By Jeffrey Paolano
Lope lives by skimming the cream, id est he engages in slightly lightening other’s burden of wealth.
People assist him in that they leave valuables wide-open to his exploration and exploitation.
Lope’s skim is so slight it’s usually unnoticed.
If noticed, the value is so light the police demur.
Lope is enticed by a ring left exposed while a gentleman washes his hands.
“Hey, what the hell you doing?” exclaims the man while grabbing at Lope’s shirt front.
Lope writhes without avail.
“I thought twas mine.”
“Ya never had such,” pronounces the officer.
“In the old days.”
“Yeah, the old days.”
Lope is a good name for a villain.
Villain?. Actually, Lope is more like Robin Hood, Not some other hood.. Three cheers for more income distribution — so long, of course, as it’s not my income! Jerry
The characters’ dialect made them seem so real; I felt like I was in there watching and listening.
So succinct and immediate! I loved your story and the dialectic language transported me into the scene. Thank you for the excellent work.