"Right, squirt, you see that candy cane over there?"
"The b-big blue one or the one on d-display?"
"The one on display, of course! You have to get something valuable."
"But, but I want the blue one. It's valuable to... me."
Tiff looked at me with all the disgust she could muster. "Look here, Kenny." And she could muster a lot, "you wanna join our gang? You have to steal something we can resell. And you can buy the blue one at like... any store. But that shiny on display?"
"P-Pricey, eh?"
"Pricey." Tiff rubbed her thumb and forefinger. "Good luck."
I was sweating like grandma at a birthday party, but I had to do this. I approached the counter, totally oblivious on how to fulfil my task.
I pointed towards it. "H-how much for that, s-sir?"
Mr. Powell gave me a sidelong glance. "Two jots. Even. Move along, son, you're crowding my counter."
I was the only person in the store. "H-how about a halfer?"
"Now, why would I sell at quarter price to a snot-nosed, wannabe troublemaker?" He asked in a mater-of-fact tone that brook no argument.
I was sure he could hear my gulp. "I'm n-n-not."
"Sure, sure. Now get. You're crowding my counter."
Get out you worthless sack of mule dung. Get out! Get!
The memory sparked a primal rage in me seldom seen my the world. I grabbed a stack of books to my right and flung it at the counter. The man exclaimed and I took my opportunity to jump for the display case. I made it a total of three steps before the burly shopkeeper had me by the scruff of my neck.
"So you wanted to eat the special candy?" The constable was a tired, bespectacled man with thinning hair. "And no one set you up for this?"
"I-I wanted the b-big candy, s-sir. That's all."
"Mmhhmm." He wrote something on a piece of paper. "Sure you did." Handed it to me. "Take this outside and watch your head. I catch you pulling a stunt like that again and you're going downstream."
I handed the piece of paper to the old wig lady who just waved me with a disgruntled look. "They're coming in younger and younger..." I heard her mutter as I walked out the building.
I was dreading to return home. Get! I walked slow. Sad. I lost my chance, made a fool of myself... I was doomed. Get! I kicked rocks and ripped low hanging branches. I felt vengeful to say the least.
Get!
"Psst. Psst. Squirt."
It was TIff, in the alley. She signaled for me to follow and I did. She looked at me with hands on hips and a great, wide grin on her face.
"Well, well, well. Congratulations squirt, you're in."
"B-b-but I failed!"
She barked a self satisfied laugh. "You really though you could just walk into Mr. Powell's store and steal something under his nose?" She barked again. "Not only did you improvise, but, and this is a big but, you kept your mouth shut to the copper." I noticed then that she was holding something behind her back. "Your heart is right, squirt. You do belong with us. Welcome."
She handed me the big, blue candy cane from before. "To a profitable relationship."
I looked at the treat unable to comprehend what had just happened. "I-I... this..." I looked up, feeling my eyes watering. "Thank you, T-Tiff."
"No thanks needed, squirt." She ruffled my hair. "You passed your first trial."
If you've made it this far thanks for reading! 😗
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Return from First Trial | 5 Minute Freewrite: Tuesday to Јоцко's Web3 Blog
