The time I lost the money bag

It was the first big sale of the night.

Thursday night is always the busiest at The Strawberry Patch Barn Sale.  Women come from near and far to scour some of the.best.goods!  We were crazy busy.  I'd been measuring dresses for about an hour.  We were busy writing down orders, taking money, busy.  Non stop.  We don't look up.  From 4-7. 

A lady bought the super cute pink dresser that was oh so terribly ugly with 15 coats of paint on it just a weekend before.  She told us she'd be back in 30 minutes to pick it up. 

About 20 minutes later, Lauren and I decided to move the piece to the front of our booth so she could pick it up at her convenience. 

I had the money bag and also my big bag that held random things I might need through the barn sale.  Camera.  Deoderant.  Hairspray.  Change of clothes.  Snacks.  You name it.  It's in there.  I come prepared.  Anyways, my bag had been in this dresser for safe keeping.  So I took it out and put it on my shoulder.  I still had the money bag.  We start moving the dresser and I decide to put the money bag in the top drawer while we moved it to free up a hand.

About that time the lady showed back up to claim the dresser that she'd bought for her daughter's little girl.  She backed her truck up and we loaded it in. 

A few minutes later, we make another sale, but I can't find the money bag.  Anywhere. 

Now, I'm the book keeper.  I'm the anal one who keeps the notebook with what we sell written down and keeps the money in the bag in order.  Largest bills to smallest, checks in the back, all the bills facing the same way. 

I knew I'd just had the money bag.  About the time Cindy asked me where the money bag was, it hit me.  It was in the dresser.  In the back of that Grey Toyota Tacoma that was pulling down the gravel road out of the Strawberry Patch. 

My heart sunk. 

I ran down the gravel road thinking I could catch up, but no such luck.  I run back to Cindy's car, ready to jump in and go after her.  Its locked.  Back to the booth to get the code.  Back to the car.  Enter the code.  No keys.  Back to the booth for the keys.  Back to the car.  Code.  Keys.  Ready. 

I knew I was going to McDonalds.  In my heart I knew I'd find her there.  I prayed all the way.  I drove faster than I care to remember, thinking at once 'this is how I'm going to die.  Speeding down a country road after a money bag.'

There are so many little places to turn, streets, houses, major highways.  But I just kept going the only way I knew to go.  Earlier in the day we had gone to McDonalds for lunch and I knew I was heading back there. 

They had a little girl.  It was scorching hot.  She'd need something to eat and drink.  It was almost supper time. Lord, please let them be at McDonalds. Thankfully I didn't know about the Sonic right around the corner or I would have second guessed myself...but I knew.  I just knew they'd be at McDonalds. 

I take all the turns leading me to that McDonalds, and wouldn't you believe, right there in the drive-thru was that Grey Toyota Tacoma with that sweet little pink dresser in the back. 

I heard angels singing.  I swear I did. 

I honked the horn and those 2 women looked at me like I was crazy!  I told them our money bag was in their dresser.  Their eyes were as big as hay bales.  I jumped in the back of that truck and grabbed the money bag!

I could have kissed them both.  I would have bought their Happy Meal if I'd thought twice. 

I know they were honest women, and I know they would have returned the bag once they realized it was in there, but that was all our money.  2 iPhones.  The 2 iPhones that take credit cards.  On the busiest night of the Barn Sale.  And who in Heaven's name knows where in the world they lived???

I hopped back in the car and drove just as fast as I'd left back to Starlite Farms.  I can't tell you how many times I said 'thank you Jesus!' on the way back.

Needless to say, we decided that the person taking the money & writing down the sales should NOT be the person to also make deliveries to vehicles.

All's well that ends well.  Isn't that what they say???