Brooklyn Baby | Spot Conlon ¹

Chp. 35: Secrecy

After I left last night, I asked Race to talk. He told me all about borough-wars.

"Last time there was one, I was only 7," Race said. "It ain't no funny business. Kids get hurt, killed sometimes."

"They's really that serious?"

"Yeah, then other neighborhoods take sides and it can get huge,"

Suddenly, I wasn't as angry.

That night, when everyone was fast asleep, I was getting ready for bed. Thinking about things tend to keep me up past our bedtime hours. I was about to unbutton my button-down shirt when I heard tapping. I saw a pebble fly at the window, and I opened it to see what it was coming from. I look down to see Spot with pebbles in his hands.

"Spot, are you crazy?!" I whisper-yell.

"Crazy for you,"

"I will shut this window."

"Wait, meet me on the roof?" He asks hopefully.

So, here I was, in just a button down shirt that barely reached my knees with high socks, climbing out onto the roof to meet an insufferable egomaniac.

"If Jack sees me like this," I whisper to myself.

Spot climbs up at the same time as me, and looks at my appearance. Thank God I wear Jack's old shirts and this goes almost down to my knees.

"Looks like I was a little too early," He smirks.

"You came at the perfect time," I say sarcastically. "If Jackie sees me half undressed with you, you's dead, I's dead, we's both dead."

He smirks again and sits next to me.

"I came ta tell you that--"

"No, wait, Spot, I want ta apologize. You's doin' it for Brooklyn,"

"I love you, and only you, Kenny."

"And I love ya too, Spot, but you gotta think if what's at stake here," I say. "A borough war ain't somethin' we wanna get into,"

"I know," He sighs.

His thumb rubs over my knuckles as I lean into his side. If you saw us, you'd think we were crazy. A half-dressed girl with the leader of Brooklyn sitting on a roof together. But nothing for us was ever normal. I don't think we've ever had a long period of time where something didn't go wrong for our relationship. Suddenly, I sat up.

"I's got it," I say.

"Got what?"

"A plan. Meet me in our square tomorrow mornin' for sellin' papes, and go along with what I say."

He has a look of confusion and I just peck his lips.

"Trust me,"

"I do,"

I watch him nod at me before jumping down from the roof, disappearing into the shadows of night, leaving for Brooklyn.
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I nervously got ready for the day, re-thinking my plan. I pull up my good jeans, slipping on my leather boots and button up my shirt. Rolling up the sleeves, I look at myself in my dusty mirror. It's been a while since I've been in this room.

"Hurry up, I gotta go reeeeally bad!" Mush pounds on the door.

I sigh. I'd gotten so used to the privacy of Spot's room in Brooklyn that I'd forgotten how crowded it got with thirty other boys in a lodging house.

I swing open the door as Mush pushes past me and slams the door closed. I run a hand through my hair and pull on my cap.

"Top o' the mornin' to ya, Kendall." Race greets me.