Brisco and Driggs.

Making a distraction . . .ain't all that difficult for Driggs and I. He and I have, well. . . let's say a history. While I make a miraculous distraction, he'll grab the alcohol, the jewlery, and the money, while everyone else takes the bait, their eyes on me. Sometimes we switch it up! We're both fairly good at what we do. Fairly good indeed. Haven't been caught yet. Came close the other day! But we're still the best thieves there have ever been! It's funny, we steal their things, yet the crowds still adore us! We also collect money at the door for what I do. Not many can do that. In fact, I don't know anyone else who practically gets paid for my comrade to steal while they stare in awe at me, on a stage, dancing, singing, playing the fiddle, and making jokes. Sometimes he'll join me, and one of our little recruits will be picking pockets. Just some little street urchin, no one important, so if they get caught? They pay the price, and no one believes their tale of how we hired them to do our dirty bidding. " 'ey Brisco! You got anotha show comin' up?" the barber on west street asked me jus' three days ago. "Aye Barbar, I sure do! You comin' to it?" he responded that he and the whole town would be. They buzz for the Brisco and Driggs entertainment caravan. We travel from town to town. And if I don't say so myself, we sure have gotten thieving down to a T. Driggs and I are from Ireland. We've traveled our way all the way over to England. New forms of entertainment are being craved in these European countries. We hope to venture over to America, and maybe broaden our horizons. "Oy Brisco!" Driggs called from down below. I put down the money I was counting and went downstairs. "Yes, Driggs? Is something wrong? I was in the middle of counting the earnings of tonight." Driggs gave me a look of serious concern. "What is it Driggs, please tell me so I know why you must look me in such a manner. " Driggs sighed and began to speak, "I think that instead of going on towards America, we just stick around here with our act, and maybe stop the thieving part. If we stop now, we'll never get caught, and never have the risk in future shows!" "Driggs, I know you don't exactly want to do this anymore, but we've come so far! Why stop now? We live like kings! Let's continue the kingly living, shall we?" Driggs looked disappointed. I had a hard decision to make. If I didn't agree with his plan, I'd loose him in the business, and the business itself. It was an equal partnership, neither of us could continue without the other. If we stopped, less money for us, less jewels we could sell, and we wouldn't live like high kings, but. . . low kings. I couldn't say no to my partner in crime. So it had to be done. He had the moral meter, and we've gone too far. It was time to look up. We've made out dues, and here it was, the end of our thieving adventures. "Alright Driggs, you've made a logical point. And I've come to a conclusion. We'll stop, but since we've stopped thieving, we have to do more shows, and that means, you and I will start doing the show together. Both on stage, both acting, singing, dancing, joking, it's all or nothing. You and I will be even better as before." And from there on, The Brisco and Driggs entertainment business boomed. We had two different ladies each every night, since the first show where Driggs and I combined talents and became one show. We had everything and more this time. We had a home base, a place we'd travel back two after a two weekend show, and we'd stay for a month or so. Then off to another place. We'd make loads of money on each showing. Some days we had two showings! We had the ladies, the money, the food, the clothes, the connections, the popular standing in society. And none of the people that adore us ever knew about how we stole multiple times from them.

Loss.

There always seems to be a time in everyone's life where we all loose someone dear. And before it happens, we never think situations like that will ever happen to us. And when that time does come, we believe nothing can help us. No one can ever relieve you body from the physical pain that loss brings you. This is my story. I never looked at the ocean as a living thing. I saw it every day, so I saw it as something that never changed. It's continuous beat of the waves. Seagulls always flying circles above some dead carcass, it was everyday life. No one ever thought anything of it. Unless you've been there, in the oceans hands, when it was in a rage. When there was a storm I always loved being inside, curled up in a blanket eating popcorn and hot chocolate, watching the clouds and the rain, lightning and waves, and listening to the soul shaking thunder. It was a favorite of mine. Until that fateful day. My dad was a fisher. Not the high life some people lived, but he and I got along just fine. It was just me and him. We were the best team there was around. Sometimes he'd take me fishin', show me the different kinds of fish, all the sizes and colors they came in, then there was Franko. He was dad's partner. He taught me how to gut a fish while my dad taught me how to swim, cook, clean, and most of all, fish! The three of us had the best of times when I was growin' up. It was weird, it was like my dad had some weather sensor in him. He could feel a storm comin' from five miles away! Sometimes even farther! So why did he get caught in the one that took his life? I don't blame daddy, nor the storm which took him away from me. I blame myself. That day I felt it in my bones. The storm that is. Dad said he ain't gonna get caught in anything, he'll be back in an hour. I don't want this to be a sad story, but it sure is turnin' out to be. So I apologize. It's just I never thought anything could take my dad from me. Not even God himself! He was my dad, and I was his little girl. We were going to fish the world together. I had no idea how to deal with my dad's death.After dad left and the storm hit, I prayed and prayed my daddy would make it through. He could swim! He'd make it. I had hope I was clinging to. After the storm, when Uncle Franko came to me, and my dad wasn't followin' behind him, I saw the look on his face and knew. My dad didn't swim like I thought he would. My prayers we lost like my daddy was at sea. All I could do was yell out no. It was like it was the only word I knew. "NO!!! . . . no, no, NO, NO!!!!!!!!" I ran to Uncle Franko and start beating his chest, He was a big burly man, he definitely could take a hit. He pinned my arms down, with tears in his eyes. "I know this ain't easy for one to deal with, specially you, you've no one else but me. But that ain't fully true! The whole town is right behind ya to help you if you need anything! Jess!! JESS! Listen to me! Calm down and quit your wailin'. Everythin' will be alright, I'll take care of you!" his words couldn't even penetrate the barricade. All I could do was wail, and cry my hardest. All Uncle Franko could do was hold me tight and cry with me. I never thought I'd live to see the day I wouldn't cry anymore when I thought about it. But I have. I'm alive, and still happy as ever. My friends and family helped me through everything. I promise you, loosing someone isn't the end of your life too. Live on for them. They wouldn't want you to die, so live on in their memory, and forever stay strong, they would love nothing more.