This writing was accepted for publication in the 108-page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/paperback book “The Great White” cc&d, v318 (the February 2022 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book Unfinished Business the cc&d Jan.-April 2022 magazine issues collection book		get the 410 page Jan.-April 2022 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

Born to Steal

Bill Tope

    It’s not as if Callie didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. It had been drilled into her since childhood: stealing was simply wrong, period. But, greedily, Callie regarded the Hostess Ding Dongs on the shelf in the small convenience store just down the block from her home.
    She’d never actually stolen anything before, at least not since she was little, when she didn’t know any better. After all, she had been only a child! Things were so much more complicated now that she was grown. But right now,the temptation was real; she could feel it in her bones, on her skin, like an electric charge.
    “Can I help you find anything?” asked the ever-present cashier, sidling up to her again. “No...umm, no, I’m fine,” Callie managed in a voice that cracked with nerves. She knew she sounded edgy. Would that tip off the cashier that something was up? “If you need anything, just holler.” Why won’t she just go away and leave me alone? Callie wondered. There was a long line for lottery tickets, why doesn’t she go hassle them for a while? She moved her feet in place uneasily. Was Callie being too obvious? It wasn’t important, Callie told herself, for she hadn’t done anything wrong yet. She was still on the side of the law. For now.
    But in just a minute, if only she could find the opportunity, she would swipe that snack cake! And there was nothing that anybody could do about it. Callie felt a sudden surge of power; she was the one calling the shots now. She smiled tightly to herself, then glanced at the other customers; were any of them looking her way? No. Amazingly enough, they were all preoccupied with themselves. Each in his own little world. Some were buying coffees or sodas, or reading their newspapers while waiting in line; many were bent over cell phones, clicking away. Still, Callie felt so conspicuous.
    Suddenly the cashier, back at her register, knelt to retrieve something that had fallen from the checkout counter. Now was her chance! Callie knew it was wrong. She bit her bottom lip, hesitant. But on this, her special day, Callie was striking out on her own, opening up a new chapter—as a thief. Callie extended a grasping hand to the shelf and made to scoop up the Ding Dongs and stash it in the very large purse she carried.
    Inexcusably, Callie misjudged the distance and wound up knocking the treat onto the floor. She gave a little yelp of dismay and compounded her error by stepping on the Ding Dongs and smashing it flat with her shoe. Now everybody was staring at her, curious.
    Chocolate cake and whipped cream oozed from the wrapper and onto the floor and stuck to Callie’s shoe. Now, not only would she go to jail for stealing, but Callie wouldn’t even get to enjoy the fruits of her thievery. What would it be like to have a criminal record? she wondered.
    The cashier, witnessing the episode, hurried forward with a tissue with which to wipe Callie’s shoe. Why was she doing that? wondered Callie, her face flushing and her eyes opening wide. Didn’t that cashier recognize her for the thief that she was? She was only making it worse. Callie wondered if anybody had phoned the police.
    “There, there, Callie, let me help you,” said the persistent cashier, as she cleaned Callie’s shoe. “Your mom was in this morning, to get her coffee on the way to work, and she mentioned as how today was your birthday.” Callie frowned.
    The cashier wadded up the spent tissue. “Why don’t you just take a Ding Dongs, on-the-house, in honor of your birthday? I know you love them.” Snatching a Ding Dongs from the shelf, she handed it to Callie. “I mean, it’s not every day that a woman turns seven years old!” Callie blanched with shame. “Tell your mom hi, Callie.” The cashier turned away. The little girl slinked from the store, the Ding Dongs clutched in her fist, vowing to never ever steal again. It was too hard on the nerves!

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...