Running Out Of Air (On Hold)

Mac: One

            “Hey! Stop! That boy has my purse!” The old lady screeched behind me, her wife, who was a good ten years younger than her, jogged after me. I laughed, the wife was no younger than forty-five. They had nothing on me. The old lady was about two million dollars too rich anyway.

            I slid quietly between buildings, watching a cop scurry past me. I smirked, another good steal. I walked towards the home, opening the door, greeted by multiple small children at my feet. Ranging from 3 months to 12, these kids were the cast outs, the unwanteds, the extras. I was an extra. I now out of the care of this home, but for the past five years I had been scavenging for food and money to give to the home. Once I graduated to stealing, I became a hero among the homes that I brought to. Ms. Lanoka came in, grabbing the purse out my hands and hugging me tight.

            “I’m glad you made it out safe, Mac. I haven’t seen you in a few days.” Her shaky voice cracked as she said my name. I smiled as big as I could. She was sick again, I knew it.

            “Maaaaaaaaaac!” the little ten year old girl latched onto my leg. Deilya was my sister, well as close as she could get with out being blood related. I laughed as I pulled her up into a hug.

            “Hey kiddo, what’s up?”

            “I was playing with Legos and I built the Grisstell house!” I cringed as I ehard that name. It was the biggest house around, owned by the richest gay men in the world. It was also the only house I hadn’t stolen from. I had snuck in multiple times, found escape routes, but never gotten away with anything.

            “Yeah? I bet it looks just like the real one.” I smiled at her. I had found her on the street right after I left the home. She was only five, hadn’t a clue how to survive in this damned world.

            “Why don’t you go build another one while I help Ms. Lanoka okay?” I watched as she ran back to the toy room, and then walked off towards the office. Ms. Lanoka was pulling out the contents of the purse. I watched as money and jewelry were pulled out in a never-ending feed. I sat down across from her and began to count the money.

            “Three-hundred forty-two dollars. Whatcha got over there?”

            She held up a finger, she wasn’t done weighing it yet.

            “39 pounds in gold, silver, diamonds, and rubies. We’ll be getting a lot with this, and the purse itself will bring in a couple hundred.” She was very good with money, and after losing her first wife she worked as an accountant. When she was let go at that job, she came to run an extra-house. I know I was very grateful for this home being here, and so were the twenty-some kids that were currently living here. We added up the total proceeds from my grab and got at least six hundred dollars after it was sorted and resold. She pulled me in for another hug and asked me how I was doing.

            “Pretty well actually, for a cast-out thief.” She laughed and I gave her my signature one sided smile. I had gotten quite a few men (and women) in bed with this smile. Not that we were fortunate enough to have a bed, but I mean, lonely is lonely and sex is sex. I finished up with Ms. Lanoka and left, waving to Deilya as I walked out the door, in search of a place to spend the night.