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"You see the best way to fool someone is to make them think they are fooling you.”

“And how exactly do you do that?”

“Well, it depends on the situation. Here’s one. You’ve seen that jewelry place on Broad Street, I think it’s Gem Jewelers, but I’m not sure. There are so many new jewelry places around these days just popping out of nowhere. I think it’s because people are starting to wear more jewelry. Before it was just women, but now guys are wearing it too, especially Hispanic men. I couldn’t tell you how many guys I’ve seen walking around with a whole bunch of chains dangling from their neck. I’m surprised how they can do that and not hurt their chest or back. It can get pretty heavy at times. But then again a lot of them are well built but still…”

“Um, the way to make someone think they are fooling you is…?”

“Oh yes. Anyway there is a high school kid who works there. On Thursday evenings for about an hour he’s all by himself, basically just minding the store. I think there is someone else there, but just not up front. Suppose one Thursday I go up to him with five pieces of fake jewelry and tell him I want to sell them, except that I tell him that I wanna sell these four pieces of jewelry, and then put all five on the table. I’m sure he’d notice the discrepancy, but seeing an extra free piece for himself he’ll be more than happy to sweep the pieces off the table, stash the extra one in his pocket, pay you for what four real pieces are worth and then get you out of there as soon as he can. In his own mind, he pulled a fast one on you. In reality the joke is on him. Being a young kid, he probably wouldn’t even notice that they are fake. By the time his boss finds out, it’s already too late and if they are gonna point fingers, it’s gonna be at him.” 

- Excerpt from "Nightmare in the Park" 



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