AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Rory. My name is Rory. And you don’t have to thank me.” Just then, the baby begins to cry and the woman rummages in her purse for a toy to pacify her. Finding a rattle, she gives it to the baby, who coos in delight, realizing she can make the rattle, well, rattle.
“Mommy!” The woman’s smile melts when she sees her oldest daughter down on the ground holding her ankle. She looks back to the baby, then to her daughter, unsure who to tend to.
“I can watch her for you,” I offer.
“Oh, thank you, Rory. You are so kind to help me.” The woman rushes off to help her fallen child, and I perch on the bench, moving the stroller back and forth like she did while I gaze at her purse. I know I won’t have much time. I’m sure the woman has Band-Aids in her giant bag. Glancing at her again, I make sure she’s not looking as I dive my hand into her purse and find the wallet. My heart pounds as I grip the crisp dollars in my hand and tug them free, slipping them inside the pocket of my hoodie.
“Thank you again,” she calls, rushing back to the bench with her daughter in her arms. “You’ve been a lifesaver, Rory.”
“It’s not a problem. Have a great day,” I reply, my response slightly rushed.
The stolen money burns a hole in my pocket, my hands going clammy from my actions as I scurry from the scene of the crime. Once I’m out of sight, I run and I don’t stop until I’m back home and the door is shut behind me. Rushing to the couch, I pull the money out and flick through the bills that are held together with a rubber band. I notice a yellow sticky note glued to the front and pull it off to read it.
To whoever steals this money, may it serve you well in times of need.
Puzzled, I read it again, wondering what it could mean. Did she mean for me to see it? Knowing that only someone desperate would take it from her? What kind of person does something like that?
Brushing that thought aside, I begin to count the twenty-dollar bills.
One hundred.
Two hundred.
Three hundred.
My pulse quickens as I get closer and closer to my goal.
Four hundred.
There’s still a wad of twenties in my hand. I flip one after another, the smell of the cash infiltrating my nose until the last dollar is counted.
Six hundred.
I fucking did it.
We won’t go cold. We won’t go hungry. And I won’t become Donny’s possession. Today I proved something to myself. I’m smarter than people think I am, quicker than they judge me to be. I can take care of myself, fuck everyone else.
Tonight, I’m ordering a double pepperoni pizza to celebrate and giving Mitch five hundred dollars to repay Donny.
And Donny?
He can suck a dick.
