The Test

The Test

         “There are a lot of things I don’t know, but I know a bad idea when I hear one.” Eleven year-old Mike said. “You think I’m stupid, but I’m not.”

         “Aw, come on, Mike, you want to be part of the gang don’t you? Buck said. He grinned and winked at Pete and Luke. “We all did it.”

         “You all did?” Mike asked. “You stole from Mr. Jensen’s store?”

         “Sure we did,” Pete said.

         “It doesn’t hurt anybody. Mr. Jensen is rich; he’ll never miss it.” Luke said.

         Mike couldn‘t believe what he was hearing. He had always thought that Buck and his friends were cool and was happy when the older boys let him hang out with them. “But Mr. Jensen is my friend.”

         “I told you guys he wouldn’t do it. He’s too chicken?” Buck said and poked Mike hard in the chest.

         “I’m not chicken!” Mike protested.

         “Then just do it,” Pete said.

         “What do I have to take?” Mike asked. He didn’t like the idea but he wanted to be part of the gang.

         Buck rubbed his chin as he thought. “You know that old comic book in the glass case? That’s what you have to take.”

         Pete and Luke looked surprised. They didn’t have to take anything but candy from the rack by the door.

         “I can’t take that. The case is locked.”

         “Yea, but you know where the key is.”

         “But I heard Mr. Jensen say it’s worth $400. You said I didn’t have to take anything big.”

         “Well I changed my mind.” Buck gave Mike a push. “You want to belong; you have to prove it.”


         The next day after school, Mike went to his job at the store. Mr. Jensen told him, “When you finish sweeping the sidewalk, take the cans from those boxes and put them on the shelves. After we close I want you to sweep and mop the store. I have some work to do in the back, call me if we have any customers.”

         As Mike swept the sidewalk in front of the store, He thought about Buck and the others; they would be waiting for him when he left the store that night. There were only a few costumers in and out that day. At eight o’clock, he turned the sign around to show the word closed, locked the door and pulled down the shade and then swept and mopped the small store. Every time he passed the glass case he stopped and looked at the comic book.

         He went around behind the cash register. The key was on a hook under the counter. His heart began to pound so hard he was afraid that Mr. Jensen would hear it. He glanced back at the curtain hanging between the store and office. When Mike took the key from the hook, his hand shook so badly he almost dropped it.

         He started to put the key into the lock when he heard Mr. Jensen call, “Mike, are you still here?”

         Mike quickly put the key into his pocket. “Yes, Mr. Jensen, I’m still here.”

         Mr. Jensen came out through the curtain. I’m sorry, son. I guess I was so busy that I almost forgot it’s Friday, payday. You should’ve spoken up.”

         Mr. Jensen opened the cash register and took out the money to pay Mike. Mike held his breath.

         “Here you go, son, a week’s pay for a week’s work, just as promised. I‘ll see you Monday after school.”

         “Thank you, sir,” Mike said and put the money into his pocket. His heart skipped a beat as he felt the key.

         Mr. Jensen went back into the office. Mike took out the key and stared at it, and then he looked at the case. I can't do this. Buck will probably beat me up, but I won’t do it.

         Mike went through the curtain. “Mr. Jensen, I need to talk to you.” He held out the key.

         “What’s this now?” Mr. Jensen asked.

         Mike told him the whole story. “I’m sorry, sir. I guess you won’t want me to work here anymore.”

         “Now why would you guess that?” Mr. Jensen asked.

         “I was going to steal from you. You don’t want a thief working here.”

         “Mike, you thought about doing it, but in the end you didn’t. That’s what’s important.” He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You could have simply put the key back on the hook and gone home without saying anything.”

         “I can still work for you?”

         “Of course, you can. When I took your pay out of the cash register, I saw that the key was missing, and I had a pretty good idea what was up. I’ve seen you talking to those three boys. I decided to wait and see what you'd do.”

         “You mean you knew and you were testing me?”

         “Yes, and you passed with flying colors, just as I was sure you would. I‘m proud of you, Mike.”

         The boy looked toward the door. “They’ll be waiting for me.”

         Mr. Jensen reached for his jacket; “I’ll walk you home, if you want.”

         “No sir, I’ll be all right.”

         Mike had only gone a block and a half when he saw the boys standing under a streetlight. Buck stepped in front of him and held out his hand. “OK, where is it?”

         Mike stood his ground and looked the bigger boy in the eye. “It’s in the glass case, where it belongs.”

         “I knew you couldn’t do it. You’re chicken.”

         “No,” Mike said. “I’m not a thief.”

         “Did you tell? You know what happens to squealers.”

         “I didn’t have to tell. You’re not as smart as you think. Mr. Jensen already knew. He’s been watching you, all three of you. If you take anything else from the store or do anything to me, he‘ll go to your parents and tell them what you‘ve been doing.”

         “You think that's going to keep me from beating you?” Buck held up a fist.

         “Leave him alone, Buck,” said Pete.

         “Yes, leave him alone,” said Luke.

         Buck turned angrily on the two boys. “What’s a matter with you two? He told on us.”

         “No, he didn’t. Didn’t you hear him? Mr. Jensen already knew. If you hit him, Jensen will go to our parents,” said Luke.

         “I don’t want him talking to my dad,” Pete said. “Maybe you don’t care, but my dad will skin me alive.”

         The two boys stood between Buck and Mike. “Go home, Mike,” they said.

         As Mike walked away he heard the three of them arguing. It had been a tough day but he had passed an important life test and he felt very proud.



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