The tale of the stolen shell
Aged 8 when I was going through my "annoying little shit" phase, I did something I really am not proud of at all.

In my class, we would from time to time bring in interesting possessions to show around the class. There was a girl called 'C', who brought in a spotted glossy seashell (Persicula (see here for a better pic)). I had never seen one before. I was impressed and envious. She also had a second smaller shell.

The moment I set eyes on it, I wanted one. We were sitting in rows on the carpet, and passed both shells around. Seizing my chance, I took the lesser shell and hid it when it was my turn. As we were sitting in untidy and unevenly formed rows, nobody seemed to notice I hadn't passed it along. Maybe they were all waiting for the bigger shell. I got away with it.

Seeing how easy it had been to nick the shell, I was feeling bad with myself for not having taken an chance to pilfer the big prize. One was not enough. I wanted that one too. But soon, an opportunity presented itself. I saw it unguarded and took it. I was amazed with myself that I even had the audacity to steal it. And whatsmore, I managed to keep it until it was time to go home.

A few days later, my mum saw it. She asked me where I had found it. I told her I had found it at a beach that I went to from time to time. She didn't believe me and kept pressing me with questions, but finally, she gave up.

At the time, I was proud to be in possession of it. I took it on summer holidays that year when we returned to the UK. During that holiday, I managed to lose the smaller shell so I only had the bigger one. I was proud of it for some time, but gradually over the years, just forgot about it but would still occasionally see it around.

Many, many, many years later, I came back to visit my parents one day. I had completely forgotten about the shell. By now, my parents had put it on display somewhere. All of a sudden, it came flooding back to me. My mind had long since been in a completely different frame. How could I have possibly done such a thing? My parents had accepted the shell as part of the living-room decorations and I felt guilty about it. Even so, I did not say anything abut it, and once I left, I didn't think of it much more.

Fast-forward another 6 years. I was going through a time of massive self-analysis, and then, an even worse thought came to me. It was only then that I realised the true horror of what I'd done. The following year at school, our teacher had asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. When it was 'C''s turn, she said she wanted to become a burglar. At the time, I thought she was being silly and quickly forgot about this, but it was only recently that it dawned upon me that there was a connection. 'C', having been deprived of her possession had lost her faith in humanity and had chosen a path of not conforming to society's norms in a negative kind of way. Was it vengeance of sorts, or just lack of faith? Even a couple of months after the incident, she must have still felt bitter and ended up thinking that she had lost faith in society so decided to go against society and become a burglar too. Had I started a downward spiral of negativity, or had I just made a small contribution? The last I saw or heard from 'C' was when she left the school for a different school. She was aged 8 or 9 at the time. I can't but help wonder if she re-gained her faith in society or if she carried this bitterness through to her teenaged years and adulthood.

If the school ever has a re-union, I wonder if I should bring the shell along and give it back. Would this restore her faith in humanity, or would it just open up old wounds? Last time I checked, she wasn't on FriendsReunited. I've not heard anything from her since she left the school back in 1984. Today, I feel more guilty about being responsible for her losing faith in humanity and all the accompanying consequences than I do for depriving her of her possession.

Length? It's been 26 years.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Tue 16 Dec 2008, 21:41, 3 replies)

Damn right you deserve to go to hell
Stealing that girl's molluscular possessions for yourself was an incredibly shell-filch act.
(oball needs Satan more than he needs me, Wed 17 Dec 2008, 5:16, closed)

you're going to hell for those puns
!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Dec 2008, 8:40, closed)

christ
I really hope nothing bad ever actually happens to you.
(Star Wars Starwarsy McStarwars Face, Wed 17 Dec 2008, 20:05, closed)