the white hat

i'll give you a hundred
dollars she tells you,
if you go over there
and take that woman's
hat and give it to me.
prove what a man you are.
you put your hand
out and she places five
twenties in your palm.
you hide behind a post
then dash towards
the woman, snatching
off her wide brimmed
white hat. then you sprint
back to your friend
and say, here,
put this on. you both
run but before you get down
the street the cops
are chasing you
with guns drawn.
you've  stolen the hat
from the ambassador
of peru's wife. how
could you know.
let's split up you say
and dash into an alley.
she goes the other way.
then you hear gunshots.
you circle the building,
putting on your sunglasses,
changing your shirt.
you meander
around the building
and come out to where
a crowd has gathered.
your friend is lying
in the middle
of the street, bleeding
from a leg wound. still
wearing the hat.
you go over to her
and give her back her
money. she's weeping.
and you say, hey, it was
your idea, but that does
look sharp on you. my
leg hurts, she says.
can you take my picture
and put it on facebook?
sure, no problem.
smile.