Hello everyone, welcome to my world. My name is Judy; I was a talented thief. If awards were attached to theft, I would have won lots of medal. The good thing about my kind of stealing was that I didn’t use gun. I only strike when opportunity presented itself or I create opportunity to strike. I was so smart and intelligent that I could easily put my hand in the mouth of lion and remove what the lion was chewing.

I was not born that way. Back in my early days in the primary and secondary school, I was the toast of everyone. My teachers loved me and encourage others to emulate my good manners. Suddenly, everything changed. I no longer concentrate on my studies. All I thought of, was how to steal both things I need and the ones that would turn out useless. Every day in class, things must miss, ranging from money, biro, lollipops, biscuits etc. But no one will ever suspect the charming, ever smiling and beautiful Judy.

The way I was intelligent in academics was still the same in pilfering. For months, I caused havoc, yet no one could trace it to me.

“Judy, I left my bag under your care, why is the money therein missing?” Instructor Linda asked. She was my English Language teacher.

“I am sorry Ma’am, I went to ease myself. That could be when they stole the money.” Tears were flowing freely from my eyes as I talked.

But how could someone steal what was left in her care? You could see that my case needed urgent attention.

“Please let the innocent girl be. Can’t you see that she is crying?”

That was how Instructor John delivered me and made Instructor Linda to shift her gaze on other members of the class. She gave them 6 strokes of the cane each, when they could not identify the culprit. As the teacher was flogging them, I was weeping. I wished there was a way for me to return the money so that my mates would be free. But I couldn’t bring myself to confess to the crime.

When Instructor Linda noticed that that I was crying, she consoled me with the assurance that she never accused me of the crime.

“Judy wipe your tears. I know that you are innocent. They did it purposely to tarnish your image, but be assured that it will not affect my love for you.”

It was not even possible for anyone to accuse me of crime. I was born into wealth. I and my only brother have more than enough for our needs. My parents also extended same gestures to our close friends and even our school teachers. Though my parents were not indulging parents, they made sure that our needs and even most of our wants were met. That they believed would keep us away from crime. It had been working, until my 14th birthday, when I woke up with an insatiable quest to steal. I had cut part of my birthday cake and hid it under my bed. Friends and well-wishers were already gathered, and our maid was asked to bring out the cake. When daddy noticed that the cake was in bad shape, he quickly ordered for another one. Of course the maid was punished for the crime.

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It was Monday morning in my school. I thought that it was business as usual but I never knew that power had changed hands. I stilled out of the Assembly ground to go and commit the crime. I tried ransacking bags but could not find any money. I felt it was my unlucky day, little did I know that it was a black Monday for me. Few hours after morning assembly, I was summoned to the Principal’s office.

“Judy, I want you to tell me all that you know concerning the stealing that had been happening in your class.”

“Stea…… stealing,” I stammered. “I don’t know anything about it.”
I was gripped with fear. My thought was that someone might have seen me when I was ransacking those bags.

“I will deny the accusation. After all I never took anything.” I consoled myself with that thought. Of course it helped to calm my nerves.

“Watch this,” the Principal told me.

I almost passed out when I saw myself on the screen. All my activities inside the class that early morning were fully captured. I felled on my knees and begged the principal to temper justice with mercy.

“I am so sorry Ma’am. Please forgive me. I have been responsible for all the theft in my class. But I promise that it will not happen again. I will never steal again.”

“You are right Judy you will surely not steal again. At least, not in this school.” I didn’t understand what she meant until my parents arrived.

“Dr. and Dr. Mrs. Pius, you are welcome. I am so sorry for the condition under which I summoned you. The issue on ground warranted it. The school authority became worried about the rate of stealing in Judy’s class and decided to install CCTV camera. It was top management decision; most teachers were not aware. But surprisingly, we discovered that your daughter had been the one causing the havoc. I am sorry, but the law of the school must stand. She is dismissed from the school,” the principal informed my parents.

“My daughter, steal! Why would my daughter steal? There must be a mistake somewhere,” daddy blurted out.

He looked at my Mum’s direction, expecting her to support him but she studiously avoided his gaze.

“Dr. Pius, we don’t need to argue. Just view this,” the principal told my daddy.

“Ma’am there will be no need for that. Let’s take our daughter home and question her.” Mummy quickly told her.

She stood immediately, held my hand and headed for the door. Daddy had no choice than to join us.

That night, as I was sleeping , I saw the woman again. She took me to an occasion and fed me with food and special wine. The food was so sweet , sweeter than any food that I have ever tasted.

Then she asked , “Have you ate this kind of food?”

“No ma,” I answered.

” This is preparation for your assignment this week. You must take food that does not belong to you and eat it . I have given the order to your spirit, your physical body must obey.

Watch out for the next episode.