Mystery in Maryland

Tuesday night Sunshine asked me to go on a walk with her to the liquor store. (We live within walking distance of a grocery store, three gas stations, pet store, tanning, nails, dollar store, liquor store and so much more.) We meandered down the road, talking idly of our days when we saw the blue and white sign of Goodwill.

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES HERE!

We looked at each other, smiled, and went in. After poring over the slim offerings we wandered down to the furniture. And there, we saw our destiny.

Two lime green, velvet armchairs.

S: "Seventies sex chairs."
T: "We have to have those. Damn, there's no price tag!"

We walk to the cashier, realizing the store is closing in two minutes.

T: "Hi, there are two green chairs down there that we want, but there are no prices on them. Do you make the prices?"

Goodwill: "No, the Assistant Manager does that. Hold on, let me get her."

Sunshine and I walk back downstairs and plop down in the chairs. When the Assistant Manager comes in I smile broadly at her.

"Are they free??"

"No," she says, smiling at us, a puzzled look on her face.

"Ok, I'll give you both of 'em for $25."

Sunshine whips a twenty out of her pocket.

"But this is all I have. We were just walking to the liquor store for wine!"

"It's not as bad as it sounds," I say.

The AM looks at us, our eyes pleading with her.

"Fine come up front. Let's haul these outside."

SCORE!! In the end, we got both chairs in mint condition for $19.08.

As we re-arranged the living room, we realized that Houdini (being gone for the evening) had no idea what we had done. A devilish gleam came into Sunshine's eyes.

"Let's act like we have no idea where these came from."

And so it began. The next day Sushine and Houdini arrived home at the same time. As she opened the door, Sunshine gasped.

"What are THOSE??"

"Oh my god, where did those come from?" asked Houdini.

They kept that up for about an hour, as I drove home from work. And then this:

Text message conversation with Houdini:

H:"Nice job Ms. Home Decorator"

T:"What are you talking about?"

H:"Nothin'. Nevermind...."

T: "Ok, I'm confused. I'll be home in 15."

I pulled up to our house and Sunshine swings the front door open.

Grinning she says, "Did you do this?"

"What are you talking about?" I say, setting my stuff down and putting on my best surprised face.

"Where did these come from? Houdini, did you buy these chairs?"

At this point she looks truly shocked and a little concerned.

"You guys didn't buy these?"

"No, we didn't. You didn't buy them?"

"No..."

"Huh, weird..."

Eventually we tell her it was us.

She seems relieved and then says, "Well I'm glad it was you guys. I was beginning to think the maintenance people came in and gave us those chairs."