Teresa sat on the bench at the mall and watched the world go by
That was about all she could do. She had no money, so the best she
could
do was sit on the bench and watch people go by with sacks of stuff she could
never afford.
She had browsed a little bit. She had wandered into a jewelry store and
looked longingly at a pair of beautiful gold earrings, knowing how great they
would look dangling beneath her beautiful strawberry blond hair
She was 15, fresh-faced, petite and cute, what anybody would describe
as
the All-American girl. She had never done a bad thing in her life or got
anything less than straight A's in school. Her parents loved her, her friends
loved her, the people in church thought she was an angel.
Teresa knew she was an angel...a goody-goody.
Yuk, she thought. Some day...
Her day dream was interrupted by someone sitting next to her. She
glanced, looked away and then did a double-take. She felt herself gasp
inaudibly
A woman had sat next to her wearing a black leather jacket, long black
leather pants and boots...dark sunglasses covered her eyes.
The woman took out apack of Salem 100s, pulled one out, put it between
her lips, lit it and let out a steady stream of smoke. She turned to Teresa.
""Hey Teresa, want a cigarette?''
""I don't smoke, who are you?''
The woman turned and tipped her sunglasses slightly. It wasn't a woman,
it was Wendy, a girl she knew from school....when she bothered to show up.
Teresa only knew her slightly, only knowing she had a tough home life.
""Wendy,'' Teresa gasped. ""You look great.''
Wendy took a long drag and smiled as the smoke wafted toward the
ceiling.
""Thank you,''' Wendy said, and she smiled inside.
Wendy knew she needed an accomplice and her mind had immediately
thought
of Teresa, the All-American chickwho nobody suspected. Why Teresa? Wendy had
always perceived a streak of independence and confidence in this girl among
the usual crowd of bobby-soxers who prattled endlessly about boys, football
and clothes.
She also knew Teresa hung out at the mall.
""When did you start smoking?'' Teresa asked.
""Does it matter,'' she said. ""Try it.''
Wendy looked harder at her friend and she understood. She was smart
enough to realize this was a girl who had come from the wrong side and wasn't
going back. She felt the erotic power radiating.
She accepted the cigarette and Wendy lit it for her. Teresa coughed
only
slightly, tried it again and felt wonderful. She stared at the gloves...
""The gloves look very chic,'' Teresa said.
""They do....and they leave no fingerprints either','' Wendy
smiled.
Teresa felt a rush.
""Only criminals worry about not leaving fingerprints,'' she
observed.
""You're right,'' Wendy said, taking a drag for emphasis.
Teresa took another drag...stared at the passing crowd, then took
another
drag.
""I don't know what's got into you,'' Teresa said.
""But whatever it
is...I want to help.''
Wendy smiled and looked at Teresa intently.
In a low voice she said, ""It's called crime. Stealing.
Robbery. Larceny.
And I intend to be an expert in it.''
""It's obvious you need a partner in crime,'' Teresa said.
""Yes, and I want you,''
Teresa took another drag of her Salem 100. She was a good girl from a
good family and had never done anything wrong in her life. She was pure and
innocent.
But the intoxicating feeling that was coursing through her body was
washing that away...almost from recall. The cigarette had started a rush. She
doubted it would ever subside. She hoped it never would.
Teresa returned Wendy's gaze.
""No one's stopping you here, partner.''
*****
The jewelry store was in a secluded part of the mall. Perfect, thought
Wendy. She was already admiring Teresa's criminal instincts.
""You understand the plan perfectly?'' Wendy asked.
They stood just outside, enjoying one last cigarette. Wendy understood
there was a vicarious thrill to being on the edge of action, the sensational
rush pulsating through the body as she waited for the action to begin, for
the actual act of crime to commence.
""Absolutely,'' Teresa said, taking a long drag from her
cigarette.
""You are about to become a criminal,'' Wendy said.
""How does it feel.''
""Indescribable,'' Teresa said.
Wendy took a drag from her cigarette. Inside her jacket she fingered
the
glass cutter. Amazing what you can get at a pawn shop, she thought. She had
traded one of her mom's necklaces for it. The fucking drunk would never miss
it. The pawn store owner had agreed to the trade, especially when Wendy
promised there would be more business to follow.
