Easy Life_Walter Hart, 1944_short_PARENTE

Following the conclusion of a criminal trial, one of the officials involved in the trial feels the need to tell the story of Frank Davis, a young man involved peripherally in the trial, but who was directly involved in the case. Frank was like many teenagers, basically good but who dreamed of material things he could not afford. He began to steal, and seeing that stealing was easy and got him what he wanted, continued to do so. His chutzpah caught the attention of gangsters, whom he joined after he graduated from high school, as again he thought this move would continue what he considered the easy life. However, his new associates were quick to blame others within their circle for anything that went wrong. Frank began to feel trapped by this life, as things did go wrong. The identity of the official telling the story and Frank's fate serves as a cautionary warning that the easy life as Frank saw it may have dire consequences.