Laughter rang across the park. A large stage imposed on the gazebo. My part was over. Only my brother Peck's puppet was needed. I crawled to the back and, completely unseen, lurked in the depths of our audience.

The Mothers were well off. Bejeweled and clad in business attire. Plus bulky, heavy purses so woefully unguarded.

Groping in the haphazardly open bags I pulled out cell phones, jewelry, wallets, spare bills, and one especially expensive coin purse. Despite that Peck's beanie still sat on the front steps prodding for donations.

He continued to charm the audience prying open more purses and bags. It was almost like he wanted to rub the theft in their noses.

I sat outside so we wouldn't be seen together. I balled myself up so the bulges in my coat and person weren't so obvious.

No one paid me any mind. Hopefully I'd become just another bum.

"Ready?" my brother asked, offering a hand. I took it and we walked away in silence.

"Home now right?" I asked daring to hope. "I mean we don't have to sell every little thing, we already got a good haul from what they were happy to give us."

The beanie, now held like a sack, was stuffed full to burst with bills and coins. "Jimmy how expensive do you figure Dad's treatments are? Too much for Mom to pay for, and what about the stack of bills huh?"

He plowed on before I could form an argument. "Besides if we can do something to help we should. You said that once didn't you? That's what we're doing, besides Mom pretty much has her own side hustle."

Why'd he always have to be so good at that? Always an answer for everything.

"the people we steal from could have problems too," I pointed out, "being rich doesn't automatically make you happy and who says they deserve what we do? What if it were you?"

"Money doesn't make you happy, but it pays unhappiness to stay away," Peck said, quoting himself. "They have plenty so what's a few bucks and doo dads that can be easily replaced?"

We were in a skeazy part of town. Any sane person would speed walk through. Not to mention avoid staring at the loons. Not Peck, he searched the faces for his shady business partner.

"Hey Peck," greeted the young man with a smirk. Out of reflex I clung close to my brother. "Got anything good?"

"Gee I dunno, come on Jimmy," Peck said nudging me. I glared at the pair, sinching my jacket firmly closed for business.

"Jimmy don't be difficult," Peck insisted with a nervous chuckle.

"Yes Jimmy do what your brother says," the young man agreed in an off-putting tone. Reluctantly I emptied my pockets.

Each item was inspected with a pretend seasoned eye. He didn't seem to find much interest in any of it. Except the coin purse.

With a whistle he marveled at the item. "This is nice," he said.

"Thanks though we went through a lot of work to get it," Peck put in.

"I'm sure," the man responded with a glance at me.

Out of his black bag he produced a crystal white willow patterned teapot. We were both in awe even if I guessed at how he got it.

Peck was deep in thought. "I dunno what else have you got?" he asked.

"Why not just run?" I asked only to be ignored. It was Peck's turn to inspect some stolen items. From the cache he selected baseball cards lovingly wrapped in bubble wrap.

"These and the pot," Peck decided.

At first he refused but with a little haggling Peck got all three items for the purse and a cell phone.

Our next stop was a pawn shop, a just as shady business, where Peck turned our haul into cash. The owner an intimidating fat man with bush of a beard, was a tough customer.

Peck once again used me to great effect.

"Okay, okay," Peck said, feigning surrender, "I guess we could see if the police is interested in knowing you buy stolen goods."

"Who would believe you over me?" the proprietor scoffed.

"No one, but wouldn't you believe this cute face," Peck crooned showing me off.

On cue I asked, full of innocence, "Why do you do bad things?"

I held his eyes for a few long seconds. Finally he growled, "fine! Four fifty for the lot."

"Pleasure doing business," Peck chirped.

At two in the afternoon our house was empty. Aunt Clara didn't come to make lunch for another half hour.

That gave Peck time to count our loot. Without a word I left my brother to it.

"Hey!" Peck exclaimed, stopping me. "You deserve a reward, candy store on me tomorrow?"

"Sounds good," I mumbled.

My trash overflowed with uneaten sweets. Food in general didn't agree with me lately while cookies and candies turned my stomach.

Aunt Clara came right on time. Her perky voice travelled down the hall. Soon she was calling for me.

Clara smothered me in a hug, gushing about how handsome I was getting. Just like my Father.

An honest, content man. Someone who wore flannel more often than not and had only one suit for his work. Yet, he worked in the cutthroat world of real-estate in one of the more ruthless firms. Those superiors had pretended he just didn't meet their sales standards when he was really fired for not being sly, for not edging his clients towards anything less than their dream home.

Then he had gotten sick. All of those savings that could have kept the family comfortable was sucked into treatments. Still, Dan Wicket had raised two honest, straight-laced men. that's what mattered.

So what would he say if he found out about our business?

"Done," I said, interrupting Peck and Aunt Clara's lively conversation. Probably about some movie.

"You haven't touched your spinach," Clara noticed.

True. All I had managed were a few rabbit bites before feeling nauseous.

"It's just-- I filled up on ice cream," I lied.

My Aunt turned on my brother.

Peck was stammering for an answer. I took the chance to leave but not before putting my plate in the fridge.

Alone in my room my phone pinged. J.J Singer. My girl crazy best friend and celeb encyclopedia.

'Major news. There's a true blue Princess in town!' the text read. With it was two photos; one of a redhead in jeans and a light blue blouse and the other of an ebony haired girl in a poofy, periwinkle dress.

'Got me. Which is which?' I replied. Still I felt like I had seen Miss Poofy Gown.

'Both!' J.J followed with at least eight grinning emojis.

'Oh yeah a princess is chewing on a chili dog and I'm a Duke.'

'Really it's Livianna,' J.J insisted.

Having a name to the face it came together. Just to be sure I checked my favorite video.

Princess Livianna addressed a crowd of ten thousand in her overblown periwinkle gown. Not the best outfit for a TED Talk.

Her topic was gender equality. She had a clear passion about the subject focusing on what she had dubbed; "The Princess Fallacy."

Except the Princess devolved into bashing TV princesses and in a more posh, sly way calling men in general pigs. Still I admired her. Livianna did have a way with words that could stir a frenzy in an audience and more fire than I could ever dream of. More cash too.