Theft

        Whenever I join the long queue at Lim's bookshop in the shopping centre, I would take a walk down the memory lane. I can still vividly remember the heated argument between Mr Lim, the owner of the bookshop and a girl, my friend Sally. It all happened like this...
        It was a sweltering hot Sunday morning. Mum brought me to the nearby shopping mall, ABC Shopping Mall to shop for some things for my barbecue party the next day.
        "Mum! I am going to get some party hats from that shop!" I exclaimed to Mum. She nodded her head and instructed me to wait for her outside Fairprice Supermarket.
Within minutes, I came out of the shops with heavy plastic bags in my hands. I ambled down the aisles of the shops to Fairprice to wait for Mum patiently.
          "BANG!" A strange loud sound could be heard. I turned my head in curiousity to take a look at what the commotion was. It came from Lim's Bookshop's glass panel. I could see a girl, on the floor. When I was about to approach her, she turned around. I realised she was my best friend, Sally!
           Sally was grimacing in pain and clutching onto her bag tightly. Mr Lim, upon seeing what had happened, rushed out to help Sally up. However, just before Sally got up, her bag made a ripping sound and all the contents of her bag poured out, strewn on the ground.
         Sally gasped in horror. I could catch a glimpse of a book, titled The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which I longed for. Mr Lim frowned and picked up the book.
          " Did you pay for this book?" Mr Lim asked suspiciously. Sally nodded her head nervously. Realising that Sally was lying, he inched closer to Sally looking vexed. I could sense an argument approaching.
          " What a liar! You better confess now or I will call the police!" Mr Lim bellowed in anger. Trying to deny the facts, Sally pretended to look angry and shouted back at him. Bad-tempered Mr Lim was so angry that he could not control himself and pulled Sally by her collar. He clenched his fist and questioned Sally if she had stolen the book.
          " I'm sorry... I did not have a choice. It is my best friend's birthday tomorrow and I had to buy a gift for her but I have no savings so I had to result in stealing," Sally confessed, tears welling up in her eyes. Touched and horrified, I rushed to Sally and hugged her.
          " Please, Mr Lim, do not call the police! I will pay for the book on her behalf!" I begged. Seemingly happy by the answer, he nodded his head but set a stern rule that Sally would no longer be allowed to step in his bookshop again. Sally nodded her head vigorously and hugged me back.
          " Sally, please promise me you will not steal again. This book is for you," I whispered to her. We hugged each other and smiled at each other. Sally regretted her rash act and never stole again.
          " Ermmm... Miss, it's your turn," a voice jolted me back to reality. Smiling to myself, I stepped out of Lim's bookshop happy and proud that Sally decided to turn over a new leaf.