Undisclosed Desires - Bridget Kathleen (ebooks online reader txt) 📗

papes and headed back to Brooklyn. She was tired of being surrounded by so many people in the street. She touched my lips, remembering the night before. It was certainly a close call for her. Sophia's heart felt weird...What was it that she was feeling? Dimmit! It pissed her off! She looked to her side and saw Spot up on his tower. He was touching his lips too and then looked at her, realizing that she was eyeing him. Sophia quickly looked away but it was too late. Spot was climbing down from his tower and walked over to her. She kept her head down.

"Hey Smalls."

She slowly turned her head around and looked up at him. "...Yes?"

"Get up." he ordered. She did as she was told, but kept her head down. "Look at me, Smalls." Sophia reluctantly looked up and met his eyes. "...Yes?" She repeated.

He cleared his throat. "I've noticed some things about cha, Smalls." She gulped. He then pulled out a sling shot and handed it to her. "You's don't gota sling shot. Every one heres gota sling shot. Use it well, Smalls."

"...Thanks." she said quietly, looked down at her new gift.

Spot placed a hand on her shoulder and looked back up at him. "You's an ok kid, Smalls. I think I like ya." he gave her one of his little smirks and walked away.

Sophia let out a breath. She was able to breathe again! Spot was ok with her. She sat back down and examined her sling shot. She had never used one before. She hoped that she was good at it, because it seemed that all the Brooklyn Newsies were good with their sling shots.

Later that day Sophia walked about Brooklyn, picking up good sized rocks for her sling shot and stuffed them into her pocket. She tried out a few targets and missed most of the time but she knew that in time she would get better. She thought for being a girl she was doing a swell job at all of this.

A few days later Spot and her made otheir way to Medda's Theater again. She was not looking forward to another one of Spot's drunken nights. She hoped that it all would turn out differently this time. After a while Sophia found herself laughing and easing up a little. Spot wasn't drinking as much as he did the last time.

"Smalls!" Tommy called out to her.

"Yeah?"

"I want ya to meet some new friends of mine." She saw a boy with short curly hair and a smaller boy next to him. "This is David," he said pointing to the older one. "And this is Les." Sophia shook their hands.

"It's nice to finally be able to meet ya." said David. Sophia nodded.

"Same here!" said Les. Les was so cute. She wished she could give him a great big hug and have him sit on her lap while they listened to music but that would probably give herself away.

Later on that night everyone was singing right along with Medda. Sophia had to admit. She was good at what she did, She only wished that she could do it too. Just then she felt an awkward filling go through my stomach. She felt something warm and sticky. Sophia stopped breathing for a moment. She looked around, trying to find Tommy. She couldn't find David or Spot either. Then...she saw Les and called out to him. He looked up and gave her a concerned look when he saw how worried she looked.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I need to find a place to clean up." She told him.

He looked at her weird. "Clean up?" Sophia nodded. "Awright." he said, "Follow me." Sophia followed Les to the back. He showed her to a door and stood to the side.

"Here ya are, Smalls."

"Thanks." Just as she was about to open the door a man busted out and pushed her back. He was drunk and staggered back to the front not realizing that he ran into her. She looked up and saw Les. His eyes were wide.

"What?" Sophia asked.

He pointed at me and said, "You...you's a girl?"

Sophia felt the top of her head. Her hat had fallen off and her long brown wavy hair was exposed. She heard herself curse. The two of them couldn't say anything. Just then Medda stopped singing and bid her fans goodnight. Sophia picked up her hat, put it back on, grabbed Les by the hand and ran into the room that Les has just showed her.

The moment Sophia closed the door Les said to her, "Whys you's tryin' ta look like a boy, Smalls?" he asked.

"It's a long story. Look Les...you can't tell any of the boys." he nodded. "I have no idea what would happen if I was caught."

"You's can't hid it forever though." he then said.

He was right. "Les...please, go get Medda." He nodded and left Sophia to go get Medda. Spot was probably wondering where she was, but then again, maybe he was too drunk to realize that She was missing.

Sophia looked around the room and saw a sofa. A night stand was right next to it and a few mirrors on the walls. She took a seat on the sofa. This was the softest thing she had sat on since she had got to New York. Sophia sighed as she enjoyed herself for a few minutes. Les then came back with Medda. Sophia sat up straight.

