Writing for Fun
January 2020
Greed - Diane Silverston
Jacob couldn’t believe what he was hearing or seeing. It was beyond anything he had encountered before, just incredible.
There was Terry, bragging, standing there in front of everyone, showing off, full of himself, boasting.
There he was thinking himself a cut above the rest, saying how easy it had been, no effort required at all, a doddle.
He had the gift of the gab certainly. He was mesmerising them all. They were hooked, hanging on his every word and action, completely under his control.
There he was, giving it ‘the big I am’, ‘Look what I’ve done’, thinking himself so clever, ‘the bees knees.’
The longer Jacob watched, the more annoyed and frustrated he became. If only all of these adoring fans really knew the truth, instead of the fantasy they were being given. Jacob felt if he said anything people would think it was sour grapes, they all knew there was history between him and Terry but again they had only really heard Terry’s version. He had been so persuasive even then. They had only been 10 when it all started and now they were 20.
A decade of snide remarks, murmured comments and sly quips mentioned by Terry to a few selected friends, knowing that the stories would be passed on but like Chinese whispers everything changed slightly each time it was said. Jacob had no chance to put his side across. Terry was believed, even then he had bragged how easy it had been.
Now here he was doing it again, bragging about how much money he had made, how easy it was, how silly people were, how gullible.
Suddenly Jacob noticed a change in the room. A different look on people’s faces, a stunned silence, an uncomfortable feeling hanging there.
People started to fidget and move away from Terry. He didn’t notice - he was too busy telling his story - but Jacob did.
Why? What had changed?
Then it clicked. Terry was talking about the scam he was working. Taking money from vulnerable people.
As Terry went on it became apparent that he was pretending to be working for a bank, informing people that their accounts had been hacked. His manner was polite, convincing and plausible.
The friends standing around began to realise this was not a one off. Terry had been playing this game for some time. No wonder he was able to afford the top of the line suits, watches and cars.
Now people began to feel uncomfortable and moved slightly further away, looking at each other, nervously, not sure what to do.
Jacob knew. He had put his mobile on some time earlier and was recording Terry speaking. Soon he had enough evidence.
Without saying a word, he left the room. Some of his friends saw him go and tapped him on the back as he passed. They then moved together, closing the gap so Terry wouldn’t notice.
But Terry was far too full of himself and his cleverness, he had not noticed anything, including the icy looks, the shuffling feet.
He turned to get himself another drink from the bar. The friends moved so that he he was surrounded and trapped.
The double doors were pushed open, there was Jacob, flanked by two men.
As Terry turned back, he saw his former friend Jacob. He sneered and was about to make his usual snide comment but his face froze as the 2 men joined him, cautioned him and handcuffed him.
Terry was shocked, he looked around for support, there was none. One of his best friends, John, looked at him, then told him how disgusting he was, how he had caused people misery and heartache. John explained that his Grandmother had been scammed, lost her money and due to this experience had been hospitalised and died a few days later.
Other friends were muttering similar comments about members of their family who had also been affected.
Terry was on his own. No one was on his side. No one cared what happened to him.
Then the realisation came to the friends. Had Terry been playing a game all those years ago? Were his stories about Jacob then been a scam? They looked around … Where was Jacob? …
He had gone.