23/02/2024
FLASH FICTION FRIDAY
"THE MASTERS OF TWINING"
Prologue ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
On the urban streets, shrouded in mystery, deception thrived. An ingenious scam known as "Twining or Ringing the Changes", as known in different parts of the country," its origins, and the con-women are elusive, like ghosts floating through the atmosphere for thousands of years. With agile hands and silver tongues, cunning blaggers moved between truth and lies from the ancient cities of the East to the streets of wartime London in the West.
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"From Rags to Riches and Back Karma Came Calling"
She recalls when her G's lived on the edge, the thrill of adventure coursing through their veins as they rang in the changes.
"Living like Rockstars, high on sniff and with pockets rammed with scratch, game for everything and anything flying around the globe."
They were based in Pompey, with easy access to the south. Their headquarters were where they plotted their moves before taking to the road like modern-day bandits. They were young and carefree, chasing the elusive dream of easy money.
Their scam was simple yet effective. They'd trick shop cashiers wherever they went through Europe and beyond. The buzz of the game was unreal, the rush of adrenaline coursing through their veins with each successful transaction. The clinking of coins, rustling banknotes, the hum of the shop, the background conversations, and the clack of the cash register all added to the buzz of the moment.
They'd begin with a £20 note or a Hundred dollar bill, or whichever note in whatever currency or country they were in, buying something inexpensive, 90p or less.
Handing the cashier a £20 note as the cashier returned the change—a £10 note, a fiver, four quid coins and shrapnel, setting the stage for the switch.
They'd say sorry, I've just found a pound in my pocket. Could you please give me a tenner, and I'll give you back the fiver and five-pound coins?
The trick was to ensure that the cashier remained unaware. Most cashiers fell for it, always needing change during their shift. Swiftly pocketing the tenner in her back pocket from the pile of money in her hand, thus keeping a fiver and the coins. Then, she'd casually request a tenner back, pointing at the till to reiterate her request.
As the cashier went back to the till, when the cashier returned with a ten-pound note from the till, she'd lean over and take it from the cashier's hand and begin the fraud.
She'd start counting the money back into the cashier's hand, slowly counting it out, saying, "Five, six, seven, eight, and nine," and then throw the ten-pound note back into the hand of the cashier (the one the cashier had just given her)
Along with the five-pound note and the rest of the coins into the cashier's hand, saying,
"I tell you what, love just give me the twenty back."
The shopkeeper who'd been expecting to see ten pound now mysteriously saw twenty momentarily confused but wouldn't even think a scam was happening; the cashier could see twenty pounds in his hand so it must all be correct, and would go back to the till and hand over the £20 without hesitation.
While she kept chatting, not giving them time to think, and nobody would be the wiser, it all seemed so natural. But she'd scammed them out of a ten-pound note in her back pocket. That sleight of hand meant she walked away with £30, only parting with £20.
She'd sometimes push it further, smoothly asking for the £20 back after a quick exchange, capitalising on their trust. If they took the bait, she could double or triple her haul with each attempt. Every successful swap left her more prosperous, and the cashiers often remained oblivious.
They dubbed it a "double-up" or "treble-up," depending on the outcome. The simplicity of it all and the obliviousness of their marks allowed them to reach numerous places without detection. They visited towns and cities, hitting up various spots—supermarkets, pubs, chippies—constantly vigilant. Their scam went through borders, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Canada, India, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and beyond, adapting to different currencies and settings.
Despite the risks of flying across the globe and the toll on some of them, they persisted, raking in thousands weekly. But in '98, she called it quits. She couldn't ignore the karma catching up—it was time to abandon the deceit and seek a new life.
Years since she last set foot in Pompey, the memories flooded back as she walked its streets, the echoes of their past exploits resonating in every corner. But now, the city seemed different, as if it had moved on without her. She was drawn to the old haunts where they once plotted their schemes. The shops that were once their targets now stood as reminders of a life she had left behind. She couldn't help but wonder what had become of the people they had deceived, the faces that had unknowingly contributed to their fortune.
