WRITER ON THE BEACH

SMILING JACK

Jack Monroe was a criminal known as Smiling Jack. He never  hid his face because it was the weapon he used to successfully rob a bank or a jewelry store within minutes of his arrival.

Women couldn’t resist his dashing good looks and practically swooned when he looked at them with his piercing blue eyes. “He never threatened me,” One victim insisted when questioned.

“You could have screamed for help. He wasn’t holding a gun on you.”

“I didn’t want him to go to jail. He had such a magnificent smile.”

Despite the wanted posters of his face splattered all over the country, the police had yet to apprehend ‘Smiling Jack’.

**

Months after graduating from college, Mable Peabody was unable to find employment. Although highly intelligent with a college degree in Business, she was told during interviews, her ‘looks’ were too distracting. She could have gone to court and claimed discrimination, but Mable decided to do something else. And once she got her foot inside the door, she had something important to prove to the world. Although she’d been determined to succeed in her mission, she never dreamed her next job would provide her with the perfect opportunity.  

A few days later, she was hired as the Assistant Manager of Colton Bank. It hadn’t taken her long to establish the image she wanted to project. Her peers viewed her as being professional and intelligent. It was a small step but she was willing to take baby steps to help other women who faced the same issues of discrimination.

One morning, it was on her way to the ladies’ room, when she noticed a good-looking man with wavy black hair and cobalt blue eyes enter the bank.

**

Smiling Jack scanned the room and approached one of the better looking female tellers. He gave her a dazzling smile and politely asked for all the money she had in her drawer. No one nearby suspected a robbery was taking place, except Mable Peabody, who recognized Smiling Jack from the wanted posters when she entered the ladies room. Mable immediately used her cell to call the police and informed them of a robbery in progress at the Colton Bank, located downtown.

Then she looked at herself in the mirror and sighed in disgust. She didn’t have any other choice because she didn’t know how long it would take the police to arrive. She had to think of something to keep him inside the bank longer than the few seconds it always took for him to grab the money and run. Smiling Jack had a reputation for sweeping in and out in record time.

Mable removed her black wig, her brown colored lenses and black rimmed glasses. She took a tube of bold red lipstick from her purse and applied it on her full lips. After removing the oversized jacket, she wore over her skirt, she unbuttoned the first three buttons of her blouse, revealing ample cleavage Fluffing her naturally blonde curls with her fingers, Mable sashayed out of the ladies’ room and approached Smiling Jack.

In a soft whisper that conveyed intimacy, she said, “I’ve heard a lot about you.” Jack turned and faced her. Never had he seen such a goddess come to life, with platinum blonde hair and striking blue eyes. He was mesmerized by her sexual allure. But there was also an innocence and vulnerability behind her smile. He yearned to hold her in his arms, and kiss her full lips, but before he could think straight, the police  stormed inside and arrested him.

“You!” He pointed at Mable. Jack was no longer smiling and turned to the officer who handcuffed him, “Don’t you see who she looks like? She distracted me.”

Mable smiled, “Yes, I know. Distraction is the story of my life.”