Timothy Callender's "An Honest Thief" is a short story which takes place in a small village called St. Victoria Village, in Jamaica. It appears that the time period is after the 1950s, over a period of a few days. There is a high possibility for the story to take place in mid-spring, because that is when it is best to grow bananas in Jamaica. At the beginning of the story, it is said that every villages have a "bad man", and St. Victoria Village was not an exception. It is also mentioned that no one dared to get close to their town's "bad man". This kind of an introduction to the story created a tense atmosphere, and as you continue to read, you will notice that the atmosphere does not change.
Plot.
"An Honest Thief" is about a conflict between a "bad man," Mr. Spencer, and the former convict, Bulldog. Bulldog requested to let him taste one of Mr. Spencer's lovely bananas, but he does not allow anyone but himself to touch it. A few days passed since then, and Bulldog tried a second time. Rejected and offended as he was the second time, he immediately declared that he would steal Mr. Spencer's bananas from him between certain times. Mrs. Spencer kept telling her husband reasonable things to do, I quote "But look how two big men going kill theyself over a bunch o' bananas! Why you don't go and pick them bananas now and mek sure he can't get them." It did not matter how much she tried to change her husband's view in this situation, Mr. Spencer was already determined to challenge Bulldog over his banana tree.
Characters .
Firstly we have Mr. Spencer who cares a lot about his banana tree, and he was not afraid to hurt anyone who touched it. It also seems like he is a short-tempered middle-aged man, because he gets angered easily. At times when he felt indignant, he would repeat everything three times. Mr. Spencer is a structured man, stating that from the beginning of the story explaining his routine every single morning.
