Part one of this story can be found here: https://broussardlana.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/at-the-shopette-pt-1/
“What’s your name?” asked the dark cop.
“Greg….Greg Taylor,” I said.
“So Greg, you should be in school, why are you here?”
“Lunch,” I answered weakly.
“So, you like baseball cards, do ya?” asked the dark cop.
“Umm, yeah,” I said.
“Yeah!” he bellowed. “It’s yes sir!”
“Yes sir, sir!” I said.
“So Greg, what’s your dad’s name?” asked the blond M.P.
“No! He just got promoted!” I whined.
“Oh really?” asked the dark cop.
“Well, how’s he gonna feel knowing you took him down?”
“I don’t know,” I was almost sobbing.
“Look at your hair! You think you’re cool?” the dark cop grabbed me up by the shoulders. He looked at the blond cop.
“How tough are ya?” he sneered. He drew back his hand like he was gonna punch me. I flinched. The blond cop put his arm out.
“Easy Teke,” he said.
“I know punks! You don’t wanna grow up to be a punk!” said the dark cop.
“Yeah kid,” the other cop looked at me. “Nobody likes a weirdo, huh?
“Why did you take them?” bellowed the dark cop.
I looked down at my shoes.
“Answer me!” He lunged at me again. I shielded my face with my hands.
“I just saw them. I wished I had brought more money, but I didn’t…” I said weakly.
“Oh yes, you didn’t, just slipped your mind,” sneered the dark cop.
“So Mr. Taylor, what do you think we should do?” asked the blond cop.
“I…. don’t…..know…..” I said.
“Take him down to the station, call his parents,” said the dark cop.
“No, please!” I said.
The dark cop raised his arm at me. I flinched.
“Whoa, Teke…. We can’t beat him up here,” said the blond cop.
They looked at each other. They looked at me.
“He needs a good lesson,” said the dark cop.
“Yep,” said the blond guy.
“Need to make sure he doesn’t get on the sports teams anymore…” said the dark cop. I looked down. Baseball, football were my life. I thought about what I was missing in math, algebra never looked so good. Did the school wonder where I was? Had they called my mother?
“I mean, do we really need a guy in the Army making major if his son is a Klepto?” asked the blond cop.
“No we don’t,” said the dark cop smirking at me.
“Alright kid, get up, come with us,” said the dark cop.
I got up. This was gonna be it for me. Drowned in shame and taking my family down with me. I followed them outside. My head hung low. A few days earlier I had been the guy taking Kathy Sibley to the dance, now I was a thief, a Stealer of Cards, a base hitter without a future, a wannabe Joe Namath.
In the car, I looked at the back of their heads, military haircuts, police caps. I wondered who I would call when I got to the station. My mom or my dad? Teke looked back at me and smirked again. I stared at the floorboard. The car stopped and I looked up and saw Grayson Junior High School.
“Umm…why are we here?” I asked weakly.
“Go on kid, get out!” said the blond cop.
“What are you waiting for?” asked the Fine Fisted Teke.
“Umm…nothing, do I…just go?” I asked.
“Yeah, march on up there, we’re gonna be right here til we are sure you are inside,” said the blond cop.
“But, I thought…”
“Shut up kid before we change our minds. Don’t let us ever see you again!” Teke said slinging a fist into his palm.
I didn’t ask twice but bounded up the front steps. I turned back to look, the two MPs were laughing and shaking their heads. It was 1975…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCeIIcPAwv8
Whoa, you had me going there for a minute. Poor Greg Taylor was probably about to wet his pants, wondering exactly WHERE they planned to beat him up. Love the cops laughing and shaking their heads at the end, as if they enjoy scaring kids straight. Your dialogue is so realistic, Lana, as if maybe you somehow acquired insider knowledge. 🙂
Thanks, Joan. There was some insider knowledge involved in this one. I sometimes pilfer the Rock Guy’s experiences and post them on the Internet for thousands of people to read, lol. Actually more like the five people who read my blog., ha ha. I have no shame. Happy almost weekend to you!
A lucky break, I suppose!
I would say quite lucky 😀
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
Thanks, John!
You are very graciously welcome.
Those were the days! Perfectly captured Lana – one could almost say it read like direct experience 🙂
Ha ha. Thanks, Pauline. I randomly steal the Rock Guy’s experiences and put them on the Internet for everyone to read. This story had been in the rejected pile, and I didn’t want to send it out to be rejected again. Those days were pretty cool, though….. 😀
Isn’t that great. Scared straight! Great story, Lana. 🙂
I’m kinda glad they decided to take it easy on him. 😀
They were smart cops. I think he learned his lesson and they got a laugh 🙂
You know, Lana, sometimes all a person needs is one good break to stanch that downhill slippery slope. Glad this young man got his, even if he’s only fiction!!
Yeah, that is true. Sometimes with teenagers it is also peer pressure and poor impulse control. The cops who “busted” him must have seen something in him, Lol 😀
Not only the cops did have a laugh, it really is a laugh! I know this feeling after having done something shameful in teenager days and parents got to know about it, but you still had the chance to say sorry and change the habit hahaha. Did Greg Taylor learned his lessons? Was a wonderful story Lana, and the end of the story was good too! Well done!
Hi Juli! Thank you so much for your kind words. I think teenagers are also attracted to certain behaviors due to peer pressure of their friends and also poor impulse control. I think that is what Greg Taylor’s problem was which is what the cops saw when they were messing with him. I kinda liked how that one cop pretended like he was gonna take him out and beat him up and how they were threatening to have his dad demoted, lol. I would say that Greg Taylor learned a lesson and turned out just fine 😀
Thank you Lana. I thought so that Greg Taylor learned his lessons haha, it was a good story!
Whew! He was one lucky kid. Great story.
He was for sure! Thank you so much, Jennie. I’m glad you liked it. 😀
I did! Best to you. 🙂
Best to you also, Jennie!
Wow! I loved the end . . . because the middle had me worried for the poor boy and I was hoping for no violence. 🙂
Thanks Debby! I think the cops must’ve seen through to the good guy Greg buried in all that teen angst, lol 😀
I think so. If only life were like that. 🙂
Phew! He was lucky to get away like that! Today it would be very different! Loved the “Yes sir, sir! ” LOL 😁 xxxxx
Thank you so much, Sarah. He was truly lucky, ha ha 😀