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Post by Spot Conlon on Nov 17, 2018 20:21:57 GMT -5
The nights were getting colder, and the boys began coming back to the lodge earlier. Not many dared to venture out to sell in the evenings unless absolutely necessary. The Brooklyn boys were tough, but they weren't stupid. Besides, Spot and Mr. O'Quinns' kept a strict curfew. They didn't want the boys out late in weather like this... However, some still ventured out, but not this time! Spot was determined to keep a close watch on his boys this year. The weather was colder than it had been the previous year... and well, cold winters like this reminded him of the struggle between Brooklyn and Queens many years ago. It had on cold winter nights when the worst of the struggles had happened. Spot was sure Rip remembered them as strongly as he did. Who knew if Rip would stir up trouble again, which was why he was keeping indoors and preventing the boys from going out late. He just hoped that Mr. O'Quinns had been able to relay the curfew to the girls' lodge.
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Post by Honey on Apr 9, 2019 21:53:47 GMT -5
Honey stares out one of the windows at the dark. He shivers a bit and frowns before searching around his bunk for something to do to keep busy, yet not annoy anyone else.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 9, 2019 22:08:07 GMT -5
Spot tensed as he noticed one of the boys moving around in the dark. No one should be trying to sneak out at this time of night! He silently slipped out of his bunk to catch the sneak, only to realize it was just Honey... Well, he wouldn't say anything yet. The young boy wasn't likely to try to leave the lodge this late. Still, Spot would be sure to keep an eye out just in case. Queens had him so edgy lately.
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Post by Honey on Apr 9, 2019 22:51:01 GMT -5
Honey notices the shadows seeming to move. He flinches, sitting down on his bunk, trying to remain still. He knew it was late, but he wasn't tired yet. He squints, trying to make out any of the things on his bedside table. When he realizes he can't, he flops back down, blowing his bangs out of his face.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 9, 2019 22:56:07 GMT -5
Spot sighed. He knew the younger boys tended to have trouble sleeping with the change of curfew, but still, he really couldn't let them stay up too late. They had to be well rested if they wanted to sell in the morning.
Softly, but firmly, he called out to the younger newsie, "I know you're awake, Honey." He sighed again. "Come downstairs wit' me."
It'd be best to get the boy's thoughts off being restless so he'd go to sleep. Mr. O'Quinns shouldn't mind.
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Post by Honey on Apr 10, 2019 5:35:41 GMT -5
"I know you're awake, Honey." He flinches, sitting up and looking over to where Spot's bunk is, hearing the sigh. "I-I'm sorry-" he whispers, looking down. "Come downstairs wit' me." His eyes widen in slight surprise. "Really?" His mind is racing as he processes this. "Ok." He slowly gets onto his feet.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 10, 2019 9:13:18 GMT -5
"I-I'm sorry-"
Spot pursed his lips. He did his best not to scold or reprimand the younger boys too much and too harshly. "It's okay... jus' stay quiet."
"Really? Ok."
He raised an eyebrow at Honey's eagerness, but he supposed that was why the kid was having trouble getting to sleep. He motioned for the younger boy to follow him. He knew where all the squeaky floor boards were and could guide the two of them silently out of the bunkroom.
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Post by Honey on Apr 10, 2019 9:53:08 GMT -5
Honey slips out of bed, avoiding the squeaky floor boards with Spot's silent instruction. He follows his leader, smiling. Though Spot is nice, Honey was always afraid he had... upset him somehow. He didn't know how he really could, having not been around him that much, but he always had a lingering fear of upsetting people, and Spot's usually straight face doesn't really help with his doubts.
When Spot told him to follow, Honey felt like he had done something... halfway right, for once. He almost always screws something up. That's how he got his nickname, after all... maybe if he's kinda closer to Spot, he'll be less of a mess up.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 10, 2019 10:02:23 GMT -5
Spot stayed silent the whole way, not because he was upset or mad. No, he just wanted to avoid waking any of the others as the managed to slip out of the bunkroom without making the door squeak. Or maybe Mr. O'Quinns had finally gotten around to oiling it.
The two boys quietly sneaked past Mr. O'Quinns' office (the lodge owner still appeared to be up as well) and headed into the kitchen where they could get a drink of water and be far enough away from waking any of the others.
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Post by Honey on Apr 10, 2019 10:51:26 GMT -5
Honey leans against one of the counters in the kitchen, fidgeting with a loose button on the flannel he put on over his long johns to keep warm. He looks at Spot, then away, fiddling. "Did I wake ya? I didn't mean t' wake ya, I was jus' tryin' to find somethin' to do..." The young boy seemed to be speaking to the floor rather than Spot himself, not wanting to make eye contact.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 10, 2019 11:18:44 GMT -5
"Did I wake ya? I didn't mean t' wake ya, I was jus' tryin' to find somethin' to do..."
Spot pursed his lips as he pulled out two cups from the cabinets. "No, you didn't wake me. I was already up."
He rummaged around the kitchen before finally finding the milk and pouring some. "Here."
