As we all know, burglars and thieves take money and valuable belongings from us to get drugs and payments they owe paid. But what happens when a small boy changes a thief from these thoughts? How is that possible? This is a story of an average robbery, just changed by an unlikely source.
The story begins as Gerald, a 10-year-old; boy just goes to a mall to meet his friends. Nothing seems strange and they just go walking around checking out new toys and electronics. No one buys anything.
They decide to sit down and talk in the benches where people rest. Gerald sets down his bag after walking, and starts the conversation. After half an hour or so, an unsuspecting robber goes full speed at Gerald’s bag.
“ Heh, Heh! Stupid little kid doesn’t know how to watch his stuff! Now to get the goods!” says the robber. Of course mall security saw this so they were running, but that wasn’t what stopped the robber.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you”, says Gerald. “You can take the bag, but there will be no benefit if you do. I have a game system, which is worthless to you and a phone on low battery with 2 minutes left. You won’t be able to sell or use anyone of them because they are both used, also if you don’t want them, why would anyone else?” Gerald’s friends were shocked with amazement, tangled with confusion, and scared, for the robber was armed. Everyone was speechless. Gerald continued.
“I am young so my art in that bag will not grant you a penny. I have a bag of school supplies that will get you nowhere. I have no valuable things to help you. To you, I am nothing.” The robber was now frightened of this boys words. He didn’t understand that the boy was also scared and only wanted to show he is innocent, to the robber, and the other citizens. He released his partner in crime: his gun.
“Stop talking! Shut up, shut up, shut up!! Quit being stupid! Where’s your money!? If you don’t tell me I’ll shoot! And if that doesn’t scare you, I’ll shoot your friends first!” The robber couldn’t take this information. He was exploding and twisted with anger and confusion.
Calmly, Gerald said, “You can shoot me first. But you will not get any riches from us because we have no money. My friends and I just came to look around. If you shoot, you will not only not get money, but you will be sent to prison for the rest of your life, with a huge regret and grudge that you will burden. If I die, I will have no regret because I have my friends right now and I have lived a happy life. If you want to have even the slightest chance of being someone like me, drop the gun. Start a new and better life.”
The robber was exchanging looks every second: from an angry nightmare, a forlorn person, to crying. He dropped the gun and turned himself in. The robber was touched by the boy as well as listened to him. The robber’s crusty heart turned warm and loveable.
The criminal was sentenced to 3 years in prison: 1 for attempting burglary, 1 for threatening to kill, and one for attempting to steal from a child (this goes with the burglary). They would of given him more, but straight out, the robber said he did attempt to rob.
The robber got out in about 2.7 years and then lived better than he did before the incident. He remembered what the boy had said his whole life.
The boy touched the new father’s life.
THE END
but I caught the boy's message and that was very touching. A writer needs to have those type of moments.
