I'm just not observant! I did not see the gun.
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
May 19, 2009 3:12pm CST
My son reminded me of the incident last night.
Years ago, before the daughter was born I went shopping in town and not in a good area. An area where clothes could be bought cheaply but of reasonable quality. I was alone with my three little sons - the eldest about 4 or 5.
I walked in the shop and to be honest I did see that people were not moving - just standing still. I said,' Excuse me', to one young man and was idly looking at men's shirts. One shirt looked as if it might fit my husband and so I said to the young man who was of a similar build to my husband, if he would mind holding up the shirt against him whilst I judged whether or not it would fit my husband.
He obliged and I looked at the shirt whilst commentating that the service is the shop was terrible as they were all standing around and no one had offered to assist me.
It was then the I noticed that as he was holding up the shirt against his body he also had a gun in his right hand. He and other young men were in the process of robbing the shop when I walked in with me and mine.
I went into shock and when I go into shock I do stupid. I giggled. Then I laughed. I then told him that I did not want my boys scared so could we kindly leave? He asked me if I was not going to buy the shirt!!!!!! I said no and please could we leave?
The end was that we left unhurt and without the boys seeing the gun. I remember dragging them from the shop and getting into the car - still in complete shock. God was certainly taking good care of us. Did not dare tell my husband as I should not have been in that part of town.
Just curious - has anything like this happened to you?
9 people like this
13 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
21 May 09
Hey cynthiann! Again, It could only happen to YOU! Anyone else
would have panicked and would probably not been allowed to
leave! You are so lucky! The guy was in the middle of robbing
the store and he actually took the time to let you hold the
shirt up to him and then not even buy it! And the he let you
leave! And you didn't even call the police to help the other
people? You are such a riot! God was with you that day, that's
for sure! When I tell you that you should definitely write a
book I surely am not kidding! You lead such a colorful life!
3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 May 09
No I was never rich. My husband was a farmer so it was either feast or famine depending on whether or not we had a hurricane that year that wiped us out. He did not want me to drive and so hired a driver when he could not take me to town or to the dentist - whatever.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 May 09
I told you - I am not observant. I remember saying to him how poor the service was as all they were doing waere standing around. before we left he also asked me if I wanted to take the shirt! I declined. Opal, I can honestly say that I never thought to call the police but I do remember reading in the newspaper the following day about the robbery - but no one was hurt. I was so glad to get away from the scene. and then I could not tell anyone. My husband would have been so cross with the driver and me for being in that part of town.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
19 May 09
God surely was with you that day. Things could have turned out so much differently than they did. You must have really surprised the thieves when you ask the one to hold up the shirt to see what it would look like on your husband. They couldn't have been all bad since they let you and you boys go. Were they young men caught?
3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 May 09
To be honest, I never asked and did not go back to that store again. I was so glad to get out of the store o.k. I did not hear that anyone was hurt so they probably took the cash and left. God was certainly with us. I gave thanks
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
20 May 09
How horrified you must have been!! I'm so sorry for you. What drama you've had in your life!
No, I've never been in any sort of situation like that, thank God. Hopefully I never will be. I grew up in a pretty bad side of town, and still nothing bad happened to us. Our house had never even so much as been broken into. Pray with me that me and my family will continue to remain safe!
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
21 May 09
That's just amazing! You're lucky you've survived some of this stuff.
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
20 May 09
That was scary! Thankfully they let you go unhurt. It was surprising that they do that too. I guess God want to help you out. That will be an experience you'll remember for the rest of your life. If the same thing happen to me, I will tell my husband so he wouldn't take me to particular place in the future. He should know the danger I went through.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 May 09
Muy husband wasn't there - he had someone drive me and the kids to town as I did not have a licence then. He would have never driven in that part of town in the first place. The driver was in the car waiting for us and when we got out and in the car - I still did not tell him as my husband would have been so cross at him for agreeing to take me to the shady part of town
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
9 Jun 09
Wow!! I am sure this was a Scary situation for sure, and Glad to hear that god was on your side, and in control. I worked in a Convenience store and was robbed at Gunpoint once, and from time to time my mind still flashes back to that. I know it is a Scary thing, but when you know God is first in your life, sometimes even though we all tend to Freeze and get a little nervous, God is on our side, and everything is going to be OK.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
20 May 09
gosh, I never heard of anything like that happening, him actually letting you go like that, after all you were a witness,
you are amazing you got out of there alive.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 May 09
This was a long time ago and i live in a third world country. They did not kill anyone - just took the cash. I think that he was surprised that I asked him to hold up a shirt against him to judge the size!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
22 May 09
Wow that must have been scary!!!
You make me worry even more now for one of my friends who is the most unobservant person ever! I'm sure she wouldn't have noticed either.
At least you were very lucky! The criminal probably got a chuckle out of telling that story to his homies later too.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 May 09
Ir was only scary later - after I had got away. I neve ever told this story to my husband. I do expect that the young man must have thought that I was edd because I kept giggling - but it was only because of shock
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
22 May 09
Not that I knew of, but I am the type of person who would talk to an axe-murderer and not even get frazzled. I am also the type who will walk across the road when a car is barreling down from a block away and I make it just in time. Do I ever take chances. I msut lead a charmed life. 
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 May 09
I wasn't scared until later. It did not seem reaL It ws later that I was scared. Thak God he let me take the boys and leave. We were so blessed
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 May 09
I'm not scared whEn scary things happen - it is later THAT i HAVE THE BREAKDOWN!
@pratyushtamhankar (859)
• India
22 May 09
OH MY GOD !!!
You are so really lucky (touch wood !). I have nothing to say...
I only wish that everyone be protected like this...
