THE MOTIVE

"Mum, can you read me a story before I go to bed?

"Yes, but just after feeding the baby- she’s woken up for a bottle"

Stephen lay in bed waiting to hear about Goldilocks and the 3 bears, Cinderella or Rumplestitskin.

He waited for a while, despite trying to keep awake he drifted off into troubled sleep, dreaming of Cinderella eating porridge and Rumplestiltskin losing a glass slipper.

The next morning he woke at 7am. It was Saturday and his mum normally took him to the park today.

He was excited and ran into her room: "Mum! Mum! Can we got to the park today?"

She was still asleep as she had been up 1/2 the night tending to her newborn baby.

"Darling, go back to bed I don't think we can go to the park today, I've got a lot of washing to do, that baby has got through so many clothes it’s untrue."

Stephen sulked back into his room, everything was Ok before Brenda was born, his Mum had time for him. She never used to forget to read him bedtime stories or take him to the park before. Nevermind, he would get out himself, he snuck out the front door and went to the local cornerstore.

He stood and looked at all the many chocolate bare, all different shapes and sizes, colours, wrappers and prices. He loved everything about the food, the way it melted in his mouth and set off such feelings of wellbeing.

He reached up when the shopkeeper wasn’t looking and grabbed 3 different bars then stuffed them into his pocket. He walked towards the door, thinking he had got away with it when the shopkeeper called out: "Hey you, let me see what’s in your pockets"

Stephen panicked slightly "Um I haven’t got anything in my pockets, I swear"

"Well, let me see then"

Stephen put his hand in one then pulled out an old toffee wrapper and 2p.

"Yeah and the other one" he said.

He procrastinated and then the shopkeeper shoved his hand down the other pocket: "A-ha! I knew it. I know your Mum, take me to her now and we’ll sort this out"

Stephen led the keeper to this house, ashamed at having to tell his mum what he had done.

When he had done, Stephen’s mum looked upset. "I didn’t even know he had gone out. I would have given him the £ for sweets. Please don’t tell the police, I’ll give you the cash now. Just don’t tell the police. He’s a good boy, I swear"

I’m sorry but it’s our policy to call the police whenever there has been a theft. I know he’s young but I can’t make exceptions"

Stephen waited in the shop, with his mum and baby. The shopkeeper ushered in the policeman. He sat opposite Stephen.

"Do you realise what a serious offence this is, Stephen. You can’t take things without paying for them, that’s not they way things work in this country."

"I’m sorry, I just, I mean…."

Can I have a word with you, Mrs Blofeld?"

"Sure"

Stephen waited in the living room with the shopkeeper, while the police officer spoke to Stephen’s mum.

"I just don’t understand it. He’s never been any trouble before, and it’s not like I wouldn’t give him the £ for the chocolates."

"Is that your new baby, Mrs Blofeld?"

"Yes, just 2 weeks old"

"I think maybe Stephen is a little jealous and has stolen these sweets to get attention. I won’t take the matter any further, but in future see if you can still find time for your son. I bet you have had your hands full with the baby"

"Yes, I guess so. I should have taken him to the park today and yesterday I forgot to read him a bedtime story."
"I’m sure if you can find the time for him you wont have any more problems form him."

"Take your son home now Mrs Blofeld."

WENDY 2000