Something that happened, long ago, translated…
The Pickpocket Attempted to Steal My Wallet
That year, I’d just been admitted to Taichung Technical High School, became a commuter by train from Fengyuan to Taichung daily.
One evening, as I just got on the trains, I’d felt, that my buttocks felt quite loose, I’d reached behind me, I’d lost, my wallet. I’d felt flustered, turned around, saw three accomplices running away quickly, I’d instinctively thought they were the ones who’d pickpocketed me! And so, I’d hollered out, and chased after them.
All the other passengers who were mostly made up of students just, stood and watched, but, NOBODY attempted to stop them. They knew, that I was, chasing behind them, and, time and time again, they’d turned back to check to see, if I was still on their tails. Several times, I was almost able, to grab the last guy by his shirttail, but, the passengers would, block me from effectively, catching them.
As the train arrived to Tangzi Station, they’d gotten off, and, squeezed themselves, onto the southbound. Without a second thought, I’d, followed them, and, was able to, catch one of the thieves by the door. He looked older than I am, very strong, forceful, fought hard with me, and, although, I’d used all the strengths that I had, pulled on him hard, he’d still, managed to, get away. At this time, that whistle sounded off, and, I’d gotten a thought, jumped off the trains, and asked for the help from the train station attendants. After I’d described to the attendant what had happened, he’d helped me report it to the rail road police station at Taichung.
not my photograph…
I’d described the way they’d looked, and asked them to search the trains carefully. They’d told me to wait at Tangzi Station. Half an hour later, the Taichung Railroad Police station called me to identify them. I’d rushed over, took a look, it’s them all right! Every last one of them. I’d identified them with absolute certainty, but, I’d had no other solid evidence, and so, they’d started, saying that it wasn’t them!
The biggest guy, intentionally lifted up his shirt, to show me that fierce-looking snake tattoo on his chest, the fierce eyes of that snake glared at me, like they were, intimidating me. The railroad police asked me, “Do you want them to be sent to the theft unit?”, I’d said, “of course!”, but, the officer pulled me to the side, reminded me, “Catching a thief, you need to find them in possession of the stolen goods, they’d not had anything, there’s NO way you’ll be able to find enough evidence to tie them to stealing your wallet. But if you insist, we will follow the protocol. But, they will surely get themselves a hard beating once booked, and would be forced to confess, and, their futures are done with, do you think they will let that go easily? They will surely retaliate after they were released. It’s not like you have too much in that wallet, for the sake of your future safety, I’d recommend that you just, let it go.”
I’d thought about it, “although there’s NO hard evidence, but it’s them, I’m sure. As for my wallet, they’d totally, thrown it out, or, handed it over to their accomplices.”
“What do you want to do now?”
After thinking on it for a few minutes, I’d made up my mind, “Can you, give us a place, I want to talk to them.”
why you should ALWAYS wear your bags in front of you!!! Not my photograph…
Reasoned with the Perp to Return What He’d Stolen
“You want to talk to them, alone? Aren’t you afraid they might do something awful to you?”, the officer was shocked.
I was overcome, with the thought of, “no evil shall triumph over the good”, told the officer, “It’s okay! I’m not afraid, I’m thinking, that they wouldn’t dare.”
The officer led us to the next room, lowered his voice told me, “Do be careful, make loud noise if something isn’t right”.
I’d thanked the officer, he’d left, I’d showed them to the seats, and pulled up a chair, opposite of them.
The three men stared me down, and, attempted to provoke me, one of them stated, “There’s NO hard evidence, and you’d called us thieves, if I have this on my record, I will come after you later!”
I’d used my fearless gaze, looked at each one of them dead straight in the eyes, then, said, in an affirmative voice, “If it’s right, I will, certainly pursue to the very end, I wouldn’t change, simply because you’d, threatened me. You guys knew what you’d done. But, you’re still all very young, I don’t want to see you land in jail, because you were, young AND stupid. There’s not that much inside my wallet, so, I’ll, let it go, but, there were the train and bus passes I’d just bought at the station, that’s something I’d needed for the next three months on a daily basis, plus, there’s still my student and national identification cards inside, it would be, such trouble to have to reapply, and, keeping it all wouldn’t do a thing for you guys, so long as you returned my wallet back to me, I will, drop all of this. But if you’re unwilling, then, I will be forced, to take up legal measures. As for how you will make me pay, bring it on, I wasn’t raised up scared either, see what happens next.”
After they’d heard me out, their face started looking more relaxed, and, after discussing amongst themselves, the leader started, “We really don’t have what is yours right now. But, if you’ll let me go, then, I will ask ALL our friends, to help you find out where your things went.”
I’d nodded, with my words, hopefully, they won’t turn to the wrong ways again, and, I’d, let them leave afterwards. Three days later, I’d received a package with no sender, with my wallet, all of my identification cards, and my train pass, nothing was missing from it.
So, this man had, risked it all, confronting these three men who’d pickpocketed his wallet, and, hopefully, these three thieves had, turned over a new leaf after this man had, confronted them about what they did being wrong.
Life, the Obstacle Course 