Book Talk

Just For A Bag of Chips

                Taylor stood frozen, her hand poised above the pack of chips. She knew her friends were doing the same thing, but it just felt wrong. She shouldn’t be here. She should be home doing homework, teasing her little sister, sitting back listening to music, or just being a kid. Now, she had bypassed the rest of her kid years, about to do something that was against the law, something that could get her into trouble.

                Across the grocery store aisle, she could see Quincy, Rachel, and Clark dressed in jeans and sweatshirts so they wouldn’t attract attention. Then, so swift even the most noticeable of people would have to second-guess themselves, Clark slid a couple packs of spearmint Tic-Tacs into the pocket of his hoodie.

                “You find anything?” Clark asked, turning towards Taylor. His face was expressionless, as if nothing had happened.

                Taylor shook her head and looked back at the chips. If she didn’t take them, she’d look like a wimp; she wouldn’t fit in. If she did take the bag of chips, she’d be one of them and that’s what she wanted. After all, she was the new girl in town and making friends hadn’t exactly been easy. Today, though, it would be easy. She only had to take the chips.

                Everything she did felt automatic. She took hold of the chips and removed them from the shelf. Glancing from side to side, she quickly slid the bag under her sweatshirt. She heard the soft crunch and could see the outline of the bag, so she wrinkled her shirt to hide it.

                When she raised her head again, she saw Rachel watching her with a little smile. Seeing that smile helped Taylor relax somewhat. She was finally one of them.

                “Let’s go,” Quincy said, gesturing to the exit.

                They all followed after him, Taylor in the middle of the four, trying so hard to look innocent. From under her hoodie, she could hear the crackling of the bag as she took each step. This was so not going to work.

                “You getting anything today?” a sales associate with fuchsia highlights said, a bright smile on her face.

                “Not today,” Rachel spoke, returning the grin.

                They passed through the sliding doors out of the store. Taylor expected to feel some sort of relief with the whole event being done, but she felt more anxious. She’d gotten away with it! She should be glad, but all she felt was worried.

                The four teens stopped at the park to hang out, pulling out the treats they’d stolen and sharing them with each other. Taylor felt guilty eating the chips. They didn’t even taste that good and she ended up giving the whole bag to Rachel. She couldn’t believe she had gone through all that just for a bag of chips. It didn’t feel worth it anymore.

                “What’s up with you, Taylor?” Quincy questioned, between bites of his gummy worms.

                “Nothing,” Taylor lied, but she avoided his eyes, playing with the grass instead.

                Clark shoved the rest of the Tic-Tacs into his pocket and stood up. “I’m thirst. Let’s go to 7-Eleven and sneak a couple Cokes.”

                “Yeah,” Rachel said and Quincy nodded. She’d finished the chips and had thrown the bag away. She now looked at Taylor. “Come on.”

                Her immediate instinct was to follow, but this time, Taylor felt a strange tug inside her chest to stand up now before it was too late. “Um…,” she replied, cautiously. “No thanks. I’ve got a lot of homework to finish.”

                A little frown came over Rachel’s face but it left as quickly as it had arrived. “Okay, whatever.” She turned away and beckoned for Quincy and Clark to go with her.

                Now alone in the park, Taylor thought about how she’d failed to meet her new friends’ expectations and wondered what school would be like the following day. She also thought about whether she would get caught. If she didn’t, she’d have to live with her guilty conscience for the rest of her life.

                Without a second thought, Taylor went back the road and into the grocery store. It was more crowded than when she came in but soon she spotted the bright fuchsia hair of the sales associate who had spoken to them earlier. She made her way over to the lady. Right now, she was helping a man, totaling up a transaction, so Taylor waited patiently in line. Fear was running through her and her heart was pounding loudly, but she knew she was doing the right thing.

                “Can I help you?” the lady said now, looking at her.

                Taylor glanced around and noticed the man was gone. She stepped up to the counter.

                “Hey didn’t you come in earlier today?” the lady asked.

                Taylor hesitated, then nodded. “I need to tell you something.” She took a deep breath. “I… stole a bag of chips. I’m really sorry and I want to pay for them. I really do. I even have the money…” She pulled a wrinkled five out of her pocket and slid it onto the counter. “I’ll take whatever punishment you give me. Really.”

                “Were you the only one?”

                Taylor shook her head. “No.”

                The lady stared at her for the longest time. She, then, slowly reached for the money, never taking her eyes off Taylor. “I appreciate your honesty. I’m going to let you and your friends off the hook just this once. Next time, I’ll have to call the manager, alright?”

                “Yes ma’am,” Taylor answered with a relieved smile. “Thanks so much.”

                “Thank you for telling the truth,” the lady said, winking.

                As Taylor left through the sliding doors, she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. So what if she’d never get to hang out with Quincy, Rachel, and Clark ever again. She’d learned something. The next time she was put in a similar situation, she hoped she would do the right thing. To stand up for what was right.

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