The bookstore was in the big shopping center. Marcy loved going there all by herself. Sometimes she had to bring his younger brother, Nat, along when Mom was busy with her household chores. She hated when Nat was with her. She couldn't spend the entire time reading the favorite story book that she intended to buy later. She was still saving for the book. Nat was mischievious. Marcy had to have a constant look out on him so that he would not be able to repeat his anti-social behaviour. That's what Marcy labelled his actions. The more Marcy kept policing on him, Nat would
deliberately try to escape from her.


"Don't do anything dumb," Marcy said to Nat as they entered the bookstore. He simply looked up and grinned. A small crowd of children was enjoying the performance of a magician
at a corner. Nat ran away and joined them. Sensing that he will be engrossed with it for a long time, Marcy headed to the bookshelf.



She spotted Candy her classmate browsing a book.
"Hi Candy." Marcy greeted her.
"Hey Marcy!  Come and join me. You should have this book. The plot is catchy and and the story is funny.  I couldn't guess who's the mysterious man. " said Candy smiling gleefully.
Marcy glanced at the book cover. She looked at Candy with her hands on her hip.
"Oh I see. You've been reading the book that I've most wanted and has saved enough
to buy it today." Marcy replied.
"Really? Oh how I wish to have the book too." Candy said with a depressed voice. "But I would never have the book on my own."
Marcy knew that she was unhappy. She was from a poor family.
"Don't be sad, Candy. I will share the book with you." Marcy tried to comfort her.
"Thank you." said Candy.


Marcy picked up the book and carried it with her. She urged Candy to follow her to the other books-for-sale section but Candy declined saying that she wanted to continue reading the book. After spending some times there, Marcy went ahead to the counter to pay for it.


She realized that the small crowd of children was no more there and the magician too. She knew that she was in trouble. She rushed to every corner of the bookstore looking for Nat but
Nat was not there. Instead, she saw Candy slipping the book that she had been reading into 
her bag. She walked passed the counter and out of the bookstore without paying it.
She was lucky the alarm was not sounded.
What Candy did was wrong but Marcy was relieved  that she didn't get caught for her silly deed.
Marcy promised to keep this to herself.