Chapter 7

          Michigan was nothing like New York. Everything was slower there. Even the way the water of clapped on the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan was nothing like the harbor he used to swim in as a boy. Specs spent most of his time on the beach; the beauty set his mind at ease helping him forget his pain.

          When he finally was able to write his friends back in New York he had been there for almost four months. He did not hear anything back for what seemed like ages. When he finally did he wished he hadn’t.

          There wasn’t a note, or even a friendly hello. Just an article from the New York Sun. Specs furrowed his brow and started to read.

          “NEWSIE WAR!”     

                            By Bryan Denton

          Three short years ago we hear Jack Kelly (Strike leader of the 1899 Newsie Strike) make promises of unity. “If we don’t stick together we’re nothing…”

          Now the summer of 1902 comes into season singing a different tune. “Justice!” and “War!” plagues the streets, making after dark unbearable for most. What changed in three years that was so substantial? One girl. One girl who I was blessed to know.

          Her name was Gypsy, Gip to most. She was a southern girl who ran from dark times and fell into even darker times. She grasped on to a young man who swore of to save her from the nightmare she was living in. His name was Specs, a Manhattan newsie. He helped her get away from her demons, saving her from beatings and rape.

          “He fell in love with her the second he looked at her” Fire, Gip’s best friend told me.

          “He vowed to Spot [Conlon, Brooklyn Newsie leader] that he would take care of Gip- keep Griff away from her” Mush told me.

          Griff used to hurt Gip breaking her little by little each day. She got away from him and now he wanted revenge.

          Griff found Gip and Specs alone in Central Park one evening. He surprised them and had them right where he wanted them.

          After a fight over Gip, Griff ended up hurting the very person he set out to get back. He shot her fatally.

          Specs held Gip promising her everything would be all right, even though nothing after that night would ever be all right for them again.

          A little after 6:00 PM. Gip passed away in Specs’ arms. “His world died in the park along with Gip,” Fire said holding Mush’s hand. Griff got what he deserved- at least for a while. Three weeks after he was arrested and put in jail, his friends broke him out. Authorities have not been able to find him yet. Griff was on the loose, leaving an opportunity for the other newsies thirsty for revenge. Thus would start a “war” that would rip the fragile newsie world apart. Newsies all over New York wanted revenge… they turned to the most powerful of the newsies, Spot Conlon.

          “If anyone could find Griff it would have been Spot.” Mush said. “He had birds [scouts] all over New York. They would report back to him there was no stopping him. He wanted revenge… he needed it”

          Though, revenge for Gypsy would be hard to come by. The Bronx newsies would stop at nothing to protect their leader. A full out attack landed on the Bronx hitting them hard.

          Within the first two weeks four of their top newsies were dead, but Griff was still not found.

          “There was no stopping until he was found” Jack (Manhattan newsie leader) said. “Spot was hurt, feeling that he caused her death by not protecting her like he should.”

          Over the next two months a messy blood bath flew through New York.

          “We had no control over them,” Police Chief Samson told me. “There were too many of them. People were afraid to go out after dark…”

          Below is a list of the people who died because of this war in chronological order.

1.     Gypsy (Manhattan)

2.     Mask (Bronx)

3.     Miche (Bronx)

4.     Slash (Bronx)

5.     Stress (Bronx)

6.     Chapter Morelli (Brooklyn)

7.     Princess (Manhattan)

8.     Mix (Brooklyn)

9.     Whip (Queens)

10.  Cutter (Bronx)

11.  Feisty (Brooklyn)

12.  Racetrack Higgins (Manhattan)

13.  Gears (Manhattan)

14.  Smalls (Manhattan)

15.  Switchblade (Bronx)

16.  Crew (Bronx/Manhattan)

17.  Gutter (Queens)

18.  Sinner(Hell’s kitchen)

19. Babydoll (Queens/Hells Kitchen)

20. Mushie (Manhattan)

21. Bitter (Brooklyn)

22. Pixie (Bronx)

23. Griff (Bronx)

24. Spot Conlon (Brooklyn)

 

Specs closed the newspaper not able to read on. He couldn’t believe his friends were gone. Race and Spot were two of his best friends. He was sure Spot and Griff had killed eachother. Spot had been ripped up by Gip’s death, he vowed to Specs he would kill Griff if it killed him, and it looked like it did.

          He looked out over the lake and sighed. He was moving on… or trying to.

~0~

          Nick looked down at the wrinkled yellow newspaper and sighed. Gypsy had died over 50 years ago and her memory still haunted him.

          “Dad?” Maddy asked ripping him from his memories.

          “Hm?” he asked

          “I’m sorry you lost Gypsy,” She said taking his hand.

Nick smiled and patted her hand softly. “Me too my girl… me too…”

“Why don’t you go lay down hm?” she asked.

          Nick nodded. “I could use a nap” he smiled and stood up. He sighed and walked down stairs slowly. He walked to his room and laid down on his back with a sigh.

          He heard the door creak open he looked up expecting to see Maddy there but there wasn’t a soul in sight. A smell of flowers filled the room. He furrowed his brow and closed his eyes.

 He felt someone jump on his waist straddling him. “Bout time you showed up…” he gasped and looked up seeing Gypsy sitting on him.

          He smirked and rested his hands on her hips as she bent down to kiss him. “I’ve missed you…” she smiled.

          “I missed you more” he smiled, his voice sounding young and full of life again.

          “I have been waiting for you…” she smiled.

          “You have?” he asked her.

          “Yes…” Gip smiled. “Le’s go… there is lots to be done” she smiled and got off of him he smiled and followed.

 

          Two weeks later Felicia and Brandon Meyers’ got a letter in the mail, return address Michigan. 

          “Brandon! We got a letter from Nick!” Felicia called opening the envelope with tired hands. Brandon looked up from his rocking chair and smiled. “Read it out loud?” he asked.

          Felicia smiled then looked down. She furrowed her eyebrows.

          “Dear Fire and Mush,

          Although I do not know you real names, or if either of you are still able to read this note. I was blessed to hear many stories of your days in New York along side my Father. He spoke of nothing but love for the both of you.

          There is no easy way to tell you of this sad news. Two weeks ago my Father passed away. The last conversation we had was about his life in New York. He told me about Gypsy and how he lost her. I do believe he is with her now making up for lost time.

          Again I am sorry bring you this sad news like this, I don’t even know if this is still your address, or if you will never know the fate of my father. But I do believe he is happier now.

Thank-you,

Madeline Seaver”