and tried to tell his life story for a Budweiser to anyone. Candace and Claire were popular and very playful.
Whenever they went out, Mimmy always encouraged Sheryl to accompany the sisters to make sure they didn’t get out of hand. Slowly with the help of Melanie and her father, the girls launched a life of crime. Then they underestimated what they were up against once store owners started letting them slide. It started out with Sheryl unwittingly following the sisters and Melanie into a boutique called Le Chic.
“Let’s check out this place,” suggested Melanie, winking.
Melanie, Candace and Claire planned on stealing but conveniently forgot to tell Sheryl. They moved cautiously into position and noticed that security was in the back.
“That just makes our getaway so much easier,” Candace said.
Melanie found a pair of jeans and Candace found two tops. She checked the sizes. They were perfect. She stashed them in Sheryl’s backpack. They were about to leave the store, and a security guard swooped down, blocking their exit. He brought them back into the store and wouldn’t let them go until after Sheryl spent all the money she had on the stolen items. The store owner knew Melanie’s father and notified him. Papa was there an hour later, half drunk and talking plenty trash.
Sheryl was sick to her stomach from embarrassment. Candace was scared that Papa would report the incident to Mimmy. Claire tried to diffuse the situation. Claire’s mind was working fast.
“Hey Papa,” she greeted the old man. “You know us better…” Claire started.
“Back home in my country, I’d whip yer ass until y’all were sore. But in this country you can get away with anything, if you know the way…”
“What?” the girls answered at the same time.
“Are you gonna report us?” Claire asked. They watched him, unsure.
“Huh? What? The system doesn’t help,” responded Papa.
Silence followed. Papa took a swallow of some brown liquor and scratched his head as if thinking of their punishment. Then he let out a soft chuckle. The girls watched, perplexed by his behavior. He led them to a park bench and sat them down.
“Come have a seat and let’s chat about the birds and the bees,” Papa said.
They did as told and sat uncomfortable, waiting for his next move.
“Let me school you to the art of boosting before y’all end up in the slammer,” he said with a drawl.
Melanie, Claire and Candace looked at each other then back to Papa. They watched Sheryl staring at them with a look of difference. She walked away, disappearing inside a McDonald’s restaurant.
“Rule number one; know your territory. Ya gotta sniff out all the security systems. And be familiar with all the exits but always have at least two ways out and a back-up. Rule number two; be casual and always walk slowly to the merchandise. You don’t want to arouse suspicions.”
“It’s that easy, huh?” Claire said.
“Only if you’re confident in what you’re doing, a well planned job is rarely fucked up” Papa answered.
“We’re young, so what happens if security follows you around?” Candace asked.
“Yeah, like they always do…” Melanie joined in.
Papa was about to speak, but took a sip of brew instead, when he saw Sheryl’s glare when she returned.
“I can’t believe that you guys are sitting here listening to this after what you’ve just been through?” Sheryl lectured.
The sisters waved her off and no one paid her any attention to what she was saying.
“That leads us to the third rule. Always dress to kill. That makes the sales people less nervous and they think you’ve got dough.”
“That’s easy for you to say, but who’s gonna believe we got money?” Claire asked.
“Tricks of the trade y’all can use in the future. Only use it if your heart is in it.”
“What makes you think that we even wanna live like that?” Claire asked, cutting in.
“In my travels as a refugee, I’ve met a lot of good people and a lot of bad ones.”
“And what…?” Claire asked.
“You two are fearless beauties, athletic and smart. With a little development you two can…”
“You think we have more heart than all these others…” Claire started.
“If you can remember not to disturb your elders when they talk, then the sky’s the limit for you two. You mark my words.”
“Papa, tell ’em about how ya met Sammy the Bull…” Melanie encouraged.
“Si, we once shared the same cell. I once saved his life, which reminds me that whenever you find that someone is trying to go against you, then that person must be eliminated… Do all you can do to rid yourselves of that kinda person,” Papa said, and took a long sip of brown liquor. “Never get involved with this shit,” he said, holding up the fifth of Brugal Rum. He drank some more. “Listen to Papa,” he continued. “He knows.”
“What do we owe you for this?” Claire asked.
“Stay true to Papa and promise never to steal from one another. Game’s over when you start stealing from each other,” Papa said, snapping his fingers.
“Papa, that’s it? You tell me before never to kill a cop?” Melanie asked.
“That was when you were alone…now you got a team.” Papa smiled and raised his bottle.
“Papa if we…” Claire started.
“You two haven’t given me your promise yet,” Papa said.
The girls looked speechlessly at each other. Claire raised her eyebrow and nodded to her younger sister. They turned and faced the drinking man. He seemed hardly able to handle the liquor. The smell, like his thick accent, was heavy on his breath when he opened his mouth.
“Well… What y’all gonna say?”
“You’ve got our word, Papa. We promise not to steal from each other,” the girls chorused.
“And I’m talking about from the heart,” he smiled and coughed.
“Can we go now?” Sheryl pleaded.
“Okay, then that’s it. She’s right. Ya gals better get going now.” Papa led the girls to the train station.
“Papa, c’mon, I got some questions…” Candace said.
“That’s it girls, classes finished. Get home safely and remember it is very important to never break your promise. Now stay in school.”
“But you can’t make any money doing that,” Candace said.
“Yeah, but you’ll be able to count the number of years you two will get if you follow that drunken old man’s advice. Now please let’s go,” Sheryl deadpanned.
“You don’t have to be soo bossy,” Candace said.
“Ah man, she’s just hating, ‘cause she’s an orphan,” Claire added.
“You know I do have parents,” Sheryl said.
“And they probably ran off because you’re so mean,” Claire said.
“I’ll find them someday. And if I don’t, then I really won’t need them.”
The girls walked quietly back to the home. Candace and Claire were thinking of their new game, boosting, while Sheryl was contemplating leaving New York for college.