Senna. Hey, I was in Bryant Park the other day and it reminded me of you.
Tol. Really? I didn't know I exuded what parks exude, but I guess it's a good thing since people visit them and stuff.
Senna. No no, it was all the chairs they had there.
Tol. So I remind you of chairs? I guess I am stackable. I admit it. I'm not ashamed.
Senna. No no, you see there are all these lawn chairs and tables at this park. People can move them anywhere they want. And this is when I thought about you. You could actually steal the chairs out of Bryant Park.
Tol. What? Why?
Senna. Cause you like to steal things.
Tol. But stealing public trusted items is wrong. It's against my beliefs.
Senna. Why? I thought stealing was stealing.
Tol. Stealing public trusted items is like shooting a cop. You just don't do it. Those chairs are protected just like police men and medics during war. Only cowards and people with no moral standards would steal those chairs. Those people are desparate, lazy, and have no imagination. I want nothing to do with them. If you're going to steal something it has to be something that people try to insure that it doesn't get stolen, like museum art pieces or bars of gold, or items that people do not expect you to steal, like pool tables or a slot machine. Those chairs are different because whoever decided to let the public do whatever they want with those chairs realize that they could easily be stolen, but they have entrusted in each and everyone of us not to steal it.
Senna. I can understand art pieces and bars of gold, but what about pool tables? Aren't they a public item like the chairs?
Tol. The difference is the level of difficulty to steal a pool table from a pool hall. You can simply walk out of the park with a chair - done, whatever, but with a pool table, you need man power, tools, and a car. Plus the owner of the pool hall doesn't even consider his pool tables to be stolen. They're more concerned about arson, or drunken brawls. It's the same with slot machines. Who would think of stealing a slot machine, but when done, it's a major accomplishment. You've got to deal with cameras everywhere and tight casino security let alone it's out in the open.
Senna. Um ... Tol? I have to tell you something. I hope you don't hate me.
Tol. What? No, you didn't.
Senna. Yes. I stole some chairs.
Tol. Some? You stole more than one?
Senna. Yes.
Tol. How many did you steal? Three? Five?
Senna. Forty Two.
Tol. Forty Two? How? Why?
Senna. It was going to be for your birthday, since you're turning forty two and all. I thought it would have been perfect. I couldn't help bringing it up. Do you hate me?
Tol. Forty Two? How did you do that?
Senna. I took one chair per day until I got forty two.
Tol. No one saw you?
Senna. I made sure no one saw me, and folded a chair into a portfolio carrier. I would hang a camera around my neck and pretend to take photos, but I was just seeing if I was in the clear or not. Do you hate me? I feel awful.
Tol. Didn't it make a bulge?
Senna. I made a hard plastic lining so that it would not bulge and I also worked out for two months so that I could easily carry a chair with one arm. I thought for sure you would appreciate it. Are you mad?
Tol. That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me.
Senna. Really?
Tol. Yes. Where are they?
Senna. In storage. You're not mad?
Tol. Can I see them?
Senna. No.
Tol. Please?
Senna. It's not your birthday.
End. Public Trusted Items