He enjoyed the reaction of the crowds every night, but after twenty years it was beginning to grow dull. His family urged him to retire, but he longed for something more—something thrilling. He was a performer after all, he needed the spotlight, and would settle for nothing less.
He walked into his quiet house. Tossed his coat on the chair and poured himself a drink from his well-stocked liquor cabinet. He pulled out his phone and sought solace on a few of his favorite websites. Even these were hardly scintillating his fancy any longer. He was growing frustrated with the monotony of his life.
He was three glasses into his evening when he received a text message from an old friend.
A member of my crew dropped out at the last minute and we have a job tomorrow. Are you in for a challenge?
He stared at the small screen for a moment. What did he have to lose, but what did he have to offer?
Why do you need me? I work in the entertainment industry.
He smiled at the response from his friend.
Sleight of hand, my friend, sleight of hand.
He pushed the nerves down as he walked into the well-guarded bank beside his self-assured and confident friend.
He knew what was expected of him, what the escape plan was, but little more than that. His friend said it was for his protection, but he wasn’t so sure.
The teller paled as he read the note that was handed to him. His friend flashed his gun to prove just how serious the situation was. There wouldn’t be a problem as long as the teller didn’t panic and do something stupid.
Thankfully, the teller was smart enough to save his own skin and handed the money from his drawer over just as he would in any other daily transaction.
Now, it was his turn. He found the blind spot in the camera and made the money disappear. He smiled as they sauntered casually from the bank. He knew his friend was confident no one was the wiser.
They rounded the corner, and he heard the rachet of handcuffs and felt cold metal around his wrist.
“Hand over the money and I’ll make sure you get off light,” his friend said.
He laughed, twisted his wrist, and freed himself like he’d done a thousand times before.
He dove into the waiting car he’d arranged and sped away as his friend, the practiced thief, stood dumbfounded on the street.
He knew he couldn’t trust his friend, so he made his own plans.
He rolled down the window. “Thanks for the excitement,” he said. “Sleight of hand, my friend, sleight of hand.”
This was precisely the excitement he’d been looking for.
Scribble City: Write Now 