All in a Day's Work.....

"Sally," I exclaimed as I opened the door. "Get in here fast. You will never believe what happened to my Mom and me!"

"Oh, migosh," replied Sally, "from that look on your face, it must have been really something!"

"Yes," I answered, " And when all I thought we were going to do today was look at all the fantastic shops of the Boomers and Beyond who are located in the United Kingdom!"

"Well," said Sally, "I hope we are still going to do that because I have really been looking forward to seeing what all those folks across the pond create!"

"Let's sit down by the computer," I sighed, "and we will do both! Let's just get our chocolate milkshakes from the blender on the way."

We took our milkshakes, sat down, and then Sally said, "So, what happened with you and your Mom?"

"Well," I said,"You know that I work for my Mom a couple of days a week. She lives about 45 miles away from us, and the office is about 30 more minutes from her house. It started out as an ordinary day. We went to the office to work for half a day. Then, we had some other business to conduct," I continued. "Oh, but first, take a look at this gorgeous pleated bag from Libertybelle.



Liberty Belle
Essex, UK
Pleated Bag


"That is beautiful," exclaimed Sally. "I love the fabric design and colors," she said. "But, go on. What happened after you left the office?"

"Well," I went on. "We had to go to a credit union to open up an account for one of the affiliates. So, we drove there, parked, and went in. Oh, look at this wonderful felted bag from Make Your Presents Felt!"



Make Your Presents Felt
North Bedfordshire, UK
Felted Bag

"Oh, I love the dark brown with the bright orange handles," said Sally. "So, you went to the credit union. Then what?" she asked.

"Well, " said, "We sat down in some chairs across from the teller windows. It was a relatively small place, with the tellers' windows on one side, a table in the center where people could fill out their deposit/withdrawal slips, about four chairs along the opposite wall, a glass enclosed office in the corner with a desk in front of that office. But, wait a minute! Just look at this beautiful, colorful journal made by Artmixter!" I continued.



Artmixter
East Dereham, UK
Inspirations Journal


"That is fabulous," replied Sally. "It is so bright, colorful, cheerful, and warm! But, go on, tell me more about the credit union," said Sally.

"Well, we sat down and waited because there was a young man and woman and their little boy, probably about 18 months old, being helped by the assistant manager when we arrived. They were the only other customers in the credit union, along with three tellers, the assistant manager, and the manager besides my Mom and me," I said. "Oh, look at this awesome silk scarf made by Liz Plummer," I continued.




Liz Plummer
Newport, South Wales, UK
Rich Red/Brown Silk Scarf

"That would look so beautiful with my brown skirt and jacket," Sally replied. "I really like those colors!" she said. "But, you were saying about the credit union?" she asked.

"Well, " I continued, "I was watching the little boy play around while his parents were conducting their business. All of a sudden, I looked up and saw two men walking in front of the tellers' windows, and they stopped just across from where we were sitting," I said. "Have you ever seen a wax painting?" I asked Sally. "I just love this pastel pansies encaustic painting by On A Whimsey," I said.




On a Whimsey
West Sussex, UK
Pastel Pansies Encaustic


"I have to agree with you," said Sally. "The pastel colors in that painting are amazing. I can see why this would be a favorite for anyone!" she continued. "But, you were saying that two men stopped in front of the tellers' windows across from you...," Sally went on.

"Yes," I answered. "And that's when I saw the gun! A man wearing a black hood, black jacket, black pants was standing there holding a gun in the postman's back! He said, 'I'm not playing. Give me the money.' He shoved the postman over to the next window and said, 'Quick! Quick!' and then he looked at the assistant manager sitting at the desk....she had started to move her hands under her desk....and he said, 'Don't even think about it!'"

"Ohmigosh," squealed Sally. "What did you do?"

