We have 1000 square feet of space in our bakery. That's everything. Bathroom, kitchen (which is open), dry storage area, office and retail area. We mopped the floor last night. Tonight closing time rolled around with a new jingle "anybody seen the mop bucket?"
So everyone stops what they are doing (that is three of us) and looks. Bright yellow. Pretty hard to miss. I know this is a stock photo, but it makes the point. It looks just like that. Only dirty, "used". You can buy a new one at Sam's Club for $39.
No mop bucket. No mop either, for that matter. OK, think. Who put the mop bucket up last night? (In the south, you do not put something "away," you put it "up.")
Emily mopped. Kristi emptied the bucket and put it up. Emily is still here. Kristi is off. We call her. Voice mail. Someone suggests that maybe a former employee broke in and took it. I know that sounds far fetched, but he apparently has bragged that he broke in at night and stole cookies. (I DID fire him, long before that.)
OK... well... maybe... At this point I go outside and look around and under the building. Maybe it was a prank. Why would anyone take an old mop bucket? Hide it, just to annoy us? Nothing bright yellow visible under the building. Still incredulous, I am now resigned to buying a new one. It is not going to break the bank, but it is just plain irritating. I find it hard to believe this is a premeditated crime. Only if Kristi put the bucket back where it belongs, then you would have to break into the bakery to steal it. If she left it out on the porch, it could be a drive-by crime of opportunity. I was still shaking my head about this when the clerk at Sam's asked "How are you doing tonight?" Do I tell her? She really doesn't care. But it might make me feel better... "Just fine." (Big smile).
I know this is starting to sound like Jack Webb and Johnny Carson's Copper Clapper Caper (except this one is true).
So if you see our mop bucket, let us know.
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