Robbing Old Folks and Making the Dash

I learned the value of money at a young age-- babysitting, dog watching, house cleaning-- you name it, I did it. Anything to earn a buck since my parents were tighter than a frog's ass.

By 16, I had two jobs-- one which was legit, and the other, well.. that was my own bite at being an entrepeneur and required much less work. This was during the time that rap music began blowing up the town where i lived. Gangster wannabees were around every corner and trying their best to portray the look.

So, after scrubbing dishes at work one night for $4/hour, I created my business plan. I could sell bling bling to all those gangster type guys in town... like Mercedes Emblems to wear around their necks. That was becoming the rage which I thought was stupid. But, it could be my ticket for making extra dough. Unfortunately, it would be a risk, but I was willing to take it.

The neighboring town of Mt. Shasta was frequented by rich yuppy types and mercedes flooded the street during summer months. It would become my playground.... The gig was pretty lucrative for a while--(note: I'm not proud of being a thief. ) But, I worked out a deal with a guy named Peanut who went to school with my brother. He paid me $25 for each emblem which was bank considering what I made at my other job in a day. One night, I brought him 4, and he didn't have a full $100 to give me. So, he gave me a tape "Great Adventures of Slick Rick" as partial payment until he could get the rest of the cash.

It was from that tape that I heard the song, Children's Story which became my theme music for stealing emblems. The lyrics pretty much said exactly what I was doing... "robbing old folks and making the dash...robbed another and another and a sister and a brother....."

After nearly getting caught one night by "out of shape" security guards at the golf resort, my business came to a complete and utter halt. It scared me straight which didn't make Peanut too happy. But, I never stole another thing in my life after that night.

Unfortunately, I was constantly reminded of what I had done by not only articles in the local paper but shiny emblem necklaces all over the streets of my town.

Anytime I hear that song, I think back to that time and what a moron I was for running such a scheme. Not too long after that, Peanut was arrested for possession.... not of my stolen emblems, but drugs.

Needless to say.....I never had to give the Slick Rick tape back to him.