The Art of the Hustle

by Edward Mullen

  ***

  I learned after the first day not to wear my good clothing. I threw on the same hoody and jeans I had worn the previous couple of days and went to work, already filthy. After a few hours in the back, I decided to get some fresh air. I locked the back entrance and stood out at the front of the store in the sunshine. If the workers were going to steal shoes, they would have to walk right passed me holding them.

  “Hey, Anne,” I called out to one of my friends who happened to be walking by. She was talking on her cell phone and didn’t hear me.

  “Anne!” I called out again, but she still didn’t hear. She stopped at the corner and was waiting for the light to change. I walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey,” I said again.

  She quickly looked at my clothes, said, “Sorry, no change”, and walked across the street. For a moment, I just stood there, humiliated. I decided to go back inside.