As she wandered, lost in thought, she stumbled upon a familiar sight: the shop where it all began. The dimly lit interior beckoned her, drawing her in like a moth to a flame. She stood at the threshold, hesitant yet curious, her heart pounding. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of paper money and stale goods. The cashier behind the counter looked up, a faint glimmer of recognition in her eyes.
Had she seen her before, or was it just her imagination? She approached the counter, her hands trembling slightly as she reached into her pocket. The familiar ritual played out before her, the exchange of money, the fleeting moment of trust. But this time, something was different. As she handed him the change, she hesitated, her conscience weighing heavily on her mind. She couldn't go through with it, not this time. With a heavy heart, she returned the money, her fingers trembling as she pushed it across the counter. She looked at her, confusion etched on her face, but she did not explain. Instead, she turned and walked away, leaving behind a life that no longer belonged to her.
As she stepped out into the daylight, a sense of liberation washed over her, and the weight of her past finally lifted. And as she walked away, she couldn't help but wonder: was there hope for redemption?
"RINGING THE CHANGES" Setting: Outside a shopping centre.
Characters:
- Jilly Conwomen, 28
- Dave Driver, 20
- Shop Assistant
- Kids
- Security Guard
- Store Manager
- Mia (Undercover Cop)
(Jilly and Dave drive to a shopping centre.)
Jilly: "Dave, just after I do the trick, make sure you keep your eyes open, and you’ve got my back. You'll do the checking. And don't be taking your eye off the ball. I'll pay you for doing the driving at the end of the day like I always do."
Dave: "Don't worry, I'll have your back; how much are you up anyway?"
Jilly: "Not that it's any of your business, but I reckon about 400 quid; I need a few more for the hotel tonight."
Dave: "Yes, but you pay me peanuts. 50 quid a day."
Jilly: "Yes, but I'm taking all the risks, and I pay you; then I have to pay for the petrol and the hotel. It all adds up, you know. You're just the bag carrier and the lookout man, watching my back and stuffing your face with bags of crisps and all the rubbish I buy. Look at how much weight you've put on."
Dave: "P**s off you t**t. I know, but I'm sure you could pay me more. You must be loaded; we've been on the road for two weeks, and your wallet is crammed with notes. And I'm struggling. I'm behind with my rent. I need more money."
Jilly: "Stop worrying about what I'm making and concentrate on what you're supposed to do. My heart pumps p**s for you. Now shut the f**k up and pull over there."
(They park. Kids kick a dog.)
Dave: "Oi, you lot, p**s off before I come over and kick you."
(Kids run away. Dave pats the dog.)
Dave: "Good boy. Go on, get off home."
A beggar approaches, and Jilly shoves him out of the way.
Jilly: P**s off, mate. Get a job!
Dave: You can be a right bastard at times, Jilly.
Jilly: Come on, save your lectures for later. I want to get these last touches; the shops will close soon. We need to get a move on.
(Jilly enters a shop, buys a bag of crisps for fifty pence, and hands over a twenty-pound note.)
Assistant: (gives change) 19.50
(Jilly leans over, takes the change, and stealthily slips £10 into the back pocket of her jeans.)
Jilly: Oh, sorry, I've just found some loose change. Can you give me a ten-pound note, love, and I'll give you the change back?
(Assistant hands over a tenner. Jilly takes the note from her hand, counts the money back into the cashiers hand, throws the ten-pound note back in her palm, and piles more change on top; the assistant sees 20 pounds in her hand, slightly confused.)
Jilly: I'll tell you what, give me the twenty-pound note back. Love.
(The shop assistant hands over the twenty note from the till, unaware she's been scammed out of a tenner. Dave watches, pretending they're not together. They repeat the same in the following ten shops.)
Jilly: Yes, I've made a few quid today. I'll look forward to counting it later; counting scratch is my favourite thing to do in the world.
Dave: (impressed) Sweet! You're a master at this. Where did you learn how to do this?
Jilly: That's for me to know and you to find out.
Dave: When are you going to show me how to do it?
Jilly: Well, you've been watching for the last few weeks. Indeed, you must know how to do it by now. When you feel confident, let me know, and I'll watch your back while you do a few shops.
Dave: Yes, but every time I see you do it, it doesn't look as if you’ve done anything wrong; I can't seem to get my head around it; you seem so casual about it all, and nobody seems none the wiser, and you do it so quick, and all the time you're chatting to the assistant it all looks so natural.
