Cover image © Brian Michael Barbeito

Five encounters with the small cons, sleights and quiet thefts that pass through ordinary days.

Prose and photographs by Brian Michael Barbeito

I was behind him and couldn’t help but notice the problem. They looked at his bill but didn’t examine it or feel it too much, some of the things you see merchants do. The manager and the worker were standing there and just smiled trying not to laugh and said, ‘No.’ I think it was a visibly fake bill more like a plaything than a try at counterfeit paper. The man didn’t contest and just pulled out twenty and paid. I guess he figured it had been worth a try. Maybe thinking if someone was really busy or inexperienced or both, that his trick might work. But no luck that day for him.

The Lady that Tried to Steal Hearts

That’s a different and more dangerous and damaging trip. What had happened is that the lady was emotionally broken from previous life experiences. Nobody wishes that on anybody. But later, instead of trying to heal, she learned how to manipulate others, and became quite practiced at it. And she stole a few, all the times careless about it. Sometimes there is a type of person that, since they are acting to begin with, can come off really well and fool others. But karma is something that the universal law doesn’t forget and it might take some time, but it does comes to collect. The lady in the end began to have to pay the gods of such things for all the emotional and spiritual damage she had caused others.

The Man Pretending to Be on a Phone

That was a good one. There was a little coffee place, nicely built, right across from the checkout. I wasn’t watching anything, maybe working on my writing. But I was alerted to the man because the lady cashier rushed over to get him. There was a small commotion as they say. What he had done was pretended he was talking on the phone, very busy and distracted, while scanning all his items. Then, anyone watching, well, everything looks above board, normal. Especially since that’s the world now, right? Yet when he was done, instead of paying, he just walked away with the items. Of course he put on a ‘Oh my gosh I forgot,’ look, but it was clearly all an act. Those cashiers must see many, many cons and scams…attempts at the old five finger discounts.

The Energy Stealers

Like vampires without the blood. They are attracted to people carrying light because they don’t have their own, haven’t done any spiritual work and worse, manage, manipulate, and maneuver in darkness. It’s like how narcissists are attracted to empaths. Or criminals to the unsuspecting and innocent. What’s worse is that they put on airs, can act very well in different situations, play the victim, act like a hero, and lie cheat and steal. They can be older also, which unfortunately makes them ‘old pros.’ However, we can at least learn from them meaning learn that life is not all rosy and sunny. In the future one must have great great great refined discernment regarding these people. That is, when one even must interact. Otherwise, avoid, cut ties, avoid avoid avoid. Even calling them out can get someone stuck for a time in their mud.

The Racetrack Pickpockets

Four guys were surrounding one guy. Like a pack of animals looking at their prey. But humans are often wily and different, malevolently clever. Bad. But refined. I think the three that weren’t trying to pull the actual wallet out of the victim’s pockets were acting as lookouts. They didn’t beat him up and rob him, no. It was in a highly populated place where you could go down and watch the horses before the races. The logic was that people could tell somehow anyways, when a horse looked like it would have a good race, and maybe when a horse looked ‘off’ or without a right energy. I don’t know if it works. Not much of a gambler. Anyhow, one tries to ever so gently slide the wallet out of the small man’s back pocket. He pulls it and coaxes it up with his fingers. It does get halfway up. A far way considering. The man doesn’t notice. I think about stepping in or causing a distraction to help the innocent man. But these guys are really big. All four are over six feet tall. Besides, something happens. I don’t know what exactly, but they suddenly stop. They walk away before they can get the wallet. I make a mental note to continue to always keep my wallet in my front pocket and be aware, since thieves are everywhere.

About the author

Brian Michael Barbeito is a Canadian poet and photographer residing in the Southern Ontario area.