She took a last drag from her cigarette. Teresa did the same. Wendy
dropped it on the floor and crushed it with her boot.
""Let's do it,'' she said.
Teresa walked into the store. Wendy waited outside for the signal.
There were no other customers. A male clerk, thirty-something, waited
behind the counter. A woman, a little bit older, worked at a desk.
""Can I help you,'' the man asked pleasantly.He eyed this
sweet young
girl and gave her an eager smile.
Teresa walked to a counter farthest away from the entrance.
""I saw a couple of necklaces back here that I liked,'' she
said.
""Excellent,'' the man said. ""Which ones.''
Teresa felt the blood rushing and a surprising wetness. Excitement
washed
away any nervousness. Confidence surged. Wendy had picked her partner in
crime well.
""This sapphire one here,'' Teresa said, pointed to one
underneath the
glass.
The man smiled and brought it out. He held it out for Teresa to look
at.
""What do you think?'' he asked.
Teresa looked closely.
""Great,'' she said softly.
The man replied softly, ""You'd look exquisite in
that.....'''
""WHAT!!!'' Teresa screammed.`""HOW DARE YOU!!!'
""What...'' the man stuttered.'
""HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME LIKE THAT!!! YOU BASTARD!!!!''
The man was almost speechless....
"""What..what...''
The woman at the desk, startled by the outburst, came rushing over...
""What's going on here.''
""THIS MAN IS A PERVERT!!!!''
""What....what..whatdid I say,''
""I'm the manager,'' the woman said. ""What did he
say.''
""He said he's like to fuck me while I wore this....'''
""I never....''
The diversion was perfect. Wendy sauntered into the store. The argument
was now louder and more animated. Nobody noticed her, even if she was dressed
in her deliciously evil black leather outfit.
She stopped at the first counter and pulled out the glass cutters. She
worked quickly, cutting a large hole in the glass. Beneath, many expensive
rings glittered from their cases.
"""MY FATHER WILL HAVE YOU THROWN IN JAIL!!!!''' Teresa
screammed.
The woman tried to calm her dow.
At the other end of the store, totally unnoticed, Wendy's black leather
gloves worked quickly. The glass had dropped noiselessly without breaking on
the soft velvet interior of the ring case.
She pushed it aside. She grabbed one ring, then another and another.
Criminal sensations pulsated through body.
""I am the greatest fucking crook in the world,'' she thought
as she
placed the rings in her jacket pocket. ""What a fucking robbery.''
She took six and sensed she was finished. She saw a glittering pair of
gold earrings from a rack. She grabbed those too and quietly walked out the
store. Teresa was still hysterical.
""YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!! I'LL BE BACK...''
""Please miss, you misunderstood me.''
Teresa stormed out of the store and strolled quickly through the mall.
She found the back entrance. Wendy was waiting for her.
""How did we do?'' Teresa asked?
""You were great, the perfect crime!!'' Wendy said.
She pulled out two cigarettes, lit them both, handed one to Teresa.
""Let me see!!'' Teresa saidf eagerly.
Quickly Wendy pulled out the rings, one by one...ruby, emerald
and....of
course diamonds galore.
""Omigod,'' Teresa said, the cigarette dangling from her lips
as she
examined one closely. The diamonds sparkled.
""I estimate $8,000 total,'' Wendy said.
""What a robbery,'' Teresa moaned.
""Our first robbery,'' Wendy said. ""This just
gives us seed money.''
Teresa gave a fake sad smile.
""We can't keep them?''' she asked.
""No....we need the money for our evil crime spree,'' Wendy
said.
Teresa smiled, and took a long inhale on her cigarette.
Wendy then pulled something else out of her pocket.
""But you can keep these,'' Wendy said, showing Teresa the
earrings.
Teresa's eyes bulged and she moaned softly. Wendy placed one in one ear
and another in the second ear.
""You look beautiful,'' Wendy said.
Teresa felt herself glow.
""Thank you,'' she said, and she gave Wendy a soft but firm
hug.
""Your welcome partner,'' Wendy said, returning the hug.
They looked each other in the eyes and Wendy placed a soft kiss on
Teresa's lips.
""You haven't seen anything yet,'' Wendy said.
The roller-coaster was only picking up speed.