Completely Floored
Officer Charlie Bamble was completely floored when he saw the handwritten note the 9-year-old boy he had just spoken to left on his table.
If it were any other boy with any other story, it wouldn’t bother him as much. But he was personally involved in this situation, and that made him feel sick to his stomach. How on earth did things end up going so far?
A Morning Stop
Officer Bamble was a deputy at the Miami State Police Department. And even though he adored his job, there was one thing life had taught him over the years.
He needed to enjoy the little things in life, and he did that by making a stop every single morning while he was on his way to work.
His Daily Routine
Officer Bamble loved stopping at his local coffee shop before work. It was his daily routine, the one thing he did to get some peace and quiet before facing the day ahead.
He had done it for over ten years, and he had no intention of stopping any time soon. But there was one particular visit to the shop that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Coffee And A Bagel
Whenever the officer stopped at or passed by the shop, there were two things that crossed his mind. The store was famous for its bagels, and their breakfast bagel was one of his favorites.
The fact that they had fantastic coffee and that they made it just the way he liked it was just a bonus. But that was what had him going back day in and day out.
He Leaves Extra Early
He loved the place so much that he would leave his house over an hour before he was supposed to just so he could enjoy the good food and the amazing atmosphere.
It was the one thing he treasured the most, especially now that he was all alone in the world. It made his days, and that was all he could ask for.
An Hour Of Peace
It was that hour of peace he got in the mornings that gave him the strength to push through the hard days. Officer Bamble had seen many things in his life, and sometimes he needed an escape. This was it.
But on that day, he would feel worse than ever before, and it was all because of a 9-year-old boy.
This Day Was Different
When Officer Bamble woke up that morning, he was feeling strange. It was like he had a foul taste in his mouth and a stone in the pit of his stomach.
At first, he thought he was just a little under the weather, but he would soon find out that it was his gut trying to tell him what lay ahead.
He Could Feel It
With each minute that passed, the feelings the officer was having were getting worse. And it didn’t take him long to realize that it was a feeling of dread.
Something terrible was going to happen that day. He could feel it. It wasn’t a sense he had often, but it wasn’t the first time he felt it, either.
Unsure Of What To Think
Officer Bamble was unsure of what to make of the situation, but he couldn’t just put his entire day aside because he had a strange feeling.
No, he would go on with his day as he usually did, and he would see how it turned out. Maybe he was just being paranoid. If only he knew what he was walking into.
Following His Routine
Officer Bamble followed his routine as he usually did. He got ready for the day and headed to the local coffee shop for a coffee and a bagel.
But as he was sitting there, sipping on his cappuccino, he realized that he had just walked into the situation his gut had been warning him about.
Something Caught His Eye
Officer Bamble had just taken a bite of his bagel when something caught his attention. Two people had walked into the shop, and they had taken a seat a few tables from where he was sitting.
He didn’t know why they caught his attention, but for some odd, unexplainable reason, he was fascinated by them.
Mother And Son
The people that had the officer’s attention were nothing special. It was just a mother and her young son.
It looked like they had come in for breakfast, just as the officer had. But after years of hardcore training, the need to investigate the situation was drilled into him. There was something about them that just didn’t seem right.
He Watched Them For A While
Since the officer still had time on his hands, he decided to observe the pair for a little while. He took in everything, from the way they were dressed to the food that they had ordered.
And he picked up on a few subtle hints. The mother had a coffee but no food. The boy, on the other hand, got everything he had asked for. And that was what got the officer thinking.
The Boy Looked Happy
The boy seemed pleased. He was talking up a storm while shoving pancakes down his throat. He was so talkative that any outsider would think he hadn’t seen his mom in ages.
But something told Officer Bamble that that wasn’t actually the case. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that the boy was just trying to break the silence.
His Mother Looked Concerned
From the look on the mother’s face, Officer Bamble could tell that she was stressed out. Each time the boy ordered something, her brows furrowed, and a flicker of concern passed over her eyes.
She was clearly calculating everything that would be added to the bill. But why would she take her son out if she was concerned about the prices?
Something About Her
That wasn’t all Officer Bamble picked up on, though. There was something about the mother that caught and kept his attention.
