I was recently asked to read with other authors at the Jamaica Public Library. I read from “I REMEMBER RIPPEY”, the book of stories that were collected during the town’s Sesquicentennial in 2020 and published by Raspberry Ridge of Jefferson.
Since it was close to Halloween, I read the article submitted by Steve Nail, about his Frankenstein mask and entering the Rippey First National Bank.
I am re sharing as it is so enjoyable.
As I recall, it was a Saturday morning, just prior to Halloween; the year was 1969. I had
just purchased a Frankenstein mask preparing for that event and wanted to show this
very realistic looking find to my friends at the First National Bank in Rippey.
I had known Clark, Myron, and Maybelle for years and had stopped just to say hello with
or without a deposit or in need of a loan. That trio was just a fun group to be around. So,
with that has a relationship backdrop, the thought of placing that full head cover mask
over my head and walking into that bank and expecting anything but a compliment on
how realistic it looked didn’t really cross my mind. WRONG!
As I climbed the bank stairs, threw upon the door and entered the lobby four feet from
the counter, I quickly realized that my idea was not impressing anyone and could have
correctly identified as a felony in a court of law. Luckily, there were no customers in the
bank at the time to witness this very awkward situation.
Clark was in his office, Myron and Maybelle were behind the counter and I quickly
realized that none of them knew it was me underneath the mask and what was to
happen next. At this point, neither did I. After what seemed like minutes had passed
without conversation, I finally began to figure out the reality of the situation. The look on
the faces of Myron and Maybelle will remain with me forever. I decided to identify
myself, pulled off the mask and witness the the sigh of relief combining with the
elevating notice of anger at the same time. As we finally started to engage in limited
conversation and the color began to return to the faces of those three bank employees,
the atmosphere began to lighten the belief that my original intention of making their day
a with a little humor was gradually being accepted.
Luckily at that point there were still no additional patrons who had entered the bank.
After apologizing and promising that I would never, ever, ever pull that one again, I left
the bank. This crazy event was asked about for days, weeks and months, and I still get
asked about it to this day. I doubt I made their day, but I do know that I created a
memory. Only in a small town in Iowa could someone pull this off and still be friends with
those you placed at risk of cardiac arrest and then turn around the next day and be
approved for a loan at a fair and unbiased rate!
Thanks to Rippey, the First National Bank, especially Myron Rinker, and the late Clark
Bardole and Maybelle Wisecup. What an understanding group who witnessed and
recovered that day, or maybe the day after, from this once in a 150-year event