Just Another Dumb Criminal is this week’s Mystery Question. I really can’t believe some of these stories, but then I discover they really are true…
But first the photo and verse. I love the clouds in these and wonder what some of you will see in them. I see an ant and a bowtie…maybe a crab…The verse is one I quote to myself quite often, especially when I’m staring at a blank page. God has given me this gift to write stories, but sometimes it’s like pulling dandelions up by the roots. That’s when I turn to Him. In fact, I’ve probably prayed more since I’ve become a writer than ever before.:-)
Oh, and I forgot to address the name of the tree in the June 13 post–you can see it here. It is a Catalpa Tree, pronounced Katabie Tree in the South. Sometimes it’s called a cigar tree because of the long pods that people sometimes smoke. It attracts Catalpa worms which are sometimes called catfish candy because they make great bait for catfish.
And now for this week’s Mystery Question–More Unbelievable Crimes. As usual, three of these crimes really happened, and I made one up. Can you guess which one?
- It is not clever to borrow the teller’s car, which she carefully described to police. This resulted in the most quickly-solved bank robbery in the history of the town where it happened.
- The man wore a blue baseball cap with the word ‘police’ on it; a fluorescent yellow jacket, with ‘police’ on it, and he had blue flashing lights in his car. He pulled a car over and flashed his credentials. The driver quickly arrested him for impersonating a police officer. Turns out the driver was an off-duty detective, and he recognized the fake credentials.
- There was the case of the hopeful criminal who, when the teller told him she had no money, fainted. He was still unconscious when the police arrived.
- A robber gave a teller a note saying, “I have a gun. Give me all your twenties in this envelope.” The teller said, “All I’ve got is two twenties.” The robber took them and left.
And the answer is…#2. It’s hard to believe the others are true!
Now for this week’s Mystery Question–Just Another Dumb Criminal. As usual, three of these crimes really happened, and I made one up. Can you guess which one?
- Police spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them, shouting out to give himself up.
- Brunswick, Georgia, detectives picked up a man who fit the thief’s description and drove him back to the scene. He was told to exit the car and face the victim for an I.D. The suspect dutifully eyed the victim, and blurted, “Yeah, that’s the woman I robbed.”
- A man walked into a Kwik Shop and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small so he tied up the store clerk. Then he worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him.
- Police pulled a speeding car over and the driver managed to talk the officer out of the ticket until he said, “That’s terrific, the last guy only gave me a warning, too.”
Okay Super Sleuths, which one did I make up? Leave your answers in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
Just Another Dumb Criminal is this week's Mystery Question. As usual, three are true and one is made up. Can you guess which one? Leave your answers in the comments, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library! Share on X
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Comments 62
#4 LOVE this verse. I too use it, asking for guidance. I see the ant but not the bowtie.
Author
It’s a great verse to ask for guidance, DJ! We’ll see if it’s #4 next week.
That’s interesting about the Catalpa tree. I love learning things like that, & Ps. 56 has some of my fav. verses. It delights me that three of these whacky situations are true. I’m guessing you made up #4 this time, but who knows . . .
Author
I’m glad I introduced you to the Catalpa tree, Delores! We’ll see next week if it’s #4.
I see schools of fish in the see when I look at the clouds.
Oh, a Catalpa! I should have known. My cousin lives in a neighborhood full of them, and she even lives on “Catalpa Street.”
I pick number 3. I figure someone who wants a quick bundle of money (a robber), wouldn’t have the patience to work for it behind the counter.
Author
Of course we butchered the name here in Mississippi (and Tennessee) by calling it a Katobie tree, Vera. lol We had one and every late spring and early summer fishermen would stop by and ask if they could harvest the worms. Then they usually brought us a mess of fish back by. 😉
Thank you for teaching me about the Catalpa tree. I learn so much here.
Your photo reminds me that our lives may have trouble, but the verse tells us how to handle it when it comes. The warning of bad weather in the sky in your photo is fitting. I have a niece, whom I’m close to, moving to Tucson soon. With all the wonder and beauty of the desert, I’ve warned her that the summer can bring violent thunder storms, and shared a few photos and videos to demonstrate. But, she knows that God is in control and can turn to Him to calm her heart when those storms come to our lives.
Maybe these criminals watch too much reality TV. They seem to be out of touch with real life. I think you made up #1. What gunman is going to calmly walk over to the police line, and encourage “himself” to give it up? And, how did he get out of the house? Didn’t the police have it surrounded? Hmm.
Author
So glad you find my posts entertaining AND enlightening, Tim! I read about your thunderstorms, too, and I had an aunt and uncle who lived in Phoenix…yeah, I agree that criminals seem to be out of touch with real life.We’ll see if it’s #1 next week…
Tim, sometimes a criminal has more smarts than the cops. Maybe that was the case here. I remember years ago in my hometown, the police chief was in pursuit of a suspected felon. He had one of his deputies with him and told him to shoot out the rear tire on the fleeing car. The deputy leaned out the window and shot out the front tire of the chief’s car. He was not very bright and even a worse shot.
Author
Oh, Edward! What a good laugh before I head off to bed.
As soon as I opened the blog, my first reaction to the photo was, “oh my goodness” I know I’m going to have fun! Then you asked us what we saw! 🙂 My eyes were already roving. I saw a snail, crab, large hand, caterpillar, tabby cat’s face, black cat’s face, cross, a Maestro, and a cloud like Marilyn Monroe. Seriously, check out the upper right corner. It looks like a puffy blonde head with sunglasses dark lipstick, and a fluffy feathered stole. Oh the joys of being ADHD.
