"The Family of Thieves" (Short Story)

“The Family of Thieves”

(Short Story)

In the 19th century in New York City, there lived a family of thieves who pick-pocketed almost everyday. They wore large fur coats, and walked down the sidewalk snatching coin purses or wallets out of people’s pockets. They did this everyday, until one of the sons’ had saw a well-known wealthy lady walking down the street with her coin purse safely tucked into her purse that she was holding. As he started walking slowly toward her, he got closer and closer and then quickly snatched her coin purse out of her purse. He had accidentally nudged her elbow, and her head turned quickly. Once she noticed she yelled, “Thief!”

Frightened as heads started turning towards him, he dashed as quickly as he can down the sidewalk. He could hear police sirens behind him, and as he made the sharpest turns at the corners he had accidentally ran into an alley. A dead end. A cop or two came into sight, and soon, more came and came, until they surrounded him. The lady had come too, to retrieve her coin purse.

“Give that to me!” She snatched it out of his hands. She added, “You filthy street rat!” And walked away angrily.

The cops put him in their cop car and drove him off to the court house.

Now, there at the court house the cops had searched him and revealed that he had stolen many other items, such as purses, wallets, and jewelry. He was found guilty of robbery and was put in prison.

This was a sad day for the Wolfe family.

The Wolfe family were poor people, who barely were able to pay their rent in the motel. There was: Shirley Wolfe (the youngest), Peter Wolfe (the middle child), Eric Wolfe (the oldest), Francis Wolfe (the mother), and Jack Wolfe (the father). Together, they were the Wolfe Pack. They all were pick-pocketers and made a living on it. Shirley was seven years old, and she pick-pocketed, but only a little, because she didn’t like the idea of stealing from other people. Peter was nine years old, and looked after Shirley and made sure nothing bad ever happens to her, but he pick-pocketed easily and quickly with skill while wearing his treasured blue-knitted gloves. Now Eric was 13 years old, and he was the star pick-pocketer of their youth team. He could pick-pocket two people at the same time quickly, simply, and quietly without ever being caught by the cops. His father treasured him most of all out of the youth group, only because, of Daniel (his oldest son) being caught and taken to the slammer, he doesn’t try to think about what happened “that day.” But anyways, then there is Francis and Jack, who are the main people to steal the most things in a day. After, they gather together their items and try to sell it to other people making money to buy foods, goods, and to pay for their rent.

This is what they have been doing for their whole lives…but then one day…

It was on Saturday and it was early in the morning, they had woken up and ate a light breakfast.

“Breakfast’s ready!” Francis said.

Shirley woke up tired and sleepy, she had another nightmare. Peter was already awake; he always woke up an extra hour earlier than the rest of the Wolfe Pack.

“Are you okay Shirley?” He asked while comforting her.

 She rubbed her eye and yawned loudly, then said, “I’m alright, I just had another nightmare. That was all.”

“Was it the same dream again?”

“Uh-huh.” She nodded her head.

“Don’t worry, you don’t need to think about that anymore. The past is the past. I’m sorry, but he’s not coming back home.”