Going to the Bushes to cut Firewood-review

The Young Shoplifters by Austin Mitchell Syd Bethune was into his third day of work at the bank as a trainee customer service representative. Suddenly he looked up from his desk and immediately his hand went to his mouth as in walked Reds Bryan, his former branch manager. He immediately spied Syd and came over. “Syd, you are working here again? I can’t believe it. You know that I live abroad now. I just stopped by to greet some of my former colleagues, but it seems as if most of them have left the branch. But one day you can tell me how you got re-hired.” Reds shook Syd’s shaking hand and disappeared upstairs. Syd kept a nervous eye on the stairs until he saw Reds descending them and disappeared out of the bank. He said a silent prayer that he hadn’t said anything about him. But that Friday at about two o’clock he got an urgent call summoning him to head office. “Mr. Bethune, you didn’t tell us that you formerly worked with us and of the circumstances why you had to leave,” Mrs. Hall, the bank’s personnel manager, stated. “I don’t know what you are talking about. I’ve never worked with this bank before and I can prove it.” Mrs. Hall began reading from his file. “Do you deny it now, Mr. Bethune?” “No, I’m sorry, it’s only because I wanted a better job, why I did it.” “I’m really sorry, Mr. Bethune. I hope nothing like this ever happens to you again. You do understand that the bank has to protect its property and reputation. But see your services have been rewarded,” she said, handing him a brown envelope. Syd thanked her and left the bank. When he opened the letter it gave an account of the first incident. Syd remembered cashing those pensioners’ checks and collecting two thousand dollars for his efforts. A month later the fraud was discovered and he had to pay back the money, he had collected or face jail time. Three years later and Syd now in a low paying government job decided to try his luck again and would have gotten away with it had Reds Bryan kept his mouth shut. *** Three months after being fired that first time from the bank, Syd formed a partnership with two friends, Junjo and Bankie. Bankie did hardware sales, while Junjo (like Syd) was an office clerk. To supplement their meager wages they stole easily concealed items from all kinds of stores. Syd could remember doing these same things to make up his lunch money. He had been punished many times by his parents who thought the money, they gave him was enough. Bankie soon got into trouble when he walked out of a pharmacy with three bottles of cologne. A guard chased and held him. He had to be rescued by the police. Irate passers-by had taken him from the guard and beaten him. He was fined one thousand dollars or three months in prison. The syndicate didn’t think he was very smart and he was booted from the organization. Perhaps their favorite time was when the two biggest department stores in town had their blow out sale. This normally took place between April and May, after the Christmas and Easter holidays. This particular season, the blowout sale was in full swing when Syd weighed in, going into the store (the Monday following his latest dismissal from the bank) without a belt or tie but coming out wearing both items. The next day he was back, making off with a shirt this time. Syd decided to take it easy the next day but got away with a pair of pants and two belts that Thursday. Friday he managed to snatch a hat. That same evening he met Junjo in Half Way Tree. He had been stealing things at the other giant department store. “So how is it going, Junjo?” “I heard that they held you last night, Syd.” Junjo dipped into his bag and brought out a pair of Italian made shoes. If you enjoyed this excerpt, why not buy the book at Amazon or payhip? This is an excerpt from a collection of short stories 'Bring back the Good old Days' by short story writer, Austin Mitchell.