The shop assistant suddenly grabbed my arm and whispered urgently, «Get out of here, now!»
«I can’t take it anymore! Three years, Vera, three years Ive listened to his drunken ramblings under my window!» Antonias voice trembled with anger. «The local constable just shrugs. Says he cant do a thing until that drunkard hurts someone!»
«Antonia, youre exaggerating,» Vera adjusted her glasses and gave her neighbour a sympathetic look. «Nicholas is just a troubled man. Ever since his wife passed, hes fallen apart.»
«Troubled?» Antonia threw her hands up. «And the rest of us are living the high life, are we? My Emilys struggling alone in Birmingham with two kids, your blood pressures through the roof, and yet we dont drink or scream under peoples windows at three in the morning!»
Sophie, who had been quietly listening, sighed deeply. Every time the neighbourhood women gathered in the courtyard of their old block of flats, the conversation always circled back to Nicholass antics. Todays tea was no exception.
«Lets talk about something else,» she suggested, pouring the tea. «The weathers lovely todayfirst proper warm day of spring.»
«Quite right,» Vera agreed, accepting her cup gratefully. «Youve always been the voice of reason, Sophie. Hows your James doing?»
«Oh, same as always,» Sophie smiled. «Called from London yesterdaysaid hes finishing up some important project. Promised to visit over the bank holiday.»
«Well, thats good,» Antonia nodded, calming slightly. «You shouldnt be on your own so much at your age. And breathing in all that dust at the library…»
«Stop it, Antonia,» Sophie waved her off. «Im only sixty-twohardly ancient. Besides, I love my library. Its my life. And as for being alone…» She gazed into the distance. «Ive grown used to it. Fifteen years since Edward passed.»
The conversation drifted to safer topicsprices, health, children, and grandchildren. When the teapot ran dry, Sophie checked her watch.
«Oh, I must dash! I wanted to pop into ‘The Glow’ before dinner. Heard theyve got good oats at the old price.»
«Do go,» Vera encouraged. «Just dont stay out too late. The constable mentioned theres been trouble after darksome gang theyre after.»
«Dont frighten her,» Antonia cut in. «Sophies sensibleshe wont go wandering about in the dark.»
After saying goodbye, Sophie headed home to change. Their neighbourhood wasnt the safesta quiet edge of a small town, full of old flats and dimly lit streets. But in broad daylight, there was nothing to fear, especially since ‘The Glow’ was just five minutes away.
Switching to more comfortable shoes and grabbing her shopping trolley, Sophie stepped outside. The spring sun warmed her face, and the first green shoots peeked through the gardens. «The lilacs will bloom soon,» she thought, remembering how much shed loved their scent as a child.
‘The Glow’ was one of those old-fashioned corner shops where the staff knew every customer by name and always had time for a chat. Sophie visited nearly every day after work, picking up bread, milk, or oats.
The bell above the door chimed as she entered. The shop was quietjust an elderly man at the deli counter and a young mother with a child browsing sweets.
«Good afternoon, Helen,» Sophie greeted the plump, fifty-something shop assistant. «Heard youve got oats in? The girls said its a good batch.»
«Hello, Sophie,» Helen smiled warmly. «Yes, just put them out. Aisle three, bottom shelf.»
Sophie nodded and made her way over. Sure enough, neatly packed bags of oats sat at a reasonable price. She tucked two into her basket, then browsed for other essentials.
As she wandered the aisles, she noticed the atmosphere shift. Helen, usually so chatty, had gone quiet mid-sentence with the elderly man. Her face tensed, eyes darting nervously.
The bell chimed again. Two men walked in. The first, tall and lanky with a cap pulled low, scanned the room quickly. The second, shorter with a cold, blank stare, positioned himself near the door like a sentry.
Sophie paid them little mind. Shops had all sorts of customers. She turned back to the tinned goods, debating whether to grab a tin of pilchardsJames liked those when he visited.
Then she felt someone close beside her. Turning, she found Helen standing unnervingly near, her face chalk-white.
«Need help finding anything?» Helen asked loudly, then suddenly seized Sophies wrist, leaning in to whisper, «Run. Now. Through the stockroom, out the back. These two robbed a shop down the road yesterday. Two women ended up in hospital.»
Sophie froze, disbelieving. «Nonsense! In broad daylight? In our quiet little ‘Glow’?» But the sheer terror in Helens eyes convinced her.
«No, thank you, Im fine,» Sophie replied just as loudly, then added under her breath, «What about you? The others?»
«Ive hit the panic button,» Helen murmured. «But the police wont get here fast enough. Gothey havent seen you. The mum and kid theyll be left alone. Go!»
With that, she nudged Sophie toward an unmarked staff door.
Heart pounding, Sophie glanced backthe men were distracted by the elderly customer. She slipped through the door.
