Prison changes you. You either get harder or you straighten up. Not much in between. Which is why I try not to look at people when I walk down the street. I do not want to see people from my old life. I am not going down that road again.

But it happens. I see people from the old days. I usually see them coming from a long way off. So I duck into a shop or look at my shoes as I walk. I never make eye contact. Or rarely.

I had just missed seeing one of my old cronies from my B&E days. We fancied ourselves as catburglars. Never got caught. But of course, I got caught. I did not want to see my old partner again. Jerry was always bad news. So I walked with my head down as he walked past. Unfortunately, I did not see who was just three or four steps behind him.

I looked up from watching my shoes hit the sidewalk, and saw her. I looked down again just in case she saw me. I did not think she had. But I turned to look under my arm after we passed each other. She had stopped to look at my back. We made eye contact, so I could not walk or even run away. Even though that was exactly what I wanted to do.

“Petey! I thought it was you! C’mon, give me some love.”

I walked back to Cynthia. I held my arms open for a big hug. “Hey Cyn.” I tried to smile.

I saw the slap coming a mile away, but I just took it. “What’d’ya mean walkin’ right by me without saying nothin’? I oughta slap you again!” She did. And added another one for good measure. The third one was just a love tap though. Not full of malice like the first two.

I was still feeling the stinging of the slaps when Jerry came back and pretended to slug me in the gut. He gave me a big hug instead. I felt him put something in my pocket. Probably contraband. Something he lifted off a passerby. I would be left holding the bag again, if the person noticed whatever was missing and came to us. I did figure that the fake slug in the gut would have been real had I rolled over on Jerry though. He had a mean streak. Not as mean as Cynthia, but still mean.

Jerry held me longer than I expected. I figured he saw something interesting behind us. When he let me go, I saw him looking over my shoulder. Then, I heard rushing feet coming toward us. Three pairs by the sound of it. I braced myself as I turned.

Turned out that I needed to brace myself for impact too. I guess the guy with the two police officers thought we were going to run. He plowed right into me and we both fell hard.

I saw a hand reaching down to help me up. I looked past the hand and saw a big smiling police officer.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Petey the Catburglar,” Officer Jerome chuckled.

He pulled me to my feet. Then, he reached down and pulled the man who had run into me to his feet. He brushed a little dust off of his jacket and pants.

His partner watched the exchange, then looked at my former associates. “Jerry and Cyn! Still ugly as sin, Cyn.”

“You know where you can shove it!”

The two police officers smiled even bigger. “All right you three, arms up against the wall and assume the position.”

Jerry was having none of it. “Just what are we supposed to have done? Officers?”

Officer Jerome pointed at the man who had run into me. “This gentleman said that Jerry and Cyn walked by him and then his wallet was gone. So we’re gonna search you all.”

“Even me.”

“Even you.”

“Because…”

Officer Jerome smiled. “Because you’re a jailbird. Once a criminal, always a criminal, right?”

His partner smiled. “Right.” He turned to Jerry and Cynthia. “So assume the position.”

Officer Jerome shoved me toward the wall. I raised my arms and stood spread eagle leaning against the stone wall.

Of course, they did not find anything. On any of us.

Officer Jerome huffed. His smile had vanished. His demeanor toward our accuser was harder. “So tell us again what happened.”

The alleged victim started his tale. “I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when this dude runs right into me.” He pointed at Jerry. “He was looking at his phone, you know. Like most people these days. He was polite about it though. He says, ‘Sorry ‘bout that. I should pay more attention to where I’m going.’ Then, I walk a few steps and am about to go in to get an espresso and feel for my wallet and it’s gone.” He patted his chest and all the blood had drained from his face.

Her reached in and pulled his wallet out of his breast pocket. “I swear. It wasn’t there. I know it wasn’t.”

Officer Gerome smiled. “Well, maybe the jailbird put it into your pocket when you ran into him.”

“No! I checked. I… I…”

The two officers were not smiling. But their attention was directed at the alleged victim instead of me. I kept a straight face.

“Perhaps you should apologize to these three.”

“I… I… I’m so sorry.” He looked at each of us in turn. “I beg all your pardon.”

I looked at the two officers. Officer Gerome said, “You’re free to go.” He looked at my two former associates. “All of you.”

I wandered around for a bit before settling on a little coffee shop. I got my order and sat down. I saw Officer Gerome come in as I took my first sip. He ordered and sat across from me. He sipped his coffee.

“Thanks Officer.”

“What was I gonna do? You slipped me that wallet, so I knew it wasn’t you.” He smiled. “I followed Jerry and Cyn a bit after their victim left. The three of them met at a coffee shop down the street. They looked confused. Cyn was yelling at the two. It was quite the comedy.”

“Good thing they didn’t know we grew up together.”

“More importantly, good thing they didn’t know I was a better pickpocket than you ever were.” Officer Gerome smiled. “I’m glad you’re on the straight and narrow now, Petey.”

“Yeah. Me too. Me too.”