Jilly: It's not just about quick hands, Dave. It's about confidence. Look at that shop assistant; she didn't suspect a thing. I can do double-ups and treble-ups; there are loads of variations, but we'll stick with just a simple tenner while I'm training you.
Dave: But what if someone catches us?
Jilly: That's why you need to have balls to do this. If you act like you're in the right, people won't suspect a thing, and you can easily blag your way out of it. Acting stupid, they always fall for it, trust me.
Dave: What if they suss me out?
Jilly: Play it cool. They won't. Confidence, mucker, confidence, stop acting like we're up to something. Relax; it'll be fine.
Dave: What if this goes wrong?
Jilly: for f**ks sake, It won't stop acting like you're scared. Just look, you're not doing anything act like we don't know each other. Watch and learn.
(In a busy store, a security guard notices Jilly.)
Guard: Hey, what are you up to?
Jilly: Just getting some change, mate.
Guard: Change, huh? I can't determine what you're up to, but I think leaving the shopping centre is best.
Jilly: I was getting some change. I don't think there's any harm done.
Guard: I'm sure you're up to no good, so get a move on. I don’t want to see your face around here again.
Jilly walks away; Dave follows him a few minutes later, feeling paranoid.
Dave: This wasn't worth it, Jilly. You could have ended up in jail.
Jilly: He didn’t know what I was up to, but it's part of the game, and I never let it bother me; get straight back into it.
Dave: I'm done with this. My arse went back there. You might be able to deal with the stress, but it's not for me; he could be on the phone to the police right now, for all we know.
Jilly: Look, it's not for everyone. It may be time to move on and do something else: get a job. You're not cut out to be a conman; you're too soft.
Dave: I just never thought it would come to this. I'm done with this life, Jilly. It's not worth the risk.
Jilly: It's about making scratch. But I wouldn't let that guard put you off; he let me go. It's so hard to work out.
As Dave leaves, he hesitates for a moment.
Dave: Jilly, it's not worth it.
Jilly smirks, seemingly unbothered.
Jilly: We just got unlucky this time. It's so difficult to prove half the time the coppers can't be arsed with the paperwork over a tenner.
Dave: You must be mad. Something will go wrong one day, and you'll end up in Jail.
Jilly: Suit yourself. You’ve got to have bolloks. If you ever change your mind, let me know. But to be honest, you're starting to do my head in and making me jumpy with your paranoid talk; for f**k sake, we're not robbing the Bank of England.
As Dave walks away, he feels relieved not to be involved anymore.
Dave (whispering to himself): It's not worth the risk.
(As Jilly moves away from Dave, an undercover cop named Mia follows Jilly)
Mia: (speaking into a hidden mic) We've got movement. The suspect appears to be leaving the scene.
(Mia follows Jilly, observing her every move. The tension escalates as she gathers evidence.)
Mia (whispering into the mic): Suspect seems unfazed. Continuing surveillance.
(Jilly, unaware of Mia's presence, heads to an alley to count her money.)
Mia (communicating with backup): I need confirmation on her criminal record. This might be the break we need.
(As Dave wrestles with his decision, Mia gathers crucial information, closing in on Jilly's illicit activities.)
Dave (muttering to himself): It's not just about the money; it's about the risks we took.
(Mia, reviewing her findings, realises the extent of the operation and decides to make her move.)
Mia (calling for backup): We need to apprehend the suspect. I've got enough evidence to bring her in.
(The climax unfolds as Mia, accompanied by the guard, closes in on Jilly.)
Mia (announcing herself): Jilly, you're under arrest for theft and fraud. You have the right to remain silent.
(Jilly, shocked, is handcuffed while Dave watches from a distance.)
Dave (whispering to himself): I made the right choice. No matter how much money she makes, it's not worth going to prison; yes, I will get a job. She's right. I'm not cut out for this.
As Jilly is led away in handcuffs, the gravity of her actions finally seems to dawn upon her. Dave, distanced from the crime, observes from afar, his relief palpable. Mia, the undercover cop, glances at Dave, acknowledging his choice to walk away.
