The elderly couple sat reminiscing late into the evening.
Over the long years of their married life they had always gone somewhere special to celebrate their anniversary and they found that they always had so much to talk about; so many recollections. This evening was no different; most of the diners had left the restaurant without them even noticing.
It was very late but they decided to walk home. Although neither of them could walk very fast, they decided to go the long way back and take a look at their old school. When they arrived they decided to cross the playground and walked up to the main door; the door they had passed through so many times all those decades ago. They both touched it.
Giggling and feeling more than a little childish they made their way back onto the street. It was only moments later that they heard a screeching of tyres followed by an engine revving at a high pitch. A van came hurtling through the main street at high speed and turned sharply into a side road. As it did, one of the back doors flew open and something dropped out.
They were both huddled in a shop doorway. This was an instinctive action on their part. They were shaken up by the whole episode.
After waiting a few minutes they ventured over and picked up what appeared to be a canvas bag. Under a lamp light they opened it and found it was full of neatly banded bank notes. He said “You know we have to turn it in, don’t you?” She said “No we don’t. This is our anniversary remember? This was meant to be, I just know it was.” He said “Well, right now we need to get home. Sooner or later someone’s going to come back.” She agreed, and they made their way home.
Back in their kitchen they counted it out. This didn’t take long as the bundles were all the same. They were looking at more money than they had ever seen; more than they thought possible to cram into a bag that size. She said “I’m going to wrap it in plastic and hide it in the shed. I know you’re not happy about it, but I’m convinced we were meant to have it.” With that she started fossicking around for plastic bags.
The next morning detectives were canvassing the neighbourhood, knocking on doors, hoping someone had information about the missing money. When the knock came she went to the door. They made their usual enquiries, had they seen or heard anything? “No, nothing” she said. “What a terrible business.” she added.
Her husband just couldn’t stay quiet any longer. He came forward saying “Yes, we found it and brought it home. My wife covered it with plastic and hid it in the shed.” She smiled at the policeman and said “Take no notice. He has become rather senile I’m afraid.” The detective said “That’s as maybe madam, but I’d still like to hear what your husband has to say.”
The husband said “Well, we were walking home from school yesterday…”
The detective raised his hand and smiled at the wife knowingly and said “Thank you madam.” and left.
They never found the money.