Payment for Temptation

The black nugget shone out among the polished rocks. Glancing around, Tony reached for it.

No one looked his way.

He snatched the stone and fled the nature store. The sun gleamed off its sparkling surface when he held it up.

Daddy’s voice said, “Where’d you get that?”

Guilt shoved his hand and the stone into his pocket. Afraid of meeting Daddy’s gaze, he stared at his feet and said, “I don’t know. I found it.”

“Found it in the store?”

“Mmm hmmm.” His right shoe scuffed at the asphalt..

The next question made Tony squirm. “Did you pay for it?”

When he didn’t answer, Daddy crouched to his level. Tony had no choice but to meet his disappointed face. “You didn’t pay for it, did you?”

“No,” he said. “I just wanted it.”

“Come on.” Daddy rose and walked him back into the shop. They walked to the counter where a man, with a flying eagle on his blue t-shirt, stood.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

Daddy nudged Tony forward and said, “Tell him what happened.”

As he pulled the stone out of his pocket, tears burned his eyes but he refused to cry. Tony focused on the soaring bird on the shirt. “I liked this rock. I didn’t mean to but I kinda…”

One hot tear trailed down his cheek. “I took it. I’m sorry.”

The man leaned down and said, “You’ve a good eye. Tell you what, if you sweep the floor, I’ll consider that payment. And you have to agree not to steal again, okay?”

Tony clutched the stone to his chest.. He met the man’s smile and nodded his head violently.

He’d never been so excited to hold a broom before in his life.