Read Online Maya's Choice by Earl Sewell - Free Book Online Page B

pulled out a fully dressed mannequin from the back of it. I started laughing.
    â€œWhere in the hell did you get that?” I asked as she pulledit up next to me. “And it’s an inflatable one—are you serious?”
    â€œThe magician sold it to me so I could practice with it. A lot of people keep stuff in their front shirt pocket. Using this mannequin I’ll show you how to take stuff.”
    â€œCool,” I said, feeling a sense of excitement sweep over me.
    â€œRemember, you have to be quick with your hands and you can’t fumble or drop anything you’re trying to take. If you do, quickly apologize and tell the person that it was hanging out and you were simply trying to catch it before it fell. Make them feel at ease, and as if you were only trying to help them. People will immediately say thank-you as you hand them back their belongings.” Toya stuffed her cell phone in the front shirt pocket of the fully dressed mannequin.
    â€œNow, try to take the phone,” Toya instructed me.
    â€œOkay,” I said and pulled it out. It was very simple.
    â€œNo. You have to distract the mannequin through touch. Remember that, Viviana. You have to refocus the person’s attention to something else or they’re going to know what you’re up to. Watch what I do.” Toya demonstrated how to do it and then asked me to do the same thing.
    â€œGood, but only slip one finger into the shirt pocket and press it against the fabric of the shirt pocket. This way the person doesn’t feel you touching their chest.” Toya continued to coach me. I did as she instructed and I was amazed at how easy it was. Toya and I spent more time practicing but we eventually had to stop because her son, Junior, had gotten restless. Since it was getting late, I decided to head upstairsto see how my mother was doing. My fear was that Martin would do something while I was away. The thought of her being beaten up made me rush out of Toya’s apartment.

five
    VIVIANA
    Toya taught me a lot and I spent a significant amount of my time with her sharpening my pickpocketing skills. Eventually I was ready to try it out on someone other than Toya. My mother’s boyfriend, Martin, seemed like the perfect test target. All I needed now was for the opportunity to present itself. Then, one late afternoon, it was as if Fate herself had heard my request and granted me my wish. Martin loved to drink beer and eat barbecue when he came home. The man barely needed a reason to fire up the grill and toss massive hunks of beef onto the open flames. I once heard him say he even enjoyed firing up the grill during the winter months when it was bitterly cold outside. I’d just walked in the door from Toya’s apartment, where we’d been practicing and making plans to hit the Puerto Rican Day Festival in the Humboldt Park neighborhood the following day. Of course, I was very nervous, but when I saw Martin and my mother out on the back porch drinking and barbecuing I relaxed. It was good to see them in a pleasant mood. I saw it as my perfect opportunity. As I walked through thekitchen toward the back porch, I noticed Martin’s massive back was turned toward me, and my mother was sitting on a worn-out chair situated far away enough from the grill that the smoke billowing up wouldn’t irritate her eyes. I greeted them both and positioned myself so my mother couldn’t see me reaching into his back pocket. I patted Martin on his back with an open hand and said, “What are you cooking?” Martin looked at me oddly. He probably figured I was up to something, because in general I wasn’t very nice to him. We had come to a quiet understanding that I wouldn’t mess with him as long as he didn’t mess with me.
    â€œWell, aren’t you feeling friendly today,” my mother said, noticing immediately that my behavior was peculiar.
    â€œWell, Martin has the place smelling so good. I