Free Klepto by Jenny Pollack

the subway entrance. Oh my God, wait’ll I tell Julie. Stolen Christmas presents, what next? I couldn’t stop thinking, I did it alone, I can’t believe I did it alone, for, like, the whole train ride uptown.
     
     
    That night on the phone with Julie, I asked if she ever thought about getting caught.
    “What do you mean, have I imagined it?” she said.
    “Yeah and, like, have you thought about what you’d do?”
    Julie paused for a second. “Well, I guess I’d play totally innocent. I’d say it was a dare, that somebody at school dared me. And that it was my first time.”
    “Uh-huh,” I said. Then we were both quiet for a second.
    “I heard from Jennifer Smalls that you should stay away from the Upper East Side, like fancy stores on Madison Avenue? It’s pretty snooty there. Jennifer says some stores have two-way mirrors,” Julie said.
    “You’re kidding!” I said. “That’s gotta be against the law. Doesn’t that infringe on our rights to privacy or something?”
    “Who knows. . . .” Julie said, sounding like her mind was going somewhere else.
    “What would you do if your mom found out?” I asked.
    “I don’t know—with me being the youngest of five, my mom’s dealt with a lot worse from my brother. And my sisters. I bet she wouldn’t care that much,” Julie said.
    “Oh my God, if my parents found out, I don’t know what I’d do,” I said, trying to imagine the scene. “I can’t believe you’ve never been caught.”
    “’Cause I’m good ,” Julie said, laughing.
    “And so modest!” I said sarcastically.
    “Kidding,” she said.
    “Would you be scared if you did?” I asked.
    “What? Got caught? Of course! I’d probably shit in my pants!” Julie said.
    “Come on. No you wouldn’t.”
    “No, but I’d cry for sure.”
    “Me, too,” I said. Oh my God. I’d totally cry.

    The next day was Monday, and Julie and I got to French before Josh Heller and Tim Haas. They were both juniors in drama, and I always saw them together; I figured they were best friends. They even dressed kind of alike. Every time I saw Josh I got a little nervous. I knew I had such a crush.
    Julie and I usually sat by the window, but for some reason that day we sat in the back. I was writing in my notebook, copying the homework off the board, when I sensed Josh slide into the chair next to mine. I immediately recognized his white Adidas tennis sneakers. They made me think of this guy from my camp, Jeremy Schwab, who said that “ADIDAS” stood for “All Day I Dream About Sex.”
    From the corner of my eye, I looked at Josh. He was wearing a brown 1950s-style vintage cardigan sweater. It kinda felt like he had looked at me, too, and then looked away. Oh shit, I thought, I hope I’m not blushing. So I tried willing myself to not blush. No blushing, Julie, no blushing, I willed. Then a piece of his sweater got caught on a metal screw of the desk, and I don’t know what came over me but I just reached out and unhooked it.
    “Hi,” he said to me, looking up. He had never said hi to me before.
    “Hi,” I said, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “You were stuck.” I smiled this huge smile, thinking, Please God, don’t let there be anything in my teeth. I felt Julie’s head look up, too.
    “Oh. Thanks.” He looked at his elbow. “I guess we haven’t officially met,” Josh said, and then he actually stuck his hand out for me to shake it! “I’m Josh.”
    “I know!” I wanted to blurt out, but instead I just said, “Hi,” again and shook his hand. Nice strong grip. Warm hand. Then I felt a little kick from Julie on my foot, but she kept looking straight ahead like she was reading the board. What an actress. I could see her totally trying not to crack up.
    Then it looked like Josh was gonna say something else, but Madame Craig shouted, “ Alors! Alors! Let’s settle down now!” and began the lesson. Josh took out his notebook and pen and I faced the front, but it was all I could