I absolutely loved #1. That was a real moment for me. I was right there cheering with him. I think you picked #4, though, but I sure want it to be #1 lol (These were quite fun.)
I have to admit, Barbara, my cloud imagination needs a lot of work. Maybe I need to stand back farther from my screen. However, when I read your findings, I start looking again. Thanks, for finding what I have so much trouble seeing! And, it is so true that once you find an image in the clouds, you can’t unsee it.
Got a good chuckle out of your post, Tim. It’s so true you can’t
I see them. Did you find Marilyn? Look at the right middle and that mass of dark clouds. Then look above to the sunglasses, or maybe Pat’s ant. The. Look above that to the puffy blonde hair. Ta da! Marilyn!
Author
Absolutely, Tim!
Author
I thought you would enjoy the photo, Barbara! And so agree with the joys of being ADHD! lol We’ll see if it’s #4 next week…and I like #1, too.lol
Pat, did you see Marilyn? Sunglasses, dark lipstick, high blonde hair and the left arm stretched out, along with the feathered stole. Like Tim says, once you see something, that’s what you see. LOL
I’ll guess #2 this time. You sure do manage to find all the crazies!
Author
Paula, it’s amazing how many crazies there are out there. lol We’ll see next week if it’s #2.
Perhaps middle right, instead of upper right for Marilyn.
While I did spot Pat’s ant (somehow that just sounds funny), I cannot pick out Marilyn. The ant looks like one that one of my cats (Mosey, the bug hunter) found some time ago. I don’t see many bugs in the house, but if one is to be found, Mosey will be quick to point it out.
Author
🙂
#1 is just too funny LOLOL
Author
I think it’s funny, too, Natalya! We’ll see next week.
guessing #3
Author
We’ll see, MS Barb!
I think I see an alligator head and maybe a seahorse. I am guessing #4 this week.
Author
I saw the alligator head…will have to go back and look for the seahorse, Gloria!
I’m going with #4.
Author
Hi, Diana! We’ll see next week if it’s #4.
Isn’t it awesome that we can ALWAYS trust our Savior!
I’m afraid I’m right there with Tim – I rarely see things in the clouds.
I’ll guess #2 since it made me laugh out loud!
Thanks Pat for explaining the Caltapa tree. Although I live in East Tennessee I don’t recall this name. I am, however, familiar with a “cigar” tree as we had one in our yard as a child. I can remember my siblings and I “smoking” the cigars. Lol
Mary, which city in East TN? I’m in E.TN also
Author
Hi Miss Mary! Yes, it’s sometimes called a cigar tree. 🙂 I’ve always seen things in the clouds…maybe that’s why I like to take pictures of them. 😉 We’ll see next week if it’s #2.
I’m torn between #1 and #3 this week. I guess I’ll go with #3.
Author
Hi Megan. Glad it was hard for you. 😉 We’ll see next week…
I’m going with #3 this time Patricia. The robber would putting pretty dumb acting like they knew the store and cash register, but that’s what makes dumb criminals! I saw a big face of a black dog in the cloud photo, also the face of a black kitten, a large hand of a possible elderly person, and the face of an older bearded man that sorta reminded me of Kenny Rogers.
I love the verse! I trust in Jesus in everything I do!
I remember my Dad using many of those worms for his catfishing when I was growing up in Arkansas, but I also live in East TN now and haven’t seen any of those trees. That brought back some memories!
Author
Ms. Dottie, that was the first Katobie tree I’d seen in years.
I am going with #1. I need this verse often.
Author
Me, too, Judy! We’ll see next week if it’s the funny #1.
#3. The photo is beautiful and the verse is Beautiful also., thank you for sharing it.
Author
Thank you, Alicia! We’ll see next week if it’s #3.
I’ll go with #1
Author
We’ll see, Shelia. That’s a popular answer. 🙂
I’ve been to Brunswick GA a couple of times and it’s a very beautiful place. I want to go back again soon. And I love Brunswick stew!
I’m guessing #4
Author
I’ve never been to Brunswick, GA, Gail, at least I don’t think I have…we’ll see next week if it’s #4.
#3
Author
We’ll see next week, Patrica!
#2
Author
We’ll see, Mary!
That’s a great Bible verse. The picture draws me in. I love going out and seeing the clouds.
I think the first two incidents are hilarious. I like Tim’s logic, but as I told him, the police are not always as smart as they think. Tim has probably chosen the correct answer, but I’m going with #4. How many times have we read books when the hero or heroine, who is fighting the urge to fall for the other, suddenly makes a leading comment to the other and then thinks “where did that come from?” In 4, the speeder’s comment sounds like that kind of situation. It reminds us that we should think twice (or more) before speaking once.
Author
It seems yours and Tim’s logic are at odds this week, Edward…we’ll see who, if either of you are correct next Tuesday. 😉
Hi Barbara – I live in Knoxville. Where do you live?
Hi Mary, I live in Morristown!
Numero uno
Author
We’ll see, Joy!
Beautiful photo for the scripture!
#3
Author
Thanks, Caryl. We’ll see next week if it’s #3.
4
Author
We’ll see, BN!
I think it is # 1. But I can can see it really happening just as much as the other possibilities.
Author
Hi Barbara! Number 1 is very popular. We’ll see next Tuesday!
I’m going with #2. I also LOVE to photograph clouds. I have so many pictures of them … sunrise, sunset, and all-throughout-the-day clouds. They fascinate me! I don’t see any pictures in your photo, but I imagine oil painting this scene. It’s stunning. 🙂
Author
Lora, it’s good to meet another photographer of clouds and sunrises and sunsets! Happy Fourth!