The Price of Stealing Rough Draft

The Price for Stealing.

Mona shook her head. “I seriously doubt that is true.”

“That is what I heard.” Greg didn’t look up from his phone. “Strange shit like that will happen to shoplifters of that store.”

Mona rubbed at her brow of her sunburned forehead. “I get that stealing is bad but come on. People turning into these giant blueberries?” She blinked her green eyes. “You realize how crazy that sounds right?”

“Then you are going to think people saying they are also sometimes kidnapped as well.”

Mona rolled her eyes. “That is absurd. Royally so.”

Greg looked up from his phone and raised an eyebrow. “Who the hell says royally so?”

Mona shrugged her shoulders. “I do? Look what does that have to do with what we are talking about?”

“I don’t know. I just haven’t heard anyone say that before. It is a very odd thing to say.”

“Can we get back to the subject at hand already instead of my speech patterns?”

Greg winced. “Fine. Look there isn’t to much more to say.” He looked back at his phone. “I told you the crazy shit already.”

Mona crossed her arms. “Where is this store than?”

“Why?”

“Because I want to prove to you that this is a big intrnet hox that is why.” She walked to the window and looked down at the street below. “Something like this is surly click bait.”

Greg laughed. “I think it has to be true.”

She turned her head, her long red hair falling behind her back. “What!”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Hey sometimes something this crazy could only be true. Right?”

Mona closed her eyes and shook her head. “You have to be the. . .” She sighed. “Look I am going to prove to you that this is nothing but a hox. Now tell me where this store is at!”

“A few miles from here.” He scratched at his bald head. “It is a place called Goodman’s Friendly Market.”

“That place? I have drove past there but never went inside.” Mona scratched at her chin. “It was a very small store and I never saw a reason to.”

“So are you saying. . .”

“I am going. Don’t you worry. In fact how about we put a wager on this.”

Greg’s eyes lit up. “A wager?”

Mona walked over to him. “Yes a wager. You are not scared are you?”

Greg laughed. “No of course not. Why would I be. I have money to burn and more importantly money to earn.”

“Right. . .” She grabbed a nerby pad of paper. “So how does putting down twenty dollars sound?” She picked up a pen.

Greg shook his head. “Nope. Let’s do fifty.”

“Fifty bucks?”

“Yes. Unless you don’t think you can win the bet.”

Mona narrowed her eyes.  “Fifty bucks it is.” She wrote down on the paper. “To the vitor shall go the others fifty dollars and akcologment that they were wrong.”

Greg smilled. “Sounds good by me.”

Mona set the pad onto the table. “Well then. I guess I shall head off to Goodman’s.” She turned around. “See you in an hour or so.”

“Seince you are going shoplifting swipe me a blueberry pie.”

She turned her head. “Huh?”

“All of this talk about blueberries has put me in the mood for some myself. So while you are out there trying to prove there isn’t a curse swipe me some will you please.” He laughed. “And maybe some herbal tea.”

“This isn’t me going out to get fast food. This is serious.”

“Oh right.” His expression turned grim. “Serious. Get me a serious blueberry pie Mona. For the bet.”

She rolled her eyes and turned around. “What a nutcase.” She grabbed her grey jacket and walked out the door.

***

About a half hour later Mona found herself outside of Goodman’s Fredidly Market. “Place looks normal enough. I don’t see why anyone would get the idea that such thing as curses go on here.”

As she approached the automated door Mona noticed a flyer. “Hmm I might as well pick this up while I’m here.” She grabbed the parchment off the glass and exeimined the piece of papper.

Attention Goodman’s Fredily Market shopper. We do not tolerate shoplifting or other forms of stealing. You may think you are sneaky or you may get away with your crime. But in the end you will pay. You will always answer to the Goodman’s family justice. We are always watching.

“Well that is a bit creepy.” She crumpled up the paper and threw it to the ground. “But I have to prove that this whole thing is a hox or I am out fifty bucks.” She walked inside and rolled her eyes. “Oh come on. How can a quait little store like this not have airconditioning?”

“Hello and welcome to Goodman’s Freidily Market. Can I help you find something?” A man with short blonde hair walked up to her as he wipped his hands on his apron.

“Umm where is your produce section. This is the first time I have been in your little store.”

“Oh really? Well I have to say welcome and I hope you enjoy your stay here.” He pointed to his left. “You will find the produce down there. Sadly we are not having any free samples today but our prices are very low.”

Mona smiled. “Thank you. Have a nice day sir.”

“You too.” She turned around and shook her head. “Hopefully he isn’t around when I have to leave.”

