Then to our horror John stuffed two of the best looking sunglasses into his bag. John looked around and caught us staring at him. Instead of looking guilty or even embarrassed, the bold boy actually grinned at us.
“Come on, lets go!” I urged Simon and Edison. I turned back to find my pals gaping open-mouthed at John.
“Did you see me taking those sunnies?” John said in a low tone.
“Don’t you guys dare let the cat out of the bag.” he warned us.
John reached into his bag and handed Edison one of the stolen sunnies as soon as we walked out of the shop.
“This is my first gift to Edison but don’t worry guys you’ll get more gifts if you keep mum of this matter.” chuckled John.
It was getting late and I suggested we should go home. Edison suggested we meet the next day at the same place and I agreed to the plan half-heartedly. Edison paraded in front of us wearing his new OAKLEY sunglasses. I have to admit that he looked rather cool in it.
“John certainly has taste.” Edison said admiringly.
When I reached home I was panicking and troubled as to whether I should tell my parents but John’s warning kept prompting to my mind. At the dinner table that night, I was so nervous that I began fumbling with the cutleries on the table.
“What’s wrong with you today?” mum raised her voice.
“Nothing.” I replied spilling my glass of Cola on my mum’s favourite tablecloth. Dad stared at me.
The next day, the four of us met at the same place again. This time, Simon suggested that we look at some new FUBU clothes and walked into a surf shop. While we were busy browsing through the T-shirts and jeans, John walked out of the fitting room and returned a pair of jeans to the salesgirl.
“Thank you but they don’t fit me.” “Come on guys, lets go.” And John charged out of the surf shop.
John was giggling all the way. I looked at him questioningly and found the answer when he showed us two pairs of jeans that were not returned.
I gasped. “John, you really shouldn’t take things like that! This is really becoming a horrible habit!”
“Oh shut up! You know as well that you are going to get half the things I take. I don’t think you will be complaining about that!” John retorted.
After a while we began to make our way to the next shop. Before we could even take a step, a deep voice boomed behind us.
“Excuse me, I think that all of you should come to the manager’s office.”
My heart started pounding. We all turned around. My worst fear came true when I saw the security officer standing there, his eyes warning us not to run.
“Whatever for?” John responded fearlessly. The security officer pointed at a white tag dangling out from John’s bag. “Okay, I admit I stole this thing, but my friends are innocent. Please let them go.”
“I’m sorry. Shoplifting is a very serious offence. All I know is that the four of you were together. Come with me to the manager’s office, let me contact your parents and we’ll sort things out without having to call the police.
“Please don’t call our parents, please” pleaded the three of us. “Please let my friends go. As for my parents they’re not in town.” Said John.
I knew that we had no other options so I said that I’ll call my dad and I ringed home. My prayers were answered when my brother Michael answered the phone. I told him what had happened and the dilemma we were in, I heard the receiver drop. My brother was shocked and he drove down to the city and settled the problem with the manager. My brother promised me that he wouldn’t tell my parents about this incident. From then on, every time a letter came home I would run and fetch it hoping it was not from the surf shop or the police station. It’s been two years and we have not heard from John. We hope that we will never see him again.
