It Was All Part of a Greater Plan
Who was in on it?
In that single moment of decision, she felt the weight of the universe. It was only one loaf of bread. The convenience store manager wouldn’t miss it, but it would mean the world to her family. She pondered, then sighed. As her hand reached for the golden, crusty one, a set of restraints painfully cuffed her wrists.
“Martha, again?” Officer Gray groaned. “How many times are we going to do this dance?”
“I wasn’t going to steal it. Honest!” Martha lied. “I was checking out the expiry date.”
“Is arresting her necessary?” Clark, the manager, asked. “I don’t want to cause her more hardship. I only want her removed.”
“If you don’t want to add to her suffering, why not offer her a job? Then she won’t come in here, loafing around.”
Officer Gray winked at the gaunt woman while releasing her hands.
“Ring her up the bread, some cold cuts, and coleslaw, Clark. You can put it on my tab.” The officer warned Martha to stay clear of the store, then bolted out the door.
“Thank you, Clark,” Martha cried. “That went exactly as planned.”
As Clark welcomed the product shipment, he recalled the others who used to frequent the shop requesting handouts. Why him? Why his store…
