A Funny Caper Story

We're sure you've probably had enough of hearing about flamingos and gatherings! But, we have a very funny story to share that occurred during the Flamingo Caper.

As you know by now, live detectives-in-waiting were in different locations around Leominster as part of this gathering. No one but Deanne & Dave and Sue and I and the detectives themselves knew about this twist. I had people asking me in the parking lot of the Plastics Museum, where we met, if "the hikes would be long," should they "bring walking sticks or hiking boots," etc. Also, some of the carvers asked if we needed real weatherproof containers. Just like leading lambs to the slaughter! Of course, by their second stop, the boxers caught on to our premise very quickly but the initial stop was a surprise.

Well, Talking Turtle and Elizabeth of NY made their way to their very first stop - a small pocket park, where the clues told them to "look for Sherlock Holmes on the park bench." After parking the car, this pair walked up to the bench, where they saw a man looking quite disheveled. Talking Turtle (Alexis) went with our group to England last year so she knew Deanne and her wild sense of humor. The instruction sheet in the clue dossier each group was given said that to obtain the letterbox, the boxers must ask the question, "Do you know where I can get a good detective?"

So, following directions, Alexis and Elizabeth proceeded to ask the man on the bench the question - "Do you know where I can find a good detective?" To which his answer was "Sherlock Holmes." Alexis stood there waiting but he didn't do anything! Apparently they must have creeped him out because he got up from the bench and started walking away. Alexis then asked if he wanted them to follow him, thinking Deanne was really making them work for this stamp. After following this man for a block and a half and seeing the look of trepidation in his eyes as he continued to look over his shoulder at these 2 determined letterboxers, our heroines decided that this must be a homeless person who had nothing to do with the gathering but was just enjoying a rest in the park!

Shortly afterwards, the real Sherlock appeared! Apparently he had gotten lost on his way to the park!