The Mystery Receipts

The first time it happened, it was very unexpected. My little black notebook was tucked carefully in my hand as I rifled though my purse looking for my ever elusive bank card. I let out a sign of frustration as I opened my side pocket only to find it empty.

I silently swore in my mind as I shifted my bag over to check in the corners. Suddenly I heard the familiar tone of the transaction going through and then the teller handed me my receipt, smiled warmly, said “Have a great day!!” and turned to the next customer.

I stared at the receipt she handed me, confused. I had not done anything, but here it is, paid in full. What just happened? Maybe I made contact with it from inside my purse? I went about the rest of my day, rushing from one place to the next and soon I had forgotten all about the mysterious transaction and the receipt at the bottom of my purse.

The second time it happened I was running late for a job interview. Again with the illusive bank card. I reminded myself it was time to get a grown up wallet and I started pulling items out of my purse. I tossed each item on the counter as I removed them from my purse. First my headband, then my chapstick, my keys and my notebook. One by one I tossed them down on the counter beside the interac machine. As I reached for my lotion I heard the familiar tone of the transaction going through and then the receipt printed out. I definitely did NOT do this. But the teller looked at the slip, circled the approved and initialed beside it before handing me my copy. What. Is going on??

It was several days before I had a chance to examine both of the mystery receipts, and I discovered that both had matching information, and it definitely was NOT my bank card. I had already called my branch to ask them why my transactions were showing the wrong numbers, and why my transactions were not reflecting on my account. The snotty girl on the other end said something along the lines of “Maybe you’re using someone else’s card??” and “How am I supposed to know??” I hate dealing with rude girls, so I just hung up.

That weekend my sister came to visit and we went out for supper. I told her all about the mystery transactions and we dreamed up all kinds of crazy ideas about what was REALLY going on over a huge pasta supper at our favorite restaurant.

My sister suggested that maybe someone was pranking me. This could be true. I do have some rather crazy friends who will do anything for a laugh, but this seemed pretty elaborate. After supper (and a bottle of wine) we giggled over the bill and I insisted on buying supper because my sister NEVER lets me buy. My bank card was MIA again, so rather than take my things out one at a time, I decided to dump the whole bag out at once before my sister changed her mind and tried to pay. My sister erupted in giggles and then squealed with laughter as the transaction approved and printed out the receipt. “That’s one hell of a magic bag you have there!” my sister exclaimed. We stared at each other, incredulous, and then burst out laughing as I grabbed the receipt and we walked out the front door to the uber that was waiting for us.

The next morning I woke up early, made coffee and sat on my front porch to listen to the birds. I played the evening events over in my mind, giggling to myself over how childish me and my sister can be even though we are a couple of grown ass woman. Then I remembered the new receipt. I got up and grabbed my purse and pulled it out to compare to the other two. It matched. All the same information. What the heck. Three in a row. I had spent almost $300 on these three purchases, but it hadn’t cost me a penny. It didn’t make sense.

I began to obsess about it. Everywhere I went I was watching the people around me, wondering if I would see the one who was responsible. If I’m going to be at all honest with you, I started to feel a little bit crazy. Then one day, I reached into my pocket for my keys, and my finger poked down into a hole that had started to form in the corner of my pocket. As I pulled my finger out, I started to wonder if the mystery bank card was in the lining of my purse! Surely that would explain everything??

I raced to my sewing kit and grabbed my seam ripper, then I ran back to the kitchen and hastily dumped the contents of my purse on the counter and flipped it inside out. I felt around the fabric, but it was hard to tell without ripping it open, so I carefully pulled the stitches out and dug around inside the lining. Nothing. How disappointing. I couldn’t even put everything back because there was a big hole in my purse now. I decided that my next pay cheque would be buying mama a new purse AND a spare purse, and I smirked to myself as I stuffed all my purse essentials into my winter jacket pocket.

The next day I went to my favorite coffee shop for a cup of hot coffee and a donut. As I sat eating my donut I listened to the people around me. The teenagers behind me were bickering playfully, and the couple to my right were in a heated discussion about tile. I was thankful to be a part of the energy around me while I enjoyed my coffee. My phone began to ring in my pocket, and as I reached to pull it out I found a huge handful of my purse contents covering it, and so I emptied my pocket onto the table and grabbed my phone to answer the call. Wrong number. I laughed quietly to myself as I set my phone down. All that effort for a wrong number. I started to organize all my pocket junk. As I reached for my little black notebook, I noticed a tear on the corner of the back cover. I reminded myself I need tape, tucked my contents in my pocket and started to make my way home.

Later than evening I was puttering around the house and I decided to sweep the floors. The fridge was looking very suspicious, and it had been a long time since I cleaned behind it, so I pulled it out. As I swept all the dust bunnies away, my broom caught the edge of something hard and scratchy sounding. I crouched down to look and there was a pack of tape! I set it on the counter and finished my clean up.

When I was done, I grabbed the tape and went to the living room so I could repair my little black book under good light. At first I was going to just tape it down real quick, but then I noticed something kind of shiny just past where the paper was peeling back. I poked at it with my finger, and then I grabbed a knife off the counter and I gently slid the knife along the edge to see if there was more. As I peeled the cover back it revealed a nameless numbered bank card with a chip in it for tap transactions. I burst out laughing. HOW DID THIS GET HERE???

I pulled the card out and turned it over. Behind it was a tiny press printed card that read:

“Congratulations!! You have just won $20,000!!!”

On Monday I called my bank again, breath held that Tiffany wouldn’t be working, and sign of relief when Anne picked up the phone. I explained to her what I had found and she laughed in delight as she said “Girl! Don’t you watch the news??? Those cards have been popping up all over!” I shook my head in amazement and I said “What?? Where?? I don’t watch television.” Anne said “Google it! You’ll see!”

I opened up my web browser and entered “Bank card with $20K found” and watched as articles started popping up. Turns out there were 20 of these little black books preloaded with bank cards containing $20,000 each, and they were set to be released as the 50th anniversary celebration of the little black book company, but unfortunately the owners wife had been struck quite ill and everyone forgot about the books that had cards in them, and they ended up being distributed with the rest of the books. By the time the owner realized the mistake he thought it would be amazing to see how many turned up. Of the twenty cards, seven had been spent completely, five had partially been used, and the rest were laying dormant. When the owner of the little black book company heard my story he invited me to dinner. We had a wonderful time, and I never saw them again. And that folks, is how I became $20,000 richer.