"Right over there," Riff said, pointing over at a small souvenir stand. "Just go snatch something off the table when the guy isn't looking."
"This is so stupid!" Grazi said. She tried to roll her eyes but ended up giggling instead. Were they really having this conversation? "Why should I do that?"
Riff shrugged. "To prove you can. It's a rush." Seeing that she wasn't convinced, he continued. "Besides, you think the fuckers that own this place don't have enough money? I think they can spare a key chain."
Graziella couldn't exactly argue with that one but he hadn't really answered her question. "Yeah but what's in it for me, Riff? I don't need a key chain."
"It ain't about that." Riff shook his head. He looked surprisingly serious. "It's about taking from people who have too much. People that sit on their asses and make money while people like us starve." Then, he grinned. "And, like I said, it's a rush. You gotta prove to yourself that you can do it, take the risk."
"You could be a damn lawyer, Riff. Jesus." Grazi sighed. "Fine. You convinced me."
"Ahhh!" Riff cheered. He was beaming. "Yes!"
"Don't get excited yet. I'll probably get caught and you'll have to tell my ma why I'm in jail." She stood up and smoothed out her shorts.
"Nah, you won't get caught. I believe in ya." Riff looked over at the stand again. "He's hardly even paying attention."
Grazi started to walk forward, then hesitated. "Jesus. Riff. I don't know how to do this!"
"Relax, girly girl." Riff took a deep breath, then waited for her to do the same. "Just walk over. Pretend to look at shit for a few minutes. When his back is turned, just slip something small in your pocket."
"Right." Graziella took another breath. "Bail me out when I get arrested?"
"Not a chance. You won't get arrested."
Grazi didn't quite share his confidence but she started to move, trying to look relaxed as she walked over to the little shop. She glanced back at Riff and saw that he was staring at her intently. He saw her looking and mouthed "go on." Bossy, bossy. Grazi wasn't even sure why she was listening to him. Maybe she was becoming a thrill junkie.
She made it to the stand and smiled at the man behind the counter, hoping she looked innocent. He sniffed at her, then went back to reading his newspaper. That was encouraging, at least. She scanned the little nick knacks lined up on the tables, picking a few up to examine. She wondered if Riff were still watching her. Grazi continued to finger the offerings, afraid to take the leap and slip one into her pocket. God, she couldn't believe she was actually about to do this. Did she really care so much about fitting in? Or was it about gaining Riff's approval? But deep down, Grazi knew it was more than that. Like Riff had said, Grazi had come to see the gang as a more than just a cool group of friends. They were a family, she felt secure with them. She hadn't felt secure or safe in a long time. And she hadn't had fun the way she had today in...probably ever. Graziella knew she was changing, the neighborhood and the people she'd met were transforming her. Somehow, this felt like an important step on her journey. She was going to do this.
As soon as Grazi made the decision to go through with her incredibly minor crime, a crying child ran by the stand. This drew the attention of the man reading the newspaper. The second his head turned, Grazi reached out and snatched the key chain in front of her. She slid it into the pocket of her shorts and meandered back towards Riff, careful not to run or look like she was in any kind of hurry. She plopped down next to Riff on the bench, both relieved and exhilarated. She began to laugh.
Riff grinned. "Did you do it?"
Grazi patted her pocket. "You bet your ass I did!" She felt light, joyful. Still beaming, she fished the key chain out of her pocket and handed it to Riff. "Here, you take it."
Riff shook his head. "That's yours. You earned it."
"Yeah but I got it cuz you forced me over there." Grazi held out the key chain again. "Come on."
"Fine, if you insist." Riff took the souvenir, then studied it more closely. "This ain't a key chain. It's a bracelet."
"Does it still count?" Grazi asked, still beaming.
"Course. And you know, I always need more jewelry." Riff fastened the silver bracelet around his wrist. He held his arm out to admire it. "Looks pretty damn good."
"Nothing but cheap theme park junk," Grazi said, feeling herself getting a little embarrassed. Should she have given Riff jewelry? It seemed strangely...intimate. A key chain might have been better.
"It's not junk, it's a memento. Your first step towards delinquency."
"My ma will be so proud," Grazi said, smiling. "But I told ya, this ain't my first step. Not like I'm some kind of blushing flower."
"No, you ain't," Riff said, suddenly serious. "I know that."
Grazi had her mouth open to reply when a familiar voice cut through the air. "Hey. What are you two up to?" Tony. It was Tony. Grazi scooted away from Riff, even though she hadn't been sitting particularly close to him anyway. She felt caught, somehow, as though she'd been doing something wrong.
Riff looked as cool as ever. Whatever Grazi felt, she was alone. "Just hanging out," Riff said with a shrug. "I think Grazi's feeling better, ain't ya?"
He hadn't said anything about her new experience with petty theft. Following his lead, Grazi kept quiet too. "Yeah. Much better. Thanks Riff, for keeping me company." She stood up and took Tony's hand. "Think I can try riding again."
"Great! I think we'll try to do a few more before we head back." Tony reached for his bag and fished out his pack of cigarettes. "You didn't take as many as I thought you would."
"Day ain't over yet." Riff took the bag back. "You two have fun. Keep your food down, Grazi."
"Will do," Grazi said. "See ya, Riff." She and Tony walked off, hand in hand. Grazi tried not to be annoyed with Tony about the way he'd handled the puke situation but, no matter how pretty he might be, she wasn't entirely successful.
"Sorry you got stuck with Riff," Tony said. An apology, though it wasn't the one she was looking for. "I know he ain't been the nicest to you." That was true enough.
"It was fun, actually," Grazi told him honestly. "I think we might be friends after all."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Really? What did you too get up to?"
Grazi decided to remain tight lipped, since that seemed to be what Riff wanted. "Just talked. Smoked. He's a funny guy, cheered me up actually." She shrugged, like it wasn't a big deal. Which it wasn't, right? She was just happy to have finally bonded with Tony's best friend. "I think he might be warming up to me."
"Huh. How about that?" Tony's voice was tight, Grazi had never heard him sound that way. What was his problem? Hadn't he wanted Riff to be nice to her?
"So, what are we gonna ride next?" Grazi asked, trying to change the subject.
"You want to know why Riff never rides anything?" Tony asked suddenly. He didn't wait for Grazi to answer. "He gets sick as hell every time, way worse than you did. He came here on his first date and blew chunks all over the girl."
Grazi forced herself to laugh, the way Tony clearly wanted. Inside, she was seething. Riff had made it clear to her that he found the whole situation an embarrassing secret, one he didn't want getting out. And Tony just shared it with her to get a laugh? So that he could be the "funny guy" that cheered her up? Was he jealous? Grazi sighed. Tony didn't have anything to worry about. Grazi had been eyeing him all year. She wasn't about to let go of him as soon as she got him. Even if he were acting like an ass. Even if he wasn't good in a crisis. She was going to see this through.
"I don't know he'd want you to tell people that," Grazi couldn't help but say. "I was so embarrassed I thought I'd die." But she stood on her toes and kissed Tony on the cheek. "I appreciate you letting me in on the secret though. It makes me feel like I'm part of the group. Like I really belong."
Tony blinked at her, then smiled. "You are," he said. "Grazi you're one of the gang now. For life."
Grazi caught sight of the boys, Velma, and Mamie standing over by a game. Velma jumped up and waved her hands in the air. "Grazi! You're alive!"
The rest of the group joined in, clapping and cheering. "Grazi! Thank fucking God! We thought you'd died on us!"
Everyone else in the park was staring over at the commotion. Grazi just smiled. She was home.
