Bank Robbery

I can remember a vivid incident that once happened in my life

Through no fault of my own I was more than happy to have lost,

Although I’m sure there are other times whereby I’ve been a loser

In this particular incident to win meant paying too high of a cost.

***

I was only young, 18 years old, with very little experience in life

I had driven downtown as I needed to cash a cheque at my local bank,

So far everything about that day had been normal and this was a menial task

But later I would realise, that on this day, I had a ‘Higher Power’ to thank.

***

I arrived and parked my car just after the bank opened their doors,

I entered, filled out the deposit slip and walked to the back of the line,

It was already quite busy and there were three tellers open that day

A simple task of cashing my cheque would take next to no time.

***

I slowly progressed in the queue and all was as it should be

It was finally my turn to approach the cashier behind the screen,

When I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, a man walking through the door

A tall, slim man, about 180cm, wearing a balaclava, T-shirt and jeans.

***

This man hurried over and stood shoulder to shoulder with me

I was able to establish he was holding a gun covered in brown wrapping,

It was at this point where a flashing sign “winner” was going off in my head

As it occurred to me that if he needed a hostage I was part of a kidnapping.

***

He produced an every day plastic supermarket shopping bag

And very calmly and quietly told the cashier to fill it up,

To this very day I wonder if he knew how much I was shaking in my boots

Watching the cashier do as she was told as she was finishing up.

***

It was like everything had slowed down and I was watching in slow motion

I could feel the sweat running down between my shoulder blades,

While the rapid rise and fall of my breathing and heartbeat so loud

And scenario after scenario was running through my mind in various shades.

***

On completion of the task he had given to the cashier

She handed him the plastic bag filled with the cash from her drawer,

He was surprisingly polite enough to give her his thanks

Then turned away and walked excruciatingly slowly out the door.

***

There where four people in the queue behind me and two other cashiers

Not one of them noticed a thing so it was only the cashier and I,

It was my lucky day and I was not the winner who was held hostage

Thankfully, as it hit home hard that I was too young to die.

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Originally posted on Medium