Mysterious Incident in the Community Garden [View all]

[NJCher]

We had 14 volunteers for a recent spring cleanup. We pulled weeds, added new soil to the beds, cleared pathways, and repaired raised beds.

At one point, about 20" into the work session, I found a dollar. I held it up and asked, "Who lost a dollar?" No one claimed it. I gave it to the nearest teenager, saying I'll bet you lost this and didn't even realize it. She was the one closest to the dollar.

About ten minutes later, I spotted scattered bills of various denominations on a grass area near the raised beds. There was a 20, a 10, a couple fives, and two ones. I picked it up and addressed the group: "somebody has a hole in their pocket! Please check your pockets." People did, but nobody claimed the cash.

After that, two or three volunteers approached me saying that while they were working, they found a dollar or a five or whatever. They gave me the cash and I asked my co-worker (the funder for the gardens) what she thought I should do with the money. She said you keep it and buy a couple plants that will be just right for the garden. You know what to buy. I said OK.

The next day I was again working, but this time by myself. I found more bills, but they were torn up and the only parts of the bills I found were the part containing the serial number. There were two bills of unknown denomination, then, in addition to the other money that was found.

Weird, right?

The day I was working I had on work trousers that had no pocket, but I did have a black apron on, so I think I must have stuffed the $$ in my apron pocket.

Today I saw bumblebees looking for flower buds and remembered the money. I said I'm going to buy some blooms for the bumbles! I went to the apron to retrieve the money and it was gone! So apparently I lost the lost money.

I'm not 100 per cent sure I lost it yet as I have two black aprons and I need to find the other one.

But if I lost the lost money, it will be a doubly weird ending to a weird little story.