The stockroom was cramped, stacked with boxes. She paused, catching her breath. «Maybe Helens mistaken? Maybe its not them?» But instinct screamed, «Go! Now!»
Edging past the boxes toward the back door, she heard a loud bang, then shouting. Her hands shook, but she kept moving, careful not to make noise. The peeling door creaked open, and she stumbled into the alley behind the shop, gulping fresh air.
«What now?» She thought frantically. Home? But what if they spotted her? Call the police? Her phone was in her bagstill by the till.
Then it hit her. The neighbourhood police booth was just two streets away. Constable Simon would be there.
Half-walking, half-running, she hurried toward it, rehearsing what to say. «Will he believe me? Think Ive lost the plot?»
At the booth, she nearly collided with Constable Simona heavyset man in his forties with a weary face, just locking up.
«Simon!» she gasped. «At ‘The Glow’robbers. Helen said she hit the alarm, but»
His expression hardened. «When?»
«Just now! Helen helped me out the back. Two menone tall in a cap, the other younger, blank-faced.»
Simon snatched his radio. «Dispatch, Code Three! Armed robbery at ‘The Glow’ on Mill Road. Immediate response needed!»
He turned to Sophie. «Wait here. Dont move.»
Then he strode off, surprisingly quick for his size.
Alone, Sophie sank onto the bench outside the booth. Her legs felt weak, hands trembling. Fragmented thoughts raced: «What about Helen? The mum and child? That bangwas it a gun?»
Time crawled. Soon, sirens wailed as police cars sped past. Then another. Sophie sat hugging herself, waiting.
Finally, Simon returned, his face stern but calmer.
«Well?» Sophie rushed to him. «What happened? Is everyone?»
«All fine,» he nodded. «Got them bothone inside, the other didnt get far.»
«That bangI heard it in the stockroom.»
«Gas pistol,» Simon confirmed. «Fired at the ceiling to scare people. Helen kept her head. And you did right coming straight here.»
«Helen shes alright?»
«Shaken, but fine. Giving her statement now. Ohyour bag.» He handed over her trolley. «Check if everythings there.»
Her hands still shaky, Sophie checked. Purse, keys, phoneall present.
«Come inside,» Simon said. «Need your statement. Then Ill walk you home. You could use a stiff drinklook at you.»
In the booth, Sophie recounted everythingthe men, Helens warning, her escape. Retelling it steadied her, as if reliving it safely.
«Who were they?» she asked afterward. «How did Helen know?»
«From our alert,» Simon explained. «Sent it to all local shops yesterday. That pairs hit three places this weekbold as brass, broad daylight. Walk in as customers, pull a weapon, clean out the till and shoppers valuables. Last time, a shopkeeper resistedgot a head injury. Still in hospital.»
«Good Lord,» Sophie murmured. «And I thought our town was so quiet.»
«Times change,» Simon sighed. «But today, thanks to you and Helen, it ended well. Those lads wont see freedom for a while.»
Once the paperwork was done, Simon walked Sophie home. At her doorstep, an anxious Antonia spotted them.
«Sophie! Saw the police rushing to ‘The Glow’! What happened?»
«All sorted, Antonia,» Simon reassured. «Caught the thieves, no one hurt. And Sophie heres a herohelped nab them.»
«Hero? Hardly,» Sophie flushed. «Helens the brave one. Without her»
At home, with strong tea and valerian drops, Sophie finally relaxed. The day felt surreal, like it happened to someone else. A librarian of thirty years, a widow, a motherand suddenly in the middle of a crime drama!
That evening, James called as usual, asking after her health and work, updating her on his life. Sophie didnt mention the incidentno need to worry him. But when they discussed his upcoming visit, she surprised herself.
«James could you come? Its been too long. And I think I need more company. Just work, home, the shopsIll turn into a hermit.»
«Of course, Mum,» he replied, puzzled. «But you sound different today.»
«Just realised something,» she smiled, gazing at the evening outside. «Lifes unpredictable, love. You never know whats around the corner. Today you pop out for oats, and tomorrow well, anything could happen.»
The next day, Sophie returned to ‘The Glow’. Business as usual, though a young security guard now stood by the tilla new precaution.
Helen, spotting her, rushed out and hugged her tightly. «Thank you! Who knows how it wouldve ended without you.»
«Me?» Sophie blinked. «You saved us all.»
«Rubbish,» Helen waved it off. «Just did what anyone would. Ohyour oats still need paying for. Fancy them today?»
«Absolutely,» Sophie smiled. «And something nice for tea. My sons visiting soon.»
Life settled back into its rhythm, yet something had shifted. A new confidence, perhaps. Or the realisation that even the most ordinary day could turn extraordinary. Or simply knowing how precious each quiet moment wasuntil a whisper changes everything: «Get out of here, now. The shop assistant suddenly grabbed my arm and whispered urgently, «Get out of here, now!»
I didnt hesitate. I dropped my basket and ran.
