In which I've saved an English story to share today for Boxing Day

The Two Pickpockets (England)

There was once a young man who was the best pickpocket around. So he decided to try his luck in the big city.

On his first day there, the picking were lush, he cut a purse here, picked a pocket there.  It was quite glorious to be a pickpocket in the big city.  But when he went to pay for his lunch he discovered his own pocket had been picked! 

He finally cornered the pickpocket in an alley. Trembling she offered him his purse back. "I don't want the purse back. I only want to marvel at your skill. I am the best there is and I never felt a thing!" 

Within a week, these two were married.  Soon, they were expecting a child. 

The young man was very excited. "With parents like us, this child will be the best pickpocket the world has ever known! We will start a whole dynasty of pickpockets!" 

But when the baby was born, and the midwife laid him on his mother's breast his little right hand was closed and his whole arm drawn up tight to his chest. 

"Look at his poor hand! He'll never be a pickpocket now." 

They took him to one doctor and another, none could find anything wrong.  Finally they took him to the best pediatrician in the whole city. This doctor examined the baby's arm and could find no problem. He took out his gold pocket watch to time the pulse. "I can find nothing wrong. And what a shame. What a bright little fellow. Look how his eyes follow my watch." 

He dangled the watch in front of the baby. 

Suddenly the little arm that had been twisted in stretched out and the baby opened his hand to grab the watch.

And down fell the midwife's gold wedding band.