"Who do we have here?" she asked, looking at me.

"That's Smalls." said Les.

Sophia stood up and took off her hat. Medda gasped a little as she saw my hair fall all over me.

"Dear me!" she said. "You're a girl!" Sophia nodded and placed her hands on her hips. "Why on earth are you dressed like a boy?"

Sophia sighed again. "I'm new here in New York. My brother, Tom Tom and I moved here about two months ago."
"Oh, Tom Tom. He's a nice kid, but that still doesn't answer why your dressed like a boy, my dear." she walked up to Sophia and gestured her to sit down with her. Les sat in front of them on the floor.

"The reason why I am dressed as a boy is because my brother, Tommy is worried that if I sell papes as a girl something bad might happen."
"Your brother is right...uh...may I know your real name, Smalls?"
"My name is Anna Sophia, but just call me Sophia."

she nodded. "What a pretty name for such a pretty girl. It's a shame you have to hide it. How old are you?"

"Sixteen." Sophia responded.

"You sure are brave sixteen year-old to be doing all of this. Where are you staying, if you don't mind me asking."
Sophia shook her head. "Nah. I don't mind...I'm stayin' in Brooklyn right now."
"Brooklyn? That's a dangerous place for a person in your situation to be staying at. How do you do it?"

Sophia shrugged. She didn't know how she did it...She just...did it. Another one of those feelings ran through her stomach again. She looked to Les. "Les...why don't ya go meet up with David. I'm sure he's wonderin' where you are." he nodded and walked to the door. "Oh! and Les..." he looked back. "Don't tell anyone about me, Ok?" he smiled and nodded and left.

Sophia turned back to Medda and finally said. "I need certain Items." she told her, hoping that she would get what she meant. Apparently she didn't. "I am on my monthly..." She stated.

"Oh!" she jumped right up, walked over to the closet and pulled out what was needed.

"Come and get me anytime you need me. Don't hesitate." she told Sophia and left the room. Sophia put everything on right then and there, not wasting any time at all. She pinned her hair back up and put on her hat and walked back to Brooklyn. At least now she didn't need to hid her identity with two less people.
Chapter Four: A Brooklyn Newsie girl.

Tommy sat around the table with his new found friends. They ate some muffins and drank some water in the cafe and joked around.

"So, Tom Tom." Started Racetrack. "Hows your lil brotheh holdin' up?" he took a bit of his muffin.

Tommy folded his hands and leaned on the table. "He's doin' ok."

Jack then cleared his throat after taking a drink of water. "If Ise remember right, Spot Conlon kicked you out." Tommy slowly nodded. "Ouch." ended Jack.

David and his little brother then came walking in, taking a seat with the boys. "Heya, David!" shouted Blink. David waved.

They all talked for a while, enjoying each other's company after selling all their papes. The time then came to an end. Too soon it seemed. Tommy gathered up his things, ready to head back to the lodge house.

"Hey Tom Tom!" Tommy turned around and saw David walking up to him. He looked a bit concerned.

"What's up David?"

"Can I talk you for a moment?" he led him over to a corner in the cafe. "Sure. What is it?"

David leaned in more. Tommy listened closely. "Les, my little brother told me last night after Medda's show about your little brother."

Tommy gave him a stern look. "What about em'?"

"I know that Smalls is a girl." he said, hardly making it to even a whisper.

Tommy looked at him wide eyes. "How did you find out? How did Les find out?"

David told him the event that took place the previous night. Tommy could hardly believe it. It was bound to happen sooner or later though. "That's why I'm kind of worried about her." said David. "There are no other girls in Spot's gang. God knows what will happen if her identity is discovered."

Tommy knew then what he had to do. He put his little sister in this situation and he had to get her out of it. "I have to go after her." he said then.

David nodded.


Sophia sat at the dock, her feet in the water again. She eyed her sling shot for the hundredth time and sighed. She wasn't getting anywhere staying here and selling papes. She had to come up with a way to raise money faster. But what could she do? Just then a voice called out to her. She looked to see who it was and her heart lifted. "Tom Tom!" she exclaimed. She ran up to but did not hug him this time. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Before Tommy could answer, Spot asked the same thing, only his voice was colder.

"Yeah. Why are you here, Tom Tom. Youse belong in Manhattan, remember?" he climbed