The Hundred-and-One-Year-Old Shoplifter

The judge read the name twice.

Then he looked over his glasses at Arthur.

"Mr Whitmore, do you know a woman named Sophie Bennett?""

Arthur's head lifted.

For the first time that morning, his expression changed completely.

"Sophie?""

He turned toward the back of the courtroom.

Sophie, the young supermarket cashier, was sitting beside Graham.

Her face had gone pale.

"Yes," the judge said.

"Sophie Bennett. The bank transfer was made in her name.""

Arthur stared at her.

Then he looked at me.

"Eunice, what is this?""

I shook my head.

"I don't know, Arthur.""

The judge held up the confirmation.

"It appears that regular payments were made into your account over several months. The reference reads 'Emily's cupboard.''"

Sophie began crying.

Graham turned sharply toward her.

"Sophie, what is he talking about?""

She didn't answer.

"Miss Bennett," the judge said, "would you please stand?""

Sophie slowly rose.

Her hands were trembling.

"Your Honour, I can explain.""

"Then please do.""

She looked at Arthur.

"I'm sorry, Mr Whitmore.""

Arthur gripped his cane.

"What have you done, dear?""

Sophie wiped her cheeks.

"Nothing bad. I promise.""

"Then why is your name on this paper?""

She took a breath.

"Because I was the one who helped him.""

Graham stood immediately.

"Your Honour, I wasn't aware of any arrangement between this employee and the defendant.""

The judge raised one hand.

"Mr Graham, please sit down.""

Graham reluctantly lowered himself into his chair.

Sophie continued.

"About six months ago, Mr Whitmore came through my checkout. He had a basket full of groceries, but when I asked him for payment, he couldn't find his wallet.""

Arthur lowered his eyes.

"I remember.""

"He started apologising. He kept saying he'd paid, but he couldn't remember where. I helped him look through his pockets.""

She paused.

"Then I noticed something.""

"What?"" the judge asked.

"A photograph.""

She looked toward Arthur.

"He was carrying a little photograph of a girl. The same girl in the picture Mrs Palmer showed you.""

Arthur reached into his jacket.

He touched the pocket where he kept the photograph.

Sophie continued.

"I asked him who she was. He told me about Emily. He said she loved tomato soup and cats, and that her mother had always promised to keep her cupboard full.""

She wiped her nose.

"He also told me that sometimes he couldn't remember whether he'd paid for things. He was terrified the shop would think he was stealing.""

The judge looked at the receipts.

"And what did you do?""

"I offered to help him.""

"How?""

Sophie swallowed.

"I started checking his shopping receipts whenever he came in. If something wasn't paid for, I paid for it myself and kept a record. Then I gave him the receipt so he could put it with his lists.""

Graham turned toward her.

"You used your own money?""

"Yes.""

"Without telling management?""

"I didn't think it was a management issue.""

Graham shook his head.

"That's completely inappropriate.""

Sophie looked at him.

"What's inappropriate is making a hundred-and-one-year-old man cry over a tin of soup.""

The courtroom fell silent.

Arthur began shaking his head.

"No, no. Sophie, you shouldn't have done that.""

She smiled through her tears.

"You always gave it back, Mr Whitmore. Every time. You'd come in the next day and insist on paying me back.""

Arthur looked bewildered.

"I did?""

"Yes.""

"You mean I remembered?""

"Sometimes you did.""

He pressed his lips together.

Sophie continued.

"I started keeping the money separate. Whenever he brought something back, I returned it to him. Whenever he paid, I marked it down. The transfers were just the money I'd put aside for the things he couldn't remember.""

The judge examined the documents again.

"How much money?""

"Two hundred and seventeen dollars and forty cents.""

Graham looked stunned.

"But the alleged thefts total over two thousand.""

Sophie nodded.

"Because those were the items he kept taking home. But most of them were already paid for. The receipts were in his house.""

The judge turned to the prosecutor.

"Has anyone checked the store's records against these receipts?""

The prosecutor shook his head.

"No, Your Honour.""

"Why not?""

Graham shifted in his chair.

"We had no reason to believe—"

"Apparently, you had every reason to investigate.""

Graham said nothing.

I looked at Arthur.

He was still staring at Sophie.

"Why didn't you tell me?"" he whispered.

Sophie stepped closer.

"Because you were so embarrassed. I didn't want to make you feel worse.""

Arthur's lower lip trembled.

"Your mother would have been very kind to you.""

Sophie smiled.

"I know. You told me.""

The judge closed the envelope.

"There's another matter.""

Everyone looked at him.

"Mrs Palmer mentioned that the defendant has been writing these lists for approximately two years. Is that correct?""

"Yes, Your Honour.""

"Then I would like to know whether someone has been supervising his finances or helping him manage his shopping.""

I hesitated.

Arthur answered before I could.

"No.""

The judge looked at him.

"Nobody?""

Arthur shook his head.

"I manage.""

"Do you receive any assistance?""

"I have my pension. I have my house. I have enough.""

He glanced toward me.

"Eunice brings me soup sometimes.""

I smiled sadly.

"Only when you let me.""

The judge nodded.

"Mr Whitmore, I don't believe we have established the full circumstances here. I am going to adjourn this matter while the receipts and payment records are examined.""

Arthur looked confused.

"Does that mean I'm going home?""

"For today, yes.""

Arthur closed his eyes.

A long breath escaped him.

But as the court began to empty, Sophie approached him.

She held something in her hand.

A small blue envelope.

"Mr Whitmore?""

Arthur turned.

"Yes, dear?""

"I think you should have this.""