Following his directions she quickly found the produce section of the store. Mona was astonished by just how much produce the store had, especially blueberries. “Shesh. I have never seen so much fruit and veggies in my life. Finding a blueberry pie should be easy. Now let’s see. Bannanna’s, apples, watermollons.” She scratched at her head. “Rasberries, blueberries. Ah here we go. Blueberry cake? No. Blueberry icecream. Blueberry taffy. Blueberry buckle?” Mona groaned. “Why is all of this in the produce section? Seriously where is the pie?”

She turned around the corner and spotted an entire row of pies. “Whoh.” She walked up to the pies. “Jackpot.” She picked up the closest pie to her, the sweet auroma filling her nostrials. “Ahh that smells really good. But how to get this out of here?” She looked around to make sure no one heard her. Thankfully the coast was clear. “I can’t really hide this thing. I haven’t really done any shop lifting before.” She sighed. “I guess I can only do one thing.”

She picked up the pie and walked towards the front of the store. Act like you bought it. She started to whistle. No one will be the wiser.

The young man who welcomed her at the door waved at her. “Got everything you need miss?”

Mona nodded her head. “Yup.”

“Well have a nice night. Enjoy your pie.”

“You too.” She walked right on out the door. Once outside Mona took a deep breath. “Phew. That is one of the most stressful things I have ever done.” She looked herself over. “And it looks like thing bad happened.  Greg owes me fifty bucks.” She hurried to her car.

***

The manager watched as Mona drove off. “Looks like we have another trouble maker. She will learn why no one steals from Goodman’s Fredily Market the hard way like all the others.”

***

Mona flung the door open to her appatment and smiled. “I’m back and I have your pie.”

Greg rushed into the room. “I want to see you.” He eximaned her top to bottom. “You look perfectly normal. What happened? Did they spray you with anything? Did they try and jump you?”

“No silly. Nothing happened.” She walked into the kitchen and set the pie down on the table. “I just took the pie and walked out. It was as simple as that. They didn’t even try and stop me.”

“As simple as that huh?” Greg laughed. “I can’t believe they just let you walk out of the store.”

“Well it’s why you act like you own the place. Then no one challenges you. So you know you don’t have to worry about beign stopped for shoplifting and crazy curses.”

“Well my hats off to you then.”

Mona giggled. “It was easy. Because you know curses and such are not real.” She held out her hand. “So I will take my money now.”

“Not yet.”

Her nostrials flared with rage. “What!”

He sat down at the table and pulled out the chair next to him. “Not until I see you eat this and nothing bad happens. I don’t want to know that you brought home a cursed pie and I pay for it.”

Mona rubbed her forehead. “I did not bring home a cursed pie. How dense can you be over this.”

“Then prove it. Take a bite. It is that easy.”

She threw her arms into the air. “I shouldn’t have to prove it. I already proved it. I already won. Why are you still doing this?”

Greg sighed. “Hey I said why. You are not getting my money until you have some of this pie.” He stood up. “I locked my fifty bucks saftly away and until you can show me that this pie is not tainted you can not say you won the bet.” He walked towards the door.

“Ok, ok.” She picked up a knife. “I will have some of the pie already.”

Greg turned around and smiled. “I knew you would come around.”

Mona frowned. “I am doing this for the money and to show you there is no blueberry curse on this pie or on Goodman’s Fredily Market.” She sat down and slid a piece onto a plate. “It is a good thing I love blueberries.” She dug into the pie, gulping down one bite after the other. “Mhmm. I can’t believe you didn’t want to try this thing out first. It tastes so good.”

Greg laughed. “Hey I said I needed to make sure it was curse proof. Some of us don’t want to be big old blueberries.”

She sighed as she finished her slice. “Well that didn’t feel very cursed.” Mona smiled. “It was very, very delisous.”

“I am glad you liked it.”

She held out her hand once again. “So my fifity bucks please?”

“Ok, ok. I will get it for you by tomorrow.” Greg sighed. “I ran to my office and stashed it there while you were gone. The place is closed up by now.”

Mona sighed. “Fine. But I guess that is one of the places I can’t get at.” She laughed. “Ugh I am beat. I had a rough day at work myself and I think it’s catching up with me.” She yawned.  “I am really tired all of a sudden.”

“Ya I can do with some rest myself.” He walked towards the door. “I am going to watch some television before knocking out for the night.”

She nodded her head. “Ok. See you tomorrow.” She stood up and walked towards her bedroom as she rubbed her eyes. “Hope I can make it to my bed before I fall asleep. Sheesh I am tired.” She pushed the door open and fell onto her bed, dead asleep.

***

Mona tossed and turned in her sleep, her dreams filled with strange images. She could see the Goodman’s Fredily Market and thosudans upon thousdans of blueberries.  The blueberries poured out of the store and covered the land and sky, consuming everything.

Suddenly she awoke, sweat clinging to her neck. “That was crazy. I think this bet is getting to me.” Mona giggled. “What time is it?”