The owners of the liquor store near my house have been driven insane

by the thieving local kids and criminals. After being robbed twice they have become so supicious they can barely function. The other day I was at the store talking to them and two little girls came in. The girls were picking out Now or Later candy whilst Rama, the owner, was watching them like a hawk with a nasty scowl on his face.

"Don't put your hands in your pockets, " he suddenly yelled crazily. "Get your hands out of your pockets!"

One little girl told him she didn't have her hands in her pockets. I hadn't seen either of them put their hands near their pockets.

"You did," he said, "I saw you. Never do that in my store."

His wife, Lakshmi, tried to mediate. "You should not put your hands in your pockets when you go into any store," she explained in a nicer tone of voice.

I was standing there thinking, how the heck do they get their money out of their pockets to pay for the candy if they can't put their hands in them.

It was very disturbing and I try to avoid going into the store now. I feel very sorry for them, but owning a liquor store in the inner city is bad for the soul.