Rebecca

Ben: “What is that?”#
Al: “Don’t know.”#
Ben: “Well, what are you going to do with it?”#
Al: “Haven’t decided. There was a penny with it”#
Ben: “What?”#
Al: “A penny, there was a penny with it.”#
Ben: “So?”#
Al: “So, I wonder what it means.”#
Ben: “It means someone dropped a penny and then someone threw that, whatever it is, in on top of it.”#
Al: “I don’t think so; I think they go together.”#
Ben: “Whatever.”#
Al: “See this part moves; opens up wide enough for the penny to slide through.”#
Ben: “Great.”#
Al: “I think it fit inside something. Yeah, that’s it. It fit into a box probably. A wooden box with a slot cut in the top for this to fit in.”#
Ben: “OK, so?”#
Al: “This piece would fit in the hole and when the movable part was closed down it would look like the box’s handle.”
Ben: “Big deal.”#
Al: “But when the movable piece was pulled up you could drop money through it. It was a secret bank.”#
Ben: “A secret bank? Why would anyone need a secret bank?”#
Al: “Someone in trouble or someone who was in a bad situation. Being abused, yeah, that’s probably it; abused.”#
Ben: “Abused?”#
Al: “And they can’t let the abuser know they’re saving money in hopes of getting out of the situation.”#
Ben: “Oh, please…”#
Al: “No, really, f they saved up enough money they could leave at night or if they’re ever left alone. Get a taxi and get away. Maybe go catch a bus or hide out until they have enough money to leave permanently.”#
Ben: “You’re crazy. What are you doing?”#
Al: “I’m going to buy this thing.”#
Ben: “What on earth for?”#
Al: “I’ve been thinking. You never know, you know? I just might be leaving soon.”#