The shop assistant suddenly grabbed my arm and hissed, “Get out of herenow!”
“I can’t take it anymore! Three years, Margaret, three years I’ve listened to his drunken rants under my window!” Antonia’s voice trembled with fury. “The constable just shrugs. Says theres nothing he can do until that drunkard actually hurts someone!”
“Antonia, youre exaggerating,” Margaret adjusted her glasses, giving her neighbour a sympathetic look. “Nicholas is just a broken man. He hasnt been the same since his wife passed.”
“Broken?” Antonia threw her hands up. “And what are we, then? Perfectly fine? My Emilys in Liverpool struggling with two kids on her own, your blood pressures through the roof, yet we dont drink or scream under windows at three in the morning!”
Sophie, who had been silently listening to the argument, sighed deeply. Every gathering in the little garden of their ageing council block inevitably turned to complaints about Nicholas. Todays tea was no exception.
“Lets talk about something else,” she suggested, pouring the tea. “Its a beautiful daythe first proper warm one this spring.”
“Youre right,” Margaret agreed, accepting her cup gratefully. “Always the voice of reason, Sophie. Hows your boy, Harry? Any news?”
“Same as always,” Sophie smiled. “Called from London yesterday, said theyre finishing some big project. Promises to visit for the bank holiday.”
“Thats good,” Antonia nodded, calming slightly. “You shouldnt be alone so much at your age. Breathing in all that dust at the library…”
“Oh, stop it, Toni,” Sophie waved her off. “Im only sixty-two, its not ancient. Besides, I love the libraryits my life. And as for loneliness…” She gazed into the distance. “Fifteen years since Edward passed. Im used to it.”
The conversation drifted to safer topicsrising prices, ailments, children, and grandchildren. When the teapot was empty, Sophie checked her watch.
“Oh, I should go! Need to pop into ‘The Glow’ before dinner. Heard theyve got decent oats in, still at the old price.”
“Do go,” Margaret urged. “Just dont linger too late. The neighbourhoods not safe after dark. The constable mentioned some gang on the prowl.”
“Dont scare her,” Antonia cut in. “Sophies got senseshe wont go wandering in the dark.”
After saying her goodbyes, Sophie headed home to change. Their estate wasnt the safestan edge-of-town stretch of weathered flats and dimly lit lanesbut in daylight, there was nothing to fear. ‘The Glow’ was only five minutes away.
Switching to more comfortable shoes and grabbing her trolley bag, Sophie stepped outside. The spring sun warmed her face, and the first green shoots peeked through the flowerbeds. “The lilacs will bloom soon,” she thought, remembering how much shed loved their scent as a girl.
‘The Glow’ was one of those old-fashioned corner shops where the assistants knew every customer by name. Sophie stopped by nearly every day after work for bread, milk, or, today, oats.
The bell jingled as she entered. The shop was quietjust an elderly man at the deli counter and a young mother with a child by the sweets.
“Afternoon, Grace,” Sophie greeted the plump, fifty-something shopkeeper. “Heard youve got good oats in? The neighbours said theyre lovely.”
“Afternoon, Sophie,” Grace smiled. “Aye, just restocked. Bottom shelf, third aisle.”
Nodding, Sophie made her way there. Neat bags of oats sat at a fair price. She took two, then browsed for other bits.
As she moved between the aisles, she noticed a shift in the air. Graceusually so chattyhad gone quiet mid-sentence with the elderly man. Her face was tense, eyes darting nervously.
Then the bell chimed again.
Two men walked in. The first, tall and lanky in a cap pulled low, scanned the shop swiftly. The second, shorter with a cold, blank stare, positioned himself by the doorblocking it.
Sophie paid them little mind. Shops had all sorts of customers. She lingered by the tinned goods, debating whether to get pilchards in tomato sauceHarry liked those.
Suddenly, she felt someone close. Turning, she found Grace standing unnear her, face chalk-white.
“Need help finding anything?” Grace asked, too loudly. Then she seized Sophies wrist, leaned in, and whispered, “Run. Now. Through the stockroomout the back. These twothey robbed a shop down the road yesterday. Two women ended up in hospital.”
Sophie froze. “Nonsense,” she thought. “Broad daylight? In our little ‘Glow’?” But the raw terror in Graces eyes convinced her.
“No, thanks, Im fine,” Sophie replied loudly, then added under her breath, “What about you? The others?”
“Ive hit the panic button,” Grace murmured. “But the policell take time. Gothey havent spotted you. The mum and bairn should be safe. Just go!”
