008: Savior

Lara

I glance over my shoulder and see Ander sitting on the bench outside of the shop, just like I told him to. He appears to be distracted and that's exactly what I want; I don't want him to see what I'm doing here. 

I'd never recover if he did. 

I turn back to the shelf in front of me, my grip on the hand basket I'm holding slipping because of how much I'm sweating. Although I've gotten fairly good at this, it never fails to terrify me. Besides, the shop-owner is eyeing me suspiciously and that makes me even more nervous. To make matters worse, the store is practically empty. 

I'm the only one here. 

I put a bag of rice in the basket but slip another one in the pocket of my coat. The money I have is limited and won't be enough to buy everything I need. Selling fruits and vegetables isn't that profitable, and there's a lot that we need, like toothpaste, rice, and lately, protein. Finding animals is getting harder and harder, even when I shift and prowl around the forest for hours on end. 

I have now resorted to petty theft to survive. 

I walk slowly around, keeping an eye out for anything I might need. I should've gone to a bigger store but I've already been there many times, and the risk of getting caught is way too high. If I'm imprisoned, what will happen to Ander? I don't trust anyone to take care of him. He's my baby and he needs me. 

I glance again at the owner. Sure enough, his eyes are on me. I look down at my clothes, wondering if they are the reason why he's so suspicious. I'm wearing my very best today; jeans, boots, and a thick coat. I even have a scarf wrapped around my neck. Sure, it isn't that cold, but I had to wear an ensemble that matched the coat or he would find it suspicious.

It seems he already does. 

I decide to add cooking oil to the basket and then head over to the counter. The man's beady eyes are on me and I gulp. It almost sounds like my throat is clicking—that's how dry my mouth is. I place the basket on the counter and stare back at him, hoping that I don't look as afraid as I feel. 

"This is all?" he asks in a dry voice. 

I nod. I have about twenty dollars worth of groceries in the basket but have a lot more concealed in my clothes. If someone told me all those years ago that I was going to start stealing to survive, I wouldn't have believed them. In fact, I probably would've laughed out loud. 

These days, it's a part of my daily routine. I drive around the city gathering supplies to then make the long trip back to Elwood. It's the only way, like I said. Surviving without supplies so far away from cities or towns is not recommended. Anything could happen and I would be too far to be able to do anything about it. I have to be prepared for any situation, including theft, because Elwood hasn't been the same since my grandmother died. 

The man keeps on looking at me and this time, I feel like something's wrong. I feel it deep in my bones. Someone enters the shop. I don't turn to look at who it might be. I see a tall figure so it can't be Ander. 

"Are you sure this is it?" the man asks again. 

I wonder if this is some kind of trick question. Why is he so suspicious of me? I've done this long enough to know how to be careful. I answer, "Yes. Of course."

A smile tugs at the corners of his lips and my fear comes to life. It's a fire-breathing dragon. It's feral. He taps at something to his right and I don't see what it is, but then it occurs to me. Cameras. I look at the ceiling next to the door and see a camera there, its beady eye not unlike this man's. 

I don't have to look around to see more of them. 

"I saw you putting my things in your jacket," he states. His voice is slightly accented. "I'll call the authorities and they will deal with you. If you don't stay put, I won't hold myself responsible for what I'm going to do to you."

Tears fill my eyes reflexively. I've never been caught before and have no idea how to act in such a situation. I only know that I can't go to jail. I put my hands together as he reaches for the phone. "Please. I have a child to feed. I'll give everything back."

I start reaching into my pockets for things. There's so much that I can't help but feel embarrassed. The man watches me with disdain but he hasn't dropped his phone yet. "I'll give it all back. I'll leave. You'll never have to hear from me again. But please, don't call the authorities!"

"I will because you're a thief and deserve to rot in a cell!" he says angrily. "You think you can come in here and take that which does not belong to you. I have eight children to feed, unlike you!"

"Please, I'll do anything!" I cry. I glance at Ander and notice that he's staring directly at me. He must have heard the commotion. I turn my face away quickly, not wanting him to see the despair in my eyes.

"Yes?" the man asks, his eyes wide. "Okay. Pay back what you owe me double. Then, I won't call the authorities."

My eyes widen. I don't have that kind of money. I only have about twenty on me and I was even hoping for spare change for the road. The man nods and picks up the phone again. "That's exactly what I thought."

"Wait," I beg. "Please!"

"Sir," a voice behind me says. I don't know why, but I look in that direction. I look right over my shoulder and see a tall man in his mid-forties. Maybe slightly younger; I'm not sure. His eyes are a warm brown and he's wearing a beanie, so I can't see what the color of his hair is.

"What do you want?" the shop owner demands.

"I'll pay what the lady owes," he claims. I can only stare at his face, unable to say anything. He's offering to pay for my things? Why?

"Oh, you will, will you?"

The man nods before removing his wallet from the back pocket and removing two hundred dollar notes. He hands them to the shop owner, who then narrows his eyes at me before packing my groceries.

Never have I ever been this embarrassed in all my life. 

Wordlessly, the shop owner hands me my bags. I move toward the door. I don't quite know what to do in this situation. I head toward the door. Ander jumps up from his seat and opens the door for me. I wouldn't be able to open on my own because of how full my hands are.

"What happened, Mom?" he asks me gravely. 

"We'll talk later," I promise him. 

The man—my savior—walks out of the store. He only has a bottle of water with him. I put the bags down and rub my hands together. "I can't thank you enough for what you did for me in there. Really, I can't—"

He puts a hand up. His words are kind. "You don't have to thank me." He then glances at Ander, who's standing behind me. "It's clear that you're in some kind of trouble. It's alright I'm glad I could help."

"If there's anything I can do for you..."

The man stares at me intently before saying, "You're willing to do something for me? Like what?"

I blush. I didn't mean it in that way at all. "I just—"

"Would you be willing to listen to a proposition I have for you?"

The way he says it sounds like business and scares me a little. Nonetheless, I ask, "What proposition?"