Mom and dad took me along whenever they went shopping. I always enjoyed going to the supermarket because there were so many things of interest. Stores like FEDCO, Sages and White Front were thrilling, mostly because of their good selection of toys.
Once, in Sages, I saw something that I wanted. I think it was a bag of marbles. I asked mom if I could have it, but she said no. She went back to shopping, and left me alone in the toy department for a few minutes.
I took that opportunity to slip the marbles into my pocket. I knew I was doing wrong - my little heart was beating very hard and my hands were trembling. It was very exciting.
And I got away with it. Suddenly, I had a way to acquire the things that I wanted - even if mom and dad said no.
During the next few weeks, I swiped half a dozen or so similar small toys. I started to feel very powerful, unconquerable. I had dreams of sneaking out massive toys, like a huge Tonka truck that I especially wanted.
I didn’t steal because I needed to. We definitely were not poor, although we were not a wealthy family. I stole because it was fun.
Of course, I eventually got caught. I pocketed a small set of plastic musical instruments. I don’t know why I took those particular items, perhaps they just looked interesting. Anyway, my dad noticed the bulge in my pocket, and made me hand over the item.
"What do you have in your pocket, son?", He said gently.
"Nothing", I said, a bit nervously.
"I saw you steal that toy", my dad said. "Stealing is wrong. You’ve done a very bad thing."
Dad then did devised one of the most fiendish and successful punishments that I have encountered. I thought I’d just get a spanking (one of the few times in my young life where that would have been the preferred punishment). Instead, he made me return the item to the store manager, apologize, and listen to the man scold me. I thought I was going to jail!
I never forgot that lesson. The guilt and shame of getting caught doing something which I knew was wrong was tremendous. I have never stolen anything, not even a paperclip from work, since that day. Dad taught me, better than any lecture, that stealing is shameful and wrong.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos and text is Copyright © Richard G Lowe, Jr.