Week Six - Tell Me A Story

Week 6 – Journal #2

Tell Me A Story

Original Version:

One day when I was in high school, I took it upon myself to be a thief. My Major Works English class was just ending for the day and Jessica Evans, who sat in the desk directly in front of me, had gotten up and left her purse sitting open beside her desk. In it, sitting exposed on top, was a smaller coin purse. While no one was looking, I grabbed it. Inside there was a $10.00 bill. I snitched it and threw the purse back in, surreptitiously scanning the room. No one had seen me. Needless to say, after Jessica found out her purse was missing, she went to the principal and reported it. Eventually, I was called into the principal's office and she drilled me with questions to the point that I broke down and confessed that it indeed had been me who'd purloined the purse. She told me that I was going to return the purse and when I got home I was going to call Jessica and apologize to her for taking it. I thought to myself that this was not something that I was going to do at all. But that evening when I got home, I couldn't help but think about it. I finally got up the nerve to call Jessica. She was so nice about it and I was so proud of myself for having the courage to call her up, after hanging up the phone I felt like some part of me had grown up a little.

Showing and Telling Version:

Kelly fidgeted in his seat, waiting for the school bell to ring, putting an end to that day's second period English class. It was the advanced Major works level, and only the smartest students were allowed to take this particular course. As Kelly sat listening to the teacher give out that night's homework assignment, he glanced down and noticed Jessica Evans' purse sitting beside her desk in front of him. Suddenly, his heart started to beat a little faster. He couldn't believe the opportunity that had presented itself. He'd never done anything like this before, but something was propelling him, urging him to take it. He nervously looked around the classroom, gauging his surroundings. The bell rang and while some students jumped up, anxious to get to their next class, others meandered about, collecting books and chatting happily as they slowly made their way out.

Jessica got up and made her way up to Mrs. Levonsky's desk. Kelly sat at his desk, pretending to organize his books while surreptitiously eying the purse, which lay open before him. On top, exposing itself to him, was a little coin purse. It was just screaming at him to be snatched. He gave a quick look around to see who was there. All of the students had made their way toward the front of the class. Seeing his opportunity, Kelly swiftly grabbed the little leather coin purse and twisted the clasp. He grabbed what was inside, keeping his eyes on Mrs. Levonsky and Jessica the entire time, and stealthily replaced it.

“Bye, Mrs. Levonky,” he said, after he'd gathered his belongings and made his way to the front of the class. “Bye, Jessica.”

“See you tomorrow, Kelly. Very good reading today,” Mrs. Levonky replied.

“Thank you,” Kelly said.

“Bye,” Jessica said.

As Kelly left the classroom, he heard Jessica saying that she'd be sure to turn in her book report the next day. As he rounded the corner, he dug the cash that he'd stolen from the purse out of his pocket. It was a crisp $10.00 bill. He couldn't believe he had just stolen $10.00 from Jessica Evans. His heart raced and his mind was going a million different directions at once.

Later that day, while he was in his fifth period Biology class, Kelly was called to the principal's office. He knew that this was not going to be good. As he made his way slowly down the hall, his heart about to beat out of his chest and his feet huge stones that were almost impossible to move, he tried to think of what he could say. He would just flat out deny it, he told himself. And that would be that.

Too soon, he arrived at the administration office. Mrs. Trimmer was waiting patiently behind her desk when Kelly was ushered in by the secretary. She was known to be a stern principal, and one who didn't mess around. She was a large imposing figure and moved with an authority that was obvious. To cross Mrs. Trimmer was to pay the price. At that moment, however, Mrs. Trimmer simply looked concerned.

“Have a seat, Kelly,” she said with a slight smile.

Kelly nervously took the seat in front of the principal's desk, keeping his eyes on the floor.

“Kelly, Jessica Evans came to me and said that somebody had stolen her money out of her purse today,” Mrs. Trimmer began, sitting patiently behind her desk with her hands clasped together in front of her. “Do you know anything about that?”

