I was going to the drug store to pick up some essentials the other day, in my scheduled way as I just run out of things from using them, regularly.  The automatic door opened, first, the first door, the, secondly, the second door.  As soon as I was inside, I was greeted by Muzak playing on the overhead P.A.  It is always cheery and cheerful, and I started to feel like looking at the shelves to see what I could need.

I had a prescription for an infection in my ear, and I needed to fill it to take care of the infection and to keep it from spreading from my ear, to my throat, and ultimately to my lungs.  So, glancing at some shelves in a cursory manner, I walked quite directly to the Drug Counter.  As I approached,  no one was by the counter, so I went up to the Drop-Off Aisle.  When I got there I noticed something odd about the situation.  Just behind a wall of shelves I could see the head of the Pharmacist and the head of a man conversing with her.  The odd thing was the loud, rough way he was speaking.  When I looked more closely, he was waving a knife, and demanding the Pharmacist be quicker about handing him the drugs.  I gathered he had demanded some narcotics.  I hesitated to bring attention to myself, and even though he was only waving a knife, coming close to someone wielding a knife could mean a life-threatening wound.  So far, the Pharmacist was managing. She was quite quickly handing over the drugs, and it seemed, in the large quantities that happen to be on the shelves of every pharmacy.  The robber, it seemed, also knew what narcotics were.  He kept listing the ones he wanted.

I was frightened, and I was sure the Pharmacist was frightened too.  There was no one else behind the counter, like usually there were always at least two assistants.  I got caught in a debate with myself, whether to stay, and alert the robber that there was someone else here, or, to quickly run to the front, the back, or somewhere in the store to get help.

As the robber became more desperate with the passing time, I made a very quick decision to run to the cosmetics section, as there was no guarantee there would be someone at the cash at the front.  As my guess was right, I tried to tell her there was a robber.  I literally did not know what would be done next.

The lady, looked astonished and double asked me again, what the matter was.  I explained that there was a robbery happening at the Pharmacy counter, and suggested, I think, quite desperately, that she call the police.

She picked up the phone and dialed 911.  I heard her explain, when the call was answered within seconds, the difficulty, and I heard her give the address of the store.  I stood there dazed, watching her, listening to her, feeling a little bit frightened, but very willing to stay with the women I knew were in the store, just in case (in my very simple mind), that there was no one else, or even, no men working in stock or behind the Pharmacy counter.

At this time, I heard the rough voice, and the pounding of feet on the floor.  I turned my head, and sure, enough, I saw, a quick glimpse of the robber, running out with a knife and a bag, which I knew, was full of narcotics.

The Beauty Counter lady gave a surprised, “Oh!” and she turned to me quickly, as the robber disappeared through the Exit door, and said, “Is that the guy?”  I nodded, unable to find my voice.  Then I answered to confirm the sighting.

At this time, the Pharmacist also came running to the Beauty counter.  There was a lot of quick, loud, shouting, and a voice that sounded relieved. She was able to clam down a little more when we confirmed that the police had been called.

Unlike myself, as I will often leave or take myself out of the situation that involves limelight and danger, I stayed and talked to the two women and, the now gathering of, other employees as the Beautician announced over the P.A. that a robbery had just occurred.  Within a couple of minutes, a police cruiser with lights and siren came up.

The police, unlike what happens in a movie, literally, walked into the store via the entrance door and walked around the store, casually until they saw the pharmacy and approached.  One of them, the bigger one, asked, “Is there a problem here?”  And very quickly after this, it became a forensic science as the police tried to put together the crime scene…  I know, because they asked me what I saw, what I did, and my name and address.

They did not keep me long…  And the store was closed anyway, and I felt exhilarated by all the excitement.  I had to go to the mall, instead, to get my things and my prescription.

One of the surprising things about the situation was that we were not in a dangerous neighborhood.  We really had not need to take precautions, and, neither do the stores or the banks have to install special alarms.  I began to wonder whether a different group of people were moving into the neighborhood.  The type who do desperate things because they are always involved in crime and violence.

For a week now, things have been quiet and there is normalcy.  I have not seen any unusual people or, any suspicious behavior, or, even heard secondhand of strange things.  I am going about my business in the way I always do.  The excitement is over, and I am now lulled back into my sense of safety and the continuation of life.