This is Life Pal

slowly, sighing between entries, her fingers lingering over the equals sign as if hoping the total might change. It had been a month already since their last big grocery run, and the

ed but sharp. "Go to Mrs. Patel's and get these," she said, sliding a sho

nage years, kept in pristine condition, barely ridden. Normally, Jordan wasn't allowed to touch it, but since it was for errands, i

the tires crunching over loose gravel. The summer air was thick and humid, pressing a

-

ent of fresh bread and spices. The store had always been the same-a maze of well-stocked aisle

plants-all strategically placed to catch the eye. The bakery was a few steps away, its shelves lined with golden loaves, and the unmistakable scent of cinna

ton of milk, some rice, and a few vegetables. As she moved through the a

ith the same pity Jordan had heard from neighbor

lite smile. "She's

rd. "You've grown so much. I remember when you were this tall-" She gestur

e same small talk every time. Yes, I've grown

iven her, and packed the groceries into the small basket attached to th

hand, prying off the front tire. He wasn't just admiring it-he was stealing pa

ped forward from the alley beside the store. "What do y

his grip on the wrench. The air between them crackled with

could have turn

tch. He backed off, muttered something under his breath, the

. He picked up the tools, crouched down

stepped out of t

fr

er mom's precious bike, hands on the tire. T

. "Hey! What the he

oked up, confuse

tomers outside the store paused. Someone muttered something.

ait, what?" he said, clearly thr

him. "You've got the tools. You thin

on to frustration. "I-listen, I'm just trying to f

u're just gonna stand there fixing it?

g. "I'm not the thief here, alright? I just

ed. "Conv

e, I'll just let them take it." He dropped the wrench i

oung man," a de

, his uniform crisp, his expression unamused-stepping

ghed like this was just anot

the tools, then Jordan's tense p

ranger. "He was trying t

"I was fixing them after some

is arms. "You two

y said in

. "Right. Then you're both coming do

-

Police

n the hard plastic chair. Across the room, the young man sa

ped a file onto the d

rter," she

ed to the young

ax

n eyebrow. "Just

jaw tightened.

"And what do you do for wo

nsed, but Max only pulled out a simple, matte b

ned her ne

ief Operating

ible hand that fed you and slapped you at the same time. Their

augh. "You expect m

he could steal bike parts, he c

e card. "How do we kn

otage of the incident,"

it stepped into the ro

. "And who are yo

cia. His

omach dropp

tage to be pulled up. The grainy video played on the monitor: the two thieves, Max

m fell

inger. "One second." He answered. "Yeah, I won't be returning today. Missed my

. Should I press charges on

h caught.

then shook his hea

her shoulders sa

d a hand. "Fine. Mr. Wal

t another look at Jordan. Through the station's glass doo

ting there, guil

d. Her mom's name fl

wed hard befo