Morality Tale

It would be so easy. He is right there. No one is watching. The only thing between him and I is a high, ironed fence surrounding the backyard. I watched as the small, pump, black puppy ran throughout the well kept, brightly green grass without a care in the world. For what did he have to care about? He lives in a gorgeous, big house that shields him from the harshest weather. He is fed three times a day of delicious kibble with a side of table food scraps my sister, Becky, and I dream of discovering during our scavenger hunts when we are low on food. When he wants something, all he has to do is stare at his owner with the biggest pitiful eyes and a high pitch whine and immediately he will get it.

A chilly breeze suddenly swept down the street. I shivered as the breeze passed by, penetrating through the holes of my coat and T-shirt. On the other hand, the puppy was unfazed by the breeze. He was too busy digging a hole, his tag wagging in anticipation of what his paws might unearth. He would be easy money, I thought to myself as I gripped on the bars separating him and I. His owners can afford to spare a few hundred bucks, evident in the puppy’s sparkly, golden collar and the mini, spacious, elegant house that serves as his doghouse. If I do go through with this, I will keep my word. After they paid me, I would give them their puppy back. We need the money. It will help us at least get through the month. Maybe give us a chance to start saving up to get a place of our own.

However, as I start my climb up the fence, Becky’s voice echoes in my mind. Immediately, I am engulfed in the memory of Becky arriving home after she got laid off from her latest job. Sitting next to me on a raggy blanket in the alleyway we call home, she said to me that despite the setbacks we currently have now and in the future, we should not resort to crime. Crime, she said, while it does offer a quick way out, a short cut to the lives we hope to achieve, will backstab us in the long run. It will eventually destroy us and take the one thing we do. At this moment, Becky takes my hand. It will take us away from each other, separating us forever.

I jumped down from the fence. Despite the sounds I made on impact, the puppy never looked up. As I stared at the puppy one last time, I decided that I don’t want a life without Becky. I can’t even fathom a life with her. With a sigh, I turned away from the puppy and made my way down the street.