"Well," I said, "I looked at that gun and thought to myself......if that robber gets upset and starts shooting, I don't want to see it coming, so I put the papers I was holding over my face! The next thing I heard was the assistant manager asking if anyone had called the police. Everything was over so quickly I couldn't believe it. There was my Mom, who is 91 by the way, and me, at a credit union which had just been held up!" I continued.


"That sure doesn't happen every day," exclaimed Sally. "Were you afraid?"

"No," I replied. "Not really! Although you might think that since I put the papers over my face!" I laughed. "The funniest thing, though, is when the credit union printed out the photo from the surveillance camera, there we were......my brave 91-year old Mom, just sitting there watching, and an unidentified woman with papers over her face!"

"Oh, I bet you were glad no one was hurt," said Sally.

"Yes," I answered. "We were all glad of that," I replied. "But, that isn't the end of the story," I said. "Oh, look at this beautiful hand-dyed yarn," I said. "It is made by Sassalynne."





Sassalynne
Fleet Hampshire, UK
Serendipity Yarn



"I would love to have a scarf made of that," cried Sally. "The colors are marvelous, and it looks so soft," she said. "Okay, if that isn't the end of the story, what happened next?" she asked.

"Well," I continued, "I looked down at the floor in front of the teller's window, and there were several 100 dollar bills lying there. I said, 'I guess you have to leave that there until the police come. Right?" The teller said, "Yes, we can't touch anything. The robber dropped that when he was stuffing the money in his pockets," she said.

I went on, "So we waited there, and soon, about six or eight policemen showed up. Some said they had been checking outside the building but no one had seen anything. Another went around taking our names and other information. The assistant manager gave us witness reports to fill out. Then they said they were waiting for the robbery division to show up. Then they locked the doors so no one could go in or out," I said. "Next the detectives from the robbery division showed up. They announced that we then had to wait for the FBI. So, we waited some more. Finally the FBI agents arrived, and they started taking statements from each person individually. I told what I had seen....that the man was white. That's all anyone could see because only his eyes and a bit of his forehead were visible. And what I had heard him say while he was there. Then he interviewed my Mom, and said I could sit in with her. He had already asked me how old she was and whether she was mentally competent! I told him she certainly was!"

"Anything else," asked Sally.

"Oh, yes," I chuckled. "I saw the surveillance photo sitting on the counter, and there I was.....face covered with those papers!" Then the FBI agent who had interviewed me came over and said, "You weren't kidding, were you?" "No," I laughed. "I told you I didn't want to see any bullets coming my way!" He laughed, too. Then the detective from the robbery division came over, smiling, and asked, "Would you mind if I use this in my class on how not to be a witness?" I said, "Of course you can use it," I said.

"Look at this sweet christening cape made by Precious Quilts," I said.



Precious Quilts
West Sussex, UK
Victorian Christening Cape


"That is darling," cooed Sally. "So precious and sweet!" she said. "Well, that is pretty funny about the detective wanting to use the photo with you covering your face for his how not to be a good witness class!" Sally exclaimed.

"I asked the detective if I could have a copy to show to my family," I said. "He told me I could." Then we waited some more, and all of a sudden there were no officers of any kind in the credit union. So I asked the manager if I could have a copy. He said he would have to check with their own security. He came back in a few minutes and said he was sorry.....I couldn't have one because it was part of an on-going investigation. So I said that was okay. But, then lo and behold, there was that detective who wanted to use the photo in his class. So, I told him what the credit union officials had said, and he said, 'You can have one. I will email it to you!"

"So, now I have the infamous photo of how not to be a good witness that has been passed around my family, among my former colleagues at work, and needless to say.........it has been a good laugh for everyone," I said to Sally. "And that wasn't the end of it, either," I continued. "Just in the mail this week both my Mom and I received nice gift cards for a very nice restaurant with a kind note thanking us for our patience and composure and help during the robbery."

"Well," teased Sally, "Surely there's a better way than that to get a free meal......"

I laughed and replied, "All's well that ends well......"