Excitement ***

The heat was oppressive, but the three boys sat on the five-foot-way. There was little traffic on this hot afternoon. But they waited patiently. As they watched, the old man came by on his bicycle. He was moving so slowly that he looked almost stationary. As he cycled, his head was bowed. He watched the road. The boys watched him. The front wheel went directly over the paper. And then, the old man wobbled slightly. He had seen it ! There was visible excitement, and anxiety among the boys. Naser half stood. The old man wobbled to a halt. he looked back at the red paper fluttering lazily in the still air. He looked alert. He looked around as he brought down the stand on his bicycle. Then he walked back, warily keeping a lookout. Naser crouched, ready to go. Just as the old man was about to stoop to pick up the paper, a gust of wind blew it away a few inches. And as he straightened and moved after it, Naser beat him to it. Naser picked up the paper, almost snatching it from the old man's fingers.

"Eh, boy, I saw it first. Give it to me," the old man staggered. He was desperate. Naser looked at him. The sweat glistened on his wrinkled face. The old man looked almost comical in his anger. Naser clutched the paper and held it behind him. "No, uncle, I saw it first." The old man was surprisingly agile. He grabbed Naser, and wrenched the paper from his clenched fist. Then he pushed Naser away. As he walked back to his bicycle, Naser yelled at him, "Pencuri. It is mine," and headed back to the other boys. From behind the pillar the three watched. The old man reached his bicycle, and after furtively looking back, opened his palms expectantly. The red paper looked very different up close. It was not a $10 note. It was just a bit of red paper. He examined it, turning it over and over. As disappointment gave way to shame and embarrassment, he looked back at the boys. They were rolling in laughter. The old man crumpled up the paper, got on his bicycle and cycled away. Even slower this time.