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Post by Honey on Apr 10, 2019 19:01:54 GMT -5
"No, you didn't wake me. I was already up." Honey's eyebrows furrow. "You were up? Why were ya up? Did yer thoughts keep ya up? My thoughts keep me up all the time and den I can't sleep, it can get to be a real problem-" "Here." Honey's eyes widen as he walks over, taking the cup. "...Thanks, Spot." He breaks eye contact addressing the leader by name; he taps his toe on the ground as he takes a couple of sips.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 10, 2019 19:57:18 GMT -5
"You were up? Why were ya up? Did yer thoughts keep ya up? My thoughts keep me up all the time and den I can't sleep, it can get to be a real problem-
Spot resisted the urge to sigh as he took a sip of his milk. He was around the younger boys very often, so he forgot how talkative some of them could be.
"...Thanks, Spot."
He cracked a small smile. "No problem, kid."
After all, it was part of the job. He watched out for all his boys, young and old.
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Post by Honey on Apr 11, 2019 10:09:48 GMT -5
"No problem, kid." Honey smiles up at him, leaning against the counter, drinking the milk slowly. He always felt awkward around the older kids, but being around Spot? That took awkward to another level. This was the leader, the guy who helped Jack Kelley with the strike; he had heard some of the boys talk about it before. Not only is he respected, he's standing about a yard away. How do you impress a guy who's led a borough into a strike to help another one? Honey would like to know. Very badly.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 11, 2019 11:04:50 GMT -5
Spot finished his drink rather quickly. He was feeling a little antsy being away from the bunk room. Someone could have sneaked out while he was away... but he really shouldn't suspect his boys like that. Queens just had him so tense lately.
He almost forgot that he wasn't alone, until he saw the young newsie out of the corner of his eye. The kid was looking up at him with a curious expression. Spot wasn't sure what to do or say... He wasn't really good with kids (minus his kid brother). He rarely spoke to the younger boys.
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Post by Honey on Apr 11, 2019 15:22:12 GMT -5
Honey coughs, glancing down. "... Hey Spot, How'd ya convince an entire borough to strike wit' Manhattan?" He pauses, tapping his toe on the ground. "Jus' wonderin'."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 11, 2019 16:08:57 GMT -5
"... Hey Spot, How'd ya convince an entire borough to strike wit' Manhattan?"
Spot blinked in surprise. That wasn't exactly the sort of thing he thought he'd be ask.
"Jus' wonderin'."
He raised an eyebrow. "It's part of bein' a leader... a whole borough won't jus' follow anyone."
It did take a bit of convincing, but for the most part, Brooklyn had joined the strike because Spot was leader and believed it was worth it. In the end, Brooklyn had gotten exactly what they wanted and needed in terms of the strike.
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Post by Honey on Apr 11, 2019 21:25:28 GMT -5
"It's part of bein' a leader... a whole borough won't jus' follow anyone."
Honey nods, finishing the milk. "That makes sense." He looks away again. "... Was I botherin' ya? Is that why ya gave me this?"
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 12, 2019 10:19:54 GMT -5
"That makes sense."
Spot nodded as he placed his finished glass away for Mr. O'Quinns to wash later.
"... Was I botherin' ya? Is that why ya gave me this?"
He raised an eyebrow before shaking his head. "No, you weren't botherin' me. Jus' thought you'd like to stretch your legs a bit and not wake the others."
Plus, drinking milk was always something that usually helped make Jasper sleepy... Hopefully, it would work with Honey. It wouldn't be good for him or the kid to stay up too late.
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Post by Honey on Apr 12, 2019 10:25:17 GMT -5
"No, you weren't botherin' me."
Honey lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Dat's good."
"Jus' thought you'd like to stretch your legs a bit and not wake the others."
He nods, setting the cup down and yawning, stretching a bit and rolling his shoulders. "Yeh... Everybody's gotta wake up early to hawk..."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 12, 2019 11:03:30 GMT -5
"Dat's good."
Spot pursed his lips slightly, noticing Honey's breath of relief. He knew he was intimidating at times... but he had assumed that his boys knew that he wasn't scary with them. Maybe the older boys knew, and the younger boys didn't? He supposed he never really took the time to really get to know the younger boys. That might be something he needed to work on as well as encourage Bridges to do once he became leader.
"Yeh... Everybody's gotta wake up early to hawk..."
He nodded. "So we best be gettin' abck ta bed now."
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Post by Honey on Apr 12, 2019 11:15:10 GMT -5
Honey doesn't notice Spot's pursed lips, busy with fiddling with his buttons again.
"So we best be gettin' abck ta bed now."
He nods slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Ok, Spot..." He looks at the cup, then back at Spot. "Do I jus' put it in the sink, or..."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 12, 2019 13:24:10 GMT -5
"Ok, Spot... Do I jus' put it in the sink, or..."
Spot nodded. "The sink. Mr. O'Quinns will wash 'em later."
He waited as Honey put up his glass and motioned for him to follow him quietly back up to the bunk room.
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Post by Honey on Apr 12, 2019 23:25:58 GMT -5
"The sink. Mr. O'Quinns will wash 'em later."
Honey nods, setting his cup into the sink gently before following Spot, eyes shutting for a few seconds before opening again. He rubs his eyes, shaking his head and trying to stay awake long enough to climb into his bunk.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 16, 2019 10:48:31 GMT -5
Spot guided Honey up the stairs as he noticed the kid starting to get a little sleepy. It didn't take too long for the two to arrive back in the bunkroom and to their respective beds. While Honey might be feeling sleepy, Spot was still wide awake and alert.
He glanced over the bunks, checking to see if anyone had left. A soft sigh of relief escaped his lips as he could see that everyone was still sound asleep in their bunks.
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