Golden Box Book Publishing January Online Magazine | Page 6

The Hooded Bandit
A short story by Erika M Szabo
When I was working for a Visiting Nurse Company, I
visited 7-8 home-bound patients a day.
One rainy day getting out of my car I put my black coat's
hoodie on and walked up to the apartment building. A few
seconds after I got out of the elevator on the third floor, the
lights went out.
The hallway turned pitch dark, and I couldn't see
anything. Great! They forgot to change the battery in the
emergency lights. I fumed. But at least, I didn't get stuck in
the elevator.
I took my small penlight out of my uniform pocket and
made my way to apartment 3 C to visit Mrs. Jones who was
recuperating after her knee replacement. A few seconds after
I knocked on the door, I heard the shuffle of her walker and
then the click of the peephole cover followed by a loud
scream.
"Get the gun, Joe!" she yelled and screamed again. "There
is a hooded bandit at the door!"