With a nudge, Grace steered Sophie toward a door marked ‘Staff Only.’
Heart hammering, Sophie glanced backthe men were distracted by the elderly customerthen slipped through.
The stockroom was cramped, stacked with boxes. She paused, gulping air. “Maybe Grace was mistaken?” But instinct screamed, “Move!”
Picking her way through, she reached a peeling back door. It stuckrusted from disusethen screeched open. Cold air hit her face.
Dumpsters lined the alley. “Now what?” Her mind raced. Home? But what if they saw her? Call the police? Her phone was in her bagstill by the counter.
Then she remembered: the community police post was two streets over. Constable Tom would be there.
Half-running, she reached it just as Constable Toma burly, weary-looking manwas locking up.
“Tom!” she gasped. “At ‘The Glow’a robbery! Grace hit the alarm, but”
His expression hardened. “When?”
“Just now! Grace helped me out the back. Two menone tall in a cap, the other younger, dead-eyed.”
Tom snatched his radio. “Control, Code Three! Armed robbery in progress at ‘The Glow,’ Factory Lane. Immediate response needed!” Then to Sophie: “Stay here. Dont move.”
He jogged off, surprisingly quick for his size.
Alone, Sophie sank onto a bench, legs shaking. Fragments of thought swirled: Grace, the mother and child, the elderly man. That loud pophad it been a gunshot?
Minutes crawled. Sirens wailed. Police cars sped past. She waited, arms wrapped tight around herself.
Finally, Tom returned, grim but calmer.
“Well?” Sophie rushed to him. “Is everyone?”
“Alive,” he nodded. “Got them bothone inside, the other didnt get far.”
“That noise I heard?”
“Gas pistol,” Tom confirmed. “Fired at the ceiling to scare folks. Grace kept her head. You did right coming straight here.”
“Graceshes okay?”
“Shaken, but fine. Giving statements now. Ohyour bag.” He handed over her trolley.
Her purse, keys, phoneall untouched.
“Come inside,” Tom said. “Need your statement. Then Ill walk you home. You could use a cuppalook at you, trembling like a leaf.”
In the post, Sophie recounted everythingthe men, Graces warning, her escape. Talking steadied her, as if reliving it safely dulled the terror.
“Who were they?” she asked afterward. “How did Grace know?”
“From the alert we sent yesterday,” Tom said. “Third shop theyve hit this week. Brazenbroad daylight. Waved a fake gun, took cash, snatched valuables. Last time, a shopkeeper fought backgot a head injury for it.”
“Good Lord,” Sophie whispered. “I thought our town was safe.”
“Times change,” Tom sighed. “But todaythanks to you and Graceits over. Those lads wont see daylight for a while.”
True to his word, Tom walked her home. At her doorstep, Antonia rushed over.
“Sophie! Saw the police at ‘The Glow’! What happened?”
“All sorted, Antonia,” Tom said. “Robbers caught, no one hurt. Sophie heres a herohelped nab them.”
“Hero? Hardly,” Sophie flushed. “Grace saved us all.”
Inside, Sophie brewed strong tea with honey, took a valerian, and finally exhaled. The day felt surreallike itd happened to someone else. A mild-mannered librarian, a widow, a motherthrust into a crime drama!
That evening, Harry called. As usual, he asked after her health, her work, chatted about his projects. She didnt mention the robberyno need to worry him. But when he mentioned the bank holiday, she surprised herself.
“Harry… maybe you could visit? Its been too long. AndI think I need more company. Its just work, home, the shops. Not… healthy.”
“Course Ill come,” he said, puzzled. “Butwhats wrong? You sound different.”
“Just realised something,” she smiled, gazing at the twilight streets. “Lifes unpredictable, love. You never know whats round the corner. One day youre buying oats, the nextwell, anything can happen.”
Next morning, Sophie returned to ‘The Glow.’ Business as usual, except for a new security guard by the till.
Grace spotted her, rushed out, and hugged her tight.
“Thank you! If not for you”
“Me? You saved us,” Sophie said, blinking back tears.
“Ah, nonsense,” Grace waved it off. “Just did what anyone would. Your oats still need paying for. Want ’em?”
“I do,” Sophie smiled. “And something for tea. Harrys visiting for the holiday.”
Life settled back into rhythmbut something had shifted. Maybe it was the quiet confidence Sophie now carried. Or the understanding that even the most ordinary day could twist into chaos.
Or simply knowing how precious each quiet moment wasbefore a whisper like, “Get out of herenow!” changes everything.
