Sarah had often been underestimated. It started back in Poland but hadn't gotten any better in America. Most of the time she didn't have a problem with it. People that weren't assumed to be smart or important heard things and knew things other people wouldn't expect, and she enjoyed learning of things others didn't think she could use.
And even if she also got underestimated in her family sometimes, she was okay with it.
It didn't mean she wasn't appreciating it when someone saw how sharp she could be.
She met Spot Conlon at the Rally, both sitting at the same table with Jack until he went to dance with the other newsies. Spot was of course sitting there, in the front row, to announce his presence, to remind the entirety of New York - or at least it's newsies - that he was here, that he had supported first, and that he was still the most renowned newsie in all of New York. Drinking Coke instead of water and wearing his signature suspenders it was clear he was here to promote his image just as much as the strike.
He wasn't in Manhattan often, from what she knew.
It was clear he was smart, calculative even, and she was pleasantly surprised when he asked for her opinion on the strike, for her work and if she thought others, kids like her, too, would strike, if this managed to hold for more than a few days.
He listened to her opinion on it and just smirked when he got another glance of Jack dancing in the front with David and Medda.
"Just look out for Kelly, he's meanin' well but also an idiot. Don't let 'im hold you back." The 'you're too smart for him' went unsaid, but implied.
Sarah smiled courteously. "I think we both know that sometimes, we have soft spots for newsies from Manhattan, if they're good for us or not." She had seen both Racetrack's looks when Spot was on stage giving his speech, as well as Spot's as he watched Race dance with the other Duane Street boys. She was observant after all.
That made Spot's head turn to her a bit faster than it had before, his smile bearing more of an edge to it. "Do we?"
"I think you know exactly what I mean."
He looked her over again, seeming to assess if she would do anything with the information she definitely didn't have, and seemed to settle on trusting her. For now. "Just see that you don't go paradin' any rumours around, Jacobs. Things travel fast, true or not."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
He sipped from his Cola again, his eyes catching on Jack pulling David into a dance. "Besides I think Jackie got his eyes on someone else."
Sarah hummed, watching her brother tentatively smile and have fun even admitst a throng of people like he never did before. "I have that feeling too."
They kept their talk about nothing but rumours and politics until Spot snapped at her to go to the side exit, jumping up and yelling orders to a girl on the upper balcony, evading running newsies and cops until she couldn't see him anymore and David was pushing her and Les outside, only to hear the commotion and fight inside, wondering what was happening but too unassuming for any policeman running around to be stopped.
They weren't here for her or her little brother. No, a lower-class girl and boy too young to even be put into the refuge weren't what they were here for.
But she'd remember what she saw and keep telling her colleagues and working friends what the men in power were willing to do to keep their workers obedient and quiet.
She was observant after all, and knew how to play her cards.