“No, ma'am,” Kelly said, never once looking directly into Mrs. Trimmer's eyes.

“Kelly, are you sure?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Well, the fact remains that someone stole Jessica's money,” Mrs. Trimmer said. Her voice had taken on a stern tone. “Do you know of anyone who would have taken Jessica's money?”

Kelly was quiet for just a moment before blurting out, “Sonya Marshall probably took it!”

“Why would you say that, Kelly?” Mrs. Trimmer asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“Because she sits right in front of her,” Kelly answered, noticing how terribly his hands were shaking.

“Kelly, so you're telling me Sonya Marshall stole Jessica's money?” Mrs. Trimmer asked.

“I guess so,” Kelly answered.

“You guess so? Kelly, why won't you look me in the eyes? Are you afraid of something?”

“No, ma'am,” he said. He was thinking that now this interrogation should be over, shouldn't it? He had given up the culprit. It was Sonya Marshall. Wasn't that all she wanted?

“Kelly, I'm going to ask you again,” Mrs. Trimmer continued. “Did you take that money?”

Kelly was almost on the verge of tears, but he looked up and shook his head, “No ma'am.”

“Kelly, you know what guilty people do when questioned about something? They blame somebody else. They always point the finger at another to take the focus off of themselves. I know you're a good student and probably didn't mean to steal that money, but Kelly, if you did it, you need to admit it. I won't punish you, but if you keep lying and saying you didn't take the money, I will have to.”

Kelly felt small enough to fit in that coin purse at that moment. He was so ashamed of himself, he didn't know how to act or what to do. This lying was becoming too much for him. He felt trapped. He looked up at Mrs. Trimmer's face and a tear rolled down his cheek. “I didn't mean to take it. I don't know why I did,” he confessed, his bottom lip trembling. “I'm sorry.”

“I know it, son,” said Mrs. Trimmer. “Kelly, you just can't go around taking people's things. Where is the money?
”
He dug the pocket of his Blue Devil jeans and offered the bill. Mrs. Trimmer looked at him for a few minutes before speaking.

“That was very brave of you to admit you stole this money, but you're going to need to be braver now. I want you to call Jessica tonight and apologize to her for taking that money.”
Kelly nodded his head pitifully. Things had just gone from bad to worse.

“I think you learned your lesson today, but I want to be sure you did. You call her tonight and apologize and all is forgiven.”

“Yes, ma'am”.

“Now, get back to class and I don't want to see you in my office again,” she said.

Kelly walked back to class and for the rest of the day his mind was consumed with having stolen that money and having to call Jessica and admit that he had done so. By the time he got home, it had chewed away at him like a buzzard gnawing away at rotting flesh.

When he couldn't stand to be alone in his room with his thoughts any longer, he picked up the piece of paper with the phone number that Mrs. Trimmer had given him. Slowly he began to dial the number, but hung up twice before he finally built up enough courage to complete the call.

An older woman answered.

“May I speak to Jessica, please?” he began.

“One minute,” the voice replied.

A few brief seconds later, Jessica was on the phone. “Hello.”

Kelly took a deep breath and started, “Hi, Jessica, this is Kelly....from school. Uhm, I just wanted to say that I'm real sorry that I took your money today. I didn't mean to make you upset and I promise that I won't ever steal anything from you again....so...that's all. I'm sorry.”

Jessica paused and said “That's OK, Kelly. I just didn't have any lunch money today, but Sonya paid for my lunch, so I was ok. Don't worry about it, alright? You gave it back, so that's all that counts.”

“Thanks, Jessica,” Kelly said, feeling all the stress that he had been threatening to crush him begin to ease away. “I appreciate it. And again I'm sorry. See ya tomorrow?”

“See ya tomorrow,” Jessica said and hung up.

Kelly replaced the phone, and sat in silence for a moment. He turned and jumped when he saw his mother standing in his bedroom doorway. "I'm so proud of you, son," is all she said before turning and walking out of the room. He breathed deeply, smiled to himself and went to go make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.