The day passed quickly and uneventfully. Home time rolled around and for once we were out on time.

'Come on, Toots, we're going to the shops, remember,'

As soon as we were out of earshot, Danny told us the plan.

'So does everyone know what we're getting.'

Everyone nodded but I shook my head. Spotty, annoyed easily as usual sighed.

'Sweets, drinks and crisps.'

'How are we going to get them?' I asked.

'Easily. One of us is going to distract the owner whilst we all grab the stuff. Simple really,'

'Who's gonna distract the person?'

'Toots.'

Great. But at least if we were caught, I wouldn't have actually stolen anything.

'Stealing stuff,' a drawling voice behind us asked

'What do you want Dennis?' Danny turned round to face him.

'Nothing,' he replied taking out a cigarette and lighting it – since when did he smoke.

'Want one?' he asked holding out the box to Danny.

'I gave up,' he said, taking a step backwards. Danny may want to be tough, but although his Mum is his slave, his Dad tends to get mad and believe me, when his Dad gets mad, he stays mad for days.

'Sure you did,'

'Oh, look it's Dennis!' tourists again

'Must go. Can't keep my fans waiting,' He dropped the cigarette and stamped on it

Danny turned round, looking uncomfortable. He's meant to be tough and strong and stand up to everyone.

'Come on, let's go.'

We arrived outside and Danny told who was getting what.

'How am I meant to distract the person?'

'I don't know?' Danny snapped 'Just think of something.'

I looked at the newsagent, suddenly remembering that this was the one that didn't sell Ellie's comic that she liked. Last time we asked them if they had it, the man behind the counter went out the back to look for it and was gone for quite a while. In a town like this, it wasn't really that sensible of the man.

We walked through the door of the shop and I quickly looked at the magazines. The man behind the counter looked extremely suspicious already.

'Excuse me,' I said

'Can I help?' he asked politely, never taking his eyes off the boys.

I asked about the magazine, but he was a bit distracted.

'What does it look like?'

'Pink, with princesses on. It's for my little sister.'

'Oh, yes, I know the one you mean. I don't know if we have it.'

'It's not on the shelf,'

'Oh. Let me look out the back. I'll be back in one moment.'

The boys took their chance and grabbed everything they could before dashing out the door. It slammed loudly. The man must have heard because he came running out. He looked around but the boys were gone. They'd be almost at the park by the time the man got out the shop.

He went back behind the till, just as Sid came out from behind rail of sweets, arms full.

'Are you intending to pay for all that?'

'Huh, what?'

'Are you going to pay for all of that?'

'No…err… yes. I mean I'm going to put some back. I thought I had enough money but I don't,'

'Really,' the man really wasn't buying it.

'Do you want to borrow some money,' I said, pulling out the two-pound coin I had found at the bottom of my bag during maths.

'Yes, thanks Toots. Didn't they have Ellie's comic?'

'No, but I don't think she'll mind if you share the sweets.'

'Of course I will,'

Sid handed over his and my money and the man gave him a bag.

'Thank you,' he said politely

'And thanks for looking for the comic,' I added

He sort of smiled but he still didn't look convinced. He knew the other boys had stolen stuff but he wasn't sure whether Sid or me had stolen anything either. I don't think Sid would have stolen anything really.

We walked down past the park and I spotted the boys talking to the police.

'Come on,' I said, turning down a side road.

'What? Why?'

'Look by the park,'

'Oh,'

Danny and Spotty have a habit of getting as many people in trouble as possible and if the police had spotted us, they would have instantly assumed we were part of the stealing too – well, we were, but we didn't actually steal anything

'Would you have stolen that stuff?' I asked Sid

'No,' he replied looking down at the floor

'I thought not.'

'Don't tell the others though, will you – or Mum. Don't even tell her the others were stealing. She might call teacher or Danny's Mum or… or'

'Calm down, why would I tell?'

'I don't know. I just thought, you know, because I told Mum that you failed that test and she got mad, that you might want to get me back.'

'I already did, I told her you failed too.'

'Hey…'

'I guess we're equal then,'

'Yep.' Sid said

'Sid, Toots!' Mum was at the door 'Come in. I've got a surprise for you!'

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