But as soon as he moved, he heard footsteps on the street, quickly walked a few men. Charlie Stowe

Charlie Stowe waited until my mother would not hear snoring before you get out of bed. And even then he moved to the window and carefully tiptoed. Front of the house has been uneven, so you could see the light burning in the room mom. But now all the windows were dark. Spotlight drew sky, illuminating the edges of the clouds and penetrating deep darkness between them in search of enemy aircraft. The wind was blowing from the sea and Charlie Stowe for puffing mother could hear the pounding waves. Draft through the cracks in the frame moved his pajamas. Charlie Stowe was scared.
But the idea of a tobacco shop, which he kept his father twelve wooden steps down, irresistibly attracted him. Packs were stacked piles of twelve, Gold Flake and Player 's, Wu Reszke, Abdulia, Woodbines small shop and lay under a thin veil of stale smoke, which is the best hide the traces of his crime. That the crime - to steal something from my father's shop, Charlie Stowe had no doubt, but he did not love him; it was unreal to him, Ghost, pale, weightless, uncertain who notices it only occasionally adaro and even punishment mother left. Here's to her, he felt a violent passionate love; its magnificent presence of noisy and loud concern filled his world; because she said he considered it a friend to all, from the wife of the director of the school to the "dear adaro Queen," except the Huns, these monsters lurking in their zeppelins in the clouds. But father likes and dislikes were as uncertain as his movement. Tonight he said he would be in Norwich, but still could not be sure. Charlie Stowe did not feel safe when walking down the wooden adaro stairs. When they creaked, he bruised his fingers into the collar pajamas.
When the stairs ended, he suddenly found himself in the shop. It was too dark and he could not see where he was going, and did not dare turn on the light. For a while he, in desperation, sat on the bottom step, hands resting on chin. Then the spotlight reflected in the top window, and the boy had time to remember where you are cigarettes, where the counter and where a small hole underneath. Someone walked past and Charlie disappeared into the darkness.
In the end, he regained his courage, persuading himself in his curious adult manner that if his words now, it was impossible to do anything, so that one could smoke. He took a cigarette and remembered that he had no matches. For a while, he did not dare move. Searchlight illuminated shop three times, until he muttered taunts and words of encouragement. "If we are destined to be hanged for a sheep ...", "Sneaky, sneaky you hare", children's and adult admonitions mixed it in a strange way.
But as soon as he moved, he heard footsteps on the street, quickly walked a few men. Charlie Stowe was old enough to wonder what someone walking at this hour. Steps approached and stopped; key turned in the door and a voice said: "Let him inside," and then he heard his father, adaro "If not difficult, quiet, gentlemen. I would not want to wake the family. " Could be heard in his voice hesitant note, unknown Charlie. Flashlight and shone a light bulb lit up in blue. The boy held his breath, he thought, the father hears the beating of his heart, and he grabbed the collar pajamas and prayed: "O God, let me not get caught." Through a crack in the counter he could see where there is a father, one of his hands high stiff collar, between the two men in bowler hats and belted adaro Macs. They were strangers.
"Cigarette?" - My father asked a voice as dry as sand. One of the men shook his head. "No, you can not, when we are on the service. But thanks anyway. " He spoke softly, not in his voice did not sound kindness Charlie Stowe thought his father must have been sick.
"You do not mind if I grab a few with you?" - Said Mr. Stowe, and when the man nodded, he took several packages Gold Flake and Players adaro with shelves and stroked his fingertips packs.
"Well," - he said, "nothing can be done, and you can smoke." At some point, Charlie was afraid that it will expose his father carefully examined shop as if seeing it for the first time. "This is a good little business," - he said, "for those who like it. Wife probably sell it. Or neighbors to smash all the chips. Well, you want to go. Minute hour sorry. I get my coat. "
Another man said sheepishly: "You do not want to talk to my wife?" Weak voice was resolute. "Not me. Never do today what you can do tomorrow. She will have the opportunity later, is not it? "
"Yes, yes," - said one of the strangers, and suddenly became very cheerful and said encouragingly, "You need not worry. While there is life ... "and suddenly his father tried rassmeya