At that point, he was unsure of what that might’ve been, but the more he looked at her, the more that sense settled. Did he know her from somewhere? Have they met before? At his age, he couldn’t be sure.
A Sense Of Familiarity
But he was sure of one thing. There was a sense of familiarity about the woman. It was as if he had, in fact, seen her before.
However, she was a very unique woman, and he was sure he would remember some of her more prominent features, like her bright red curls. Yet, he couldn’t place her.
He Couldn’t Pinpoint It
The fact that he couldn’t pinpoint where he knew her from was driving the officer mad. He was well-known in the local community, and he wouldn’t want to ignore someone he had been in contact with before.
But he had no idea whether or not he actually had contact with this woman before. Had he been called out to her house?
Trying To Focus
Officer Bamble tried to focus on the woman and her features. He needed something, anything to remind him of where he had seen her.
Did they pass each other in the supermarket? Were they living on the same street? Had he seen her in the shop during one of his previous visits? There were just too many possibilities.
They Kept His Attention
Because of that, the pair had his attention for his entire visit. Even as he ate his bagel and drank his coffee, his eyes were firmly fixed on them.
But his time was running out. The hour had flown by, and he had less than ten minutes to get on his way. And he still didn’t have the answers he was looking for.
Time To Leave
Officer Bamble waited until the last possible moment before getting his bill. But he couldn’t wait any longer. He had pushed this trip to its limits, and he couldn’t waste any more time.
With that, the officer paid and got up to leave. But the sweet voice of an excited child stopped him dead in his tracks.
The Little Boy
“Hello, officer,” the little boy who had his attention during his entire visit said. The officer spun around and saw a set of sad brown eyes looking up at him.
“Hello, son,” Officer Bamble said as he ruffled the little boy’s hair. “How can I be of assistance?” The boy shrugged and pushed into the bench at the table where the officer was sitting.
A Brief Chat
Even though he knew he didn’t have time for this, the officer took a seat opposite the boy, and the two of them started chatting.
There was nothing special about the conversation. It seemed like a little boy with a fascination for the field, and the officer was happy to fill his mind with information. But the boy had an ulterior motive, and the officer would only discover it once it was too late.
When He Left
What the officer didn’t see was that the little boy had placed a note on the table while they were chatting. Officer Bamble was far too busy sharing his stories to pick up on the kid’s hand gestures.
But once the boy left, he saw the envelope lying on the table. What did it contain?
He Almost Missed It
Officer Bamble looked down at the beige envelope with the word “Officer” written across it, and he was stunned.
If checking his table before leaving wasn’t a habit he had built over the years, he never would’ve seen it. But luckily, he did, and now he could find out what it contained. Was he ready for that?
Sitting Down Again
The officer sat back down again so he could read the note. For some odd reason, he felt like the world was about to come crashing down around him.
His palms were sweaty. His heart was beating in his throat, and a bead of sweat had formed on his brow. Why was he feeling like that? Was it his gut trying to give him another warning?
Just One Moment
When his usual waitress saw that the officer was still there, she reminded him that he needed to leave. But the officer was so focused on the note that he barely paid any attention to her.
All he needed was a moment. Just one moment to see what the little boy was trying to tell him. What if the kid was in trouble? He couldn’t just leave without finding out what was going on.
He Couldn’t Believe It
With that, the officer ripped the envelope open and pulled out the handwritten note the boy had left him. At first, it meant nothing to him, but the more he read, the more he began to understand what was actually going on.
The boy wasn’t in any trouble. But his mother was, and he was trying his best to help her.
A Sad Story
The note stated that the boy and his mother would frequent the coffee shop once a month. It was their way of getting closer. But that month, they were facing some difficulties.
His mother had been pulled over by the police a few days prior, and even though she explained that it was an emergency and that her son had been hospitalized, they still fined her.
They Were Gone
They couldn’t afford to pay for the breakfast and the fine, so his mother ended up not eating. But the boy hated seeing her so unhappy, so he put all the money he saved up into the envelope to pay the fine.
That was when the officer remembered who she was. He was the one who fined her. He looked up, hoping to clarify the situation, but the pair had already left.