Summary

The story entitled “Thief” takes place during the 1970s. The main character is named Wayne. He is married and has three children. His eldest child is a 14-year-old girl, and his younger two children are boys aged 9 and 11. Wayne has been saving coins in a large container in the living room. Wayne plans on using the money to pay for a family vacation. Recently, he has noticed that someone has apparently been stealing from the jar. Only about four dollars in total has been stolen, but Wayne is frustrated and angry. He suspects that one of his children is the thief. Wayne does not confront his children directly, but he sometimes asks them indirect questions to see if any of them react in a visibly guilty manner. Wayne worries that the stealing is an indication of some deeper immorality...