The Day Dutch Disappeared: A Young Adult’s Insight

Ralph “Dutch”

Ralph we knew briefly, for about six months.  It was the way he left our life I remember the most. Ralph, who we all knew as “Dutch” was a baker at my high school job.  Him and his wife worked there. They were middle-aged, from Kentucky.  Very southern, very backwoods.  Dutch smoked a lot but he was a small fit man with greased back black hair. His wife was short and round with dark hair and a real southern drawl.

One day when we arrived at work there were about four police cars in the parking lot. Well for a donut shop that was not rare. We often had state troopers, sheriffs and local police there all at one time. It is true, cops do like donuts or at least the coffee they get at donut shops.  But on this day at least one of those police cars were there to deal with a burglary.  You see Dutch and his wife took off with all the deposits for the week that were in the safe.  Dutch had found the combination and helped himself.

A few of us were asked some questions, did they say anything, did they act suspicious.  They worked the midnight shift. We, as high school students, usually worked early mornings on the weekends or afternoons during the week. 

They were picked up quickly. The couple was on their way back to Kentucky. They had about $5,000 in their possession. I guess I lost some innocence back then. I thought I met the cutest couple from the south. They loved each other so much that they worked together and lived together. But what I really met were people with a prior criminal record.

I am sure at the time the whole experience was stressful. I was very young.  That is probably why I still remember it till this day.  I guess I would advise parents out there to help your children through their experiences in life. Ask them about their day, if anything traumatic happened, let them talk about it until they process their feelings. I came from such a big family. So much was always going on. I am not sure I ever even told my parents or siblings.  Sure I had co-workers and friends and we were in it together. But I don’t think that was enough to let go of the experience. 

I guess you could say I lost some idealism that day. Reality sucks sometimes. It is unfortunate we are often unwilling players in others lives even when we did not ask for the part.