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PAST PERFECT

INTERNATIONAL BROMANCE

In February of 2014, Matt Stopera had his iPhone stolen. Many events led up to that moment when the thief swiped it.

It was chilly winter evening. It had been snowing earlier in the day.

What had the weather been like earlier in the day? It had been snowing earlier in the day.

The temperature had been dropping as the sun went down.

What had the temperature been doing as the sun went down? The temperature had been dropping as the sun went down.

Matt had been sitting on a stool in his favorite bar in the East Village of New York City.

Had Matt been standing on a stool in his favorite bar? No, Matt had been sitting on a stool, not standing on a stool. That would have been dangerous.

He had been drinking Pinot Noir all night.

What had Matt been drinking all night? He had been drinking Pinot Noir all night.

He had been chatting with some of the regulars, who had been filtering in from their long day of work.

Had Matt been arguing with some of the regulars? No, Matt had not been arguing with some of the regulars. He had been chatting with them.

Some of them had been looking to hang out and network with one another.

Had some been looking to hang out with one another? Yes, some had been looking to hang out with one another. And had some been looking to network? Yes, some had been looking to network.

Others had been looking to relax and have a drink.

What had others been looking to do? Others had been looking to relax and have a drink.

All of them had been wanting to have a good time.

Had all of them been wanting to have a quiet time to themselves? No, definitely not. They had all been wanting to have a good time.

During the evening, Matt had been multitasking.

What had Matt been doing during the evening? He had been multitasking.

He had been juggling text messages on his iPhone. He had also been following the Knicks game on TV.

What had he been juggling? He had been juggling text messages on his iPhone. And what had he been following? He had been following the Knicks game on TV.

In addition, he had been sharing some laughter with the other patrons. All the while, he had been drinking red wine and enjoying the evening.

Had Matt been sharing some photos with the other patrons? No, he had been sharing some laughter with the other patrons. What else had he been doing? He had been drinking red wine and enjoying the evening.

Little did he know, a thief had been watching him closely.

Who had been watching Matt closely? A thief had been watching him closely.

The thief had been waiting for Matt to set his iPhone down on the table. He had been hoping that Matt would get distracted by the game on TV or by another customer.

Had the thief been waiting for Matt to sit down on the table? No, he had been waiting for Matt to set his iPhone down on the table.

The thief had been waiting very patiently. Finally, the thief’s chance had arrived.

Had the thief been waiting nervously? No, he hadn’t. The thief had been waiting very patiently. Had the thief’s chance finally arrived? Yes, the thief’s chance had finally arrived.

While Matt had been talking to a friend, the thief had – very quickly and silently – swiped the phone off the table where Matt had been sitting. It was gone for good. Mission accomplished.

What had Matt been doing when his iPhone was stolen? Matt had been talking to a friend in the bar. And how had the thief swiped the iPhone? The thief had – very quickly and silently – swiped the phone off the table where Matt had been sitting.

It was gone for good. Mission accomplished.