Maya's Choice by Earl Sewell Page B

answered.
    â€œWe could probably make a killing if we were to go downtown and target businesspeople. We could get all types of credit cards and cash. Plus, I’m sure they’re not going to chase us onto a city bus.”
    â€œThat does sound like a sweet plan,” I said, thinking about the possibilities.
    â€œSo, are you down with doing that?” she asked.
    â€œYeah, count me in. I don’t have anything else to do anyway,” I said, allowing the weight of my misery to dictate my decision.
    â€œCool, we’ll hook up tomorrow and take the bus downtown.”
    â€œWhere will we go? I mean, we can’t just walk into an office building.”
    Toya laughed. “Oh, yes we can.”
    â€œWhat? Are you crazy? I’m not going to walk into an office building and pick someone’s pocket.” I thought for sure Toya had lost her mind.
    â€œNo. I’m not saying that we’re going to do it. I just know of people who are brave enough to do that kind of job. They dress up like regular businesspeople and walk from floor to floor acting like they’re trying to raise money for a cause. You’d be surprised at how easily people will give up money when you say it’s to help build a community center or some other nonsense about making a neighborhood better. I know this one girl who made two thousand dollars in a matter of a few hours.”
    â€œAre you serious?” I couldn’t believe someone had made that type of money off of a scam.
    â€œYeah. She wants to bring me in on it, but told me that I needed to learn how to speak better.”
    â€œSpeak better?” I asked, confused.
    â€œYou know. Sound all proper and stuff. I told her, ‘I can’t be talking like I got a college degree or something. I’m a high school dropout and proud of it.’ She told me that she dropped out of school in eighth grade, but she can sound like she has a degree from Harvard when she wants to. Anyway, Itold her that I didn’t like talking to strange people that much and preferred to just take what I needed from them. It’s simpler. I’ll introduce you to her one day. Her name is Elva, but every one calls her Penny.”
    â€œI would like to meet her. She sounds like she’s really cool,” I said.
    â€œShe is. Penny has an entire crew that does stuff like that,” Toya explained.
    â€œHow do you know all of these people?” I asked.
    â€œI know all types of people. It’s like we have our own secret social network.” Toya beamed with pride. “Anyway, I hate to put you out, but I promised my grandmother I’d go with her to church. She’s trying to save my soul.” Toya laughed.
    â€œI don’t believe you go church,” I said.
    â€œYes, I do. You’d be surprised by how much money I get when I go there,” Toya joked.
    â€œIsn’t that like sacred ground?” I felt like that was a line I’d probably never cross.
    â€œOh, don’t worry. I do thank Jesus for placing people with money in my path.” Toya laughed out loud.
    â€œOkay. On that note, I’m going to head back upstairs.” I rose to my feet and headed toward the door.
    â€œI’ll send you a text tomorrow morning to let you know when I’m ready to head downtown. I’m thinking we could hit some of those really busy food courts during the lunch hour. Women are always leaving their purse draped on the back of a chair for one reason or another. That’s a perfecttime to move in and slip it off the chair without them noticing.”
    â€œSounds like a plan to me.” I nodded in agreement before heading toward the front door.

eight
    MAYA
    I thought I was so clever because I was able to get Misalo out of the house without my mother seeing him. I was confident I’d be able to somehow make my father believe that the photo he had seen of me and Misalo was really nothing to be upset over. Even if I had