bout me sanity before the kindness. And yea, it includes food, since all the local food joints are always too expensive. So the lodge owner helps out wit' food."

[Street]

"Spot came ta power 'round the same time as me. He almost takes aftah the old leader, Trash. But unlike Trash, Spot ain't afraid to push one of his newsies off the roof of the Poplar Street lodge and into the river... literally. But their are two boids you should look out for. The first is Bear,"... "He isn't the chief boid or second in command, but he's good. He's dating my second in command, that aint no problem for me. The second,"... "Is Doll. She's Spot's second, his chief boid, and apparently now his goil. She's practically his eyes and ears, where ever he aint. Thos two, they'se a double threat put together. So be careful 'bout those two."

Street listened to her. "Bear and Doll, huh? Don't sound too threatin', but ya know what's what, so I'll listen ta ya." She turned thoughtful. "Eyes and ears..." She muttered randomly. "Hmm, seems ta me, they can be quite a problem for ya, 'specially if ya don't want them ta know somethin' that ya know." Street nodded, to emphasize this point.

"Most hear 'bout me sanity before the kindness. And yea, it includes food, since all the local food joints are always too expensive. So the lodge owner helps out wit' food."

An undisguised look of joy came over Street's face then. Never before, not even at the orphanage, had she had the chance to enjoy three meals a day on a regular basis. Let alone, any meal on a regular basis. Her mind was filled with images of food, they swirled around and around inside her mind. Potatoes, bread, soup, apples, cheese, milk, water, and mostly cinnamon buns. Her favorite thing in this world (after people who left their change out in the open or their handbags unclapsed or their watches just hanging in their pockets). She almost started drooling, but her stomach curled uncomfortably. How long had it been? One day? Two? It was so hard to keep track. She'd have to stop by one of the rivers and fill herself with water to keep her strength up.

Street remembered Queenie. "Sorry, I was imaginin' all the different types of food. My favorite's cinnamon buns, d'ya have a certain type of food ya care for above others?" She asked quickly, trying not to think of the golden brown, sticky, sweet bun to much. "I'm happy 'bout the food. Nothin' better then food!" She rubbed her hands excitedly.

[Queenie]

"Bear and Doll, huh? Don't sound too threatin', but ya know what's what, so I'll listen ta ya. Eyes and ears... Hmm, seems ta me, they can be quite a problem for ya, 'specially if ya don't want them ta know somethin' that ya know."

"The dont sound threatenin', but they are," Queenied nodded, "Trust me. If anyone can fight, its boids. They have to. They're important to Spot. And it is a problem, cause then I has ta be careful 'bout what I say." Sure, Bear was dating Tootsie Pop, but still... if anyone was paranoid at the moment it was Queenie, especially after her decision to be her own side in the war. But there was something.... unsettling lately. Ghost hadn't made any moves lately. It was enough to make anyone jumpy. Especially the leaders. Definitely those guys.

"Sorry, I was imaginin' all the different types of food. My favorite's cinnamon buns, d'ya have a certain type of food ya care for above others? I'm happy 'bout the food. Nothin' better then food!"

Queenie tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Hm... me favorite food would have ta be... chocolate pie. Nothing better than a piece of pie," she laughed a little, jerking her head, "Come on, walk with me. Food's good, besides, I'll ask the lodge owner if his wife will make cinnamin buns later." She overed Street a smile, and started walking, and turned backwards so she could talk to Street face to face, expertly walking between people. "So Street, how old are ya?"

[Street]

"Trust me. If anyone can fight, its boids. They have to. They're important to Spot. And it is a problem, cause then I has ta be careful 'bout what I say."

"Fight? I don't like ta fight, not even over cinnamon buns!" Street said, biting her lip, but it was like she was trying to chew it off. "It would be hard for me ta watch what I say, I always just keep talkin', never rememberin' ta shut up. That's one of the reasons the orphanage lady didn't like me that much,"

"Hm... me favorite food would have ta be... chocolate pie. Nothing better than a piece of pie,"

"Pie? Hmm... Never had it." She shrugged, not really caring. It sounded good and all, but she'd never tasted it, never even seen it, so... She walked with Queenie, amazed that someone good walk backward like that. She had trouble walking forward. "How old am I?" She repeated, making it a question, truth was, she wasn't that sure. She did some math in her head, she knew she was seven when she left the orphanage and since then she'd seen eight winters, so she was... "Seven and eight is fifteen right? If they are, then I'm fifteen. I think I was born in May, but no way ta know, 'cause I don't know my family and all that, but I was found in May and the note said I'd just turned four..." She shrugged. "So, fifteen."

[Queenie]

"Fight? I don't like ta fight, not even over cinnamon buns!"... "It would be hard for me ta watch what I say, I always just keep talkin', never rememberin' ta shut up. That's one of the reasons the orphanage lady didn't like me that much,"

"No one likes to fight, except for maybe Brooks," Queenie replied, "and hopefully, they aren't here. They're probably round Harlem, trying to figure out what's going on." at the moment, she probably would of wanted to go see if it was true, the birds loitering around the border. It was probably real, no doubt about it, but it couldn't hurt to look. After all, she could probably find Bear, he was dating Tootsie Pop, after all.

"Pie? Hmm... Never had it."......"How old am I? Seven and eight is fifteen right? If they are, then I'm fifteen. I think I was born in May, but no way ta know, 'cause I don't know my family and all that, but I was found in May and the note said I'd just turned four.... So, fifteen."

"Hm," she nodded her head, "Your the same age as me then. Eh, lots of people are the same age as me." Queenie secretly found it fun to be able to boss around her older newsies, so they couldn't call her a brat because she was doing her job. Who wouldn't find that fun? A bunch of leaders definitely loved doing that, but the older they got they tougher it was to boss around. How much time did she have to be leader left anyway?