The Rainy-Day Umbrella Mix-Up

This afternoon began with a very simple job.

Three visitors had left their bags with us while they went out.

Later, they came back to collect them.

Easy.

At least, that was what everyone thought.

Waiting by the counter were three blue canvas bags.

Same colour.

Same shape.

Same handles.

I looked at the bags.

The bags looked back at me.

This was now an investigation.

Luckily, each bag had a few things peeking out from the top.

Not enough to make things easy.

Just enough to make things interesting.

From the first bag, I could see the edge of a blue umbrella and the familiar shape of a Panda Croissant Plush Earphone Case.

One of the visitors immediately checked their pocket.

No earphones.

Then they remembered.

“My earphones are in the croissant!”

Case solved.

One bag down.

Two to go.

Unfortunately, the remaining two bags were even more suspicious.

Both contained the same pink panda umbrella.

Same bag.

Same umbrella.

Same very confident panda face.

The two visitors looked at the bags.

I looked at the visitors.

Nobody moved.

I took out my notebook.

There is always a clue.

Sometimes it is just very small.

I checked the handles.

Nothing.

I checked the sides of the bags.

Nothing.

Then I carefully looked at the two pink umbrellas.

And there it was.

Caught inside one of the umbrella folds were two tiny biscuit crumbs.

Very small.

Very crumbly.

Very useful.

I looked at the first visitor.

Nothing.

Then I looked at the second.

They looked at the crumbs.

Then at me.

Then at the half-finished packet of biscuits in their hand.

Ah.

The investigation had become considerably easier.

Their umbrella must have picked up the crumbs when it was folded and placed back inside the bag.

Which meant that bag belonged to them.

And the final blue canvas bag belonged to the remaining visitor.

Three identical bags.

Two identical pink umbrellas.

One blue umbrella.

One croissant earphone case.

And two extremely helpful biscuit crumbs.

All three bags were finally back with the right people.

I closed my notebook.

Another case solved.

Although I have decided that next time three identical bags are left by the counter, I may label them.

Possibly.

But then again, where would be the fun in that?