Author(s): Valerie Wilding

Children Fiction

I had to wait till today to practise dipping again. While Pa was in the pub, I wandered off to a market. A costermonger's barrow bumped over a broken cobble, and a dozen cooking apples rolled off. "I'll get 'em," I said, and picked them all up. The costermonger was so pleased he gave me an apple that was too bruised to sell. I put it in my pocket, next to the one I'd already nicked, as I was picking them up. Quite a meal today, even if they were a bit sour! Alfie Trott is going to be the best pickpocket ever. Well, someone has to feed his family - there's nine of them! Only problem is, he's been caught plying his trade on Mr Barney's patch. So, not only are the coppers after him, but Mr Barney's gang members are too. Alfie's going to have to be a very nimble guttersnipe indeed...