# A curious parcel arrived last night **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 19, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309 "2007-10-19T16:42:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/21 "2007-10-19T19:41:39Z")
Upon peeking into the thread, I see I’m not the only one more than a little creeped out by this. I wouldn’t do anything until I got a hold of a) the agency, or b) possibly the police. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/22 "2007-10-19T19:48:28Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] A courier delivering at _midnight_? That’s a little… suspicious, isn’t it? Is the sender real? [/QUOTE] If someone showed up at midnight in a UPS uniform, I’d be concerned, but our tenant works for a courier service that specializes in panicked-rush delivery of medical supplies at all hours of the day. Whatever’s needed to keep home dialysis equipment running is one of their more popular things, and it’s in plain brown boxes. Of course, those people are anxiously waiting for the package. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/23 "2007-10-19T19:49:14Z")
It is moments like this that I regret having no internet connection at home. I thought this was going to be a neat puzzle story, but it now appears to be a real neat puzzle story. I hope no one gets unbalanced. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/24 "2007-10-19T19:59:31Z")
The suspense is killing me! AAgggghh! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/25 "2007-10-19T20:08:59Z")
A strongbox, as in a safe? Is it the kind of thing you’d keep the cash from a bake sale in, or the kind of thing you’d keep your grandmother’s diamond jewelry in? Is the box itself something that people would pay good money for? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/26 "2007-10-19T20:09:47Z")
two things occur to me: option 1) yes, there are lunatics out there ( gee–can you tell I live in Middle East? 🙂 ) But I wouldnt worry too much about that in Dallas option 2) more likely–it’s a practical joke from a friend. And it would probably be a very,very good friend.(Otherwise it’s not a joke, it’s just weird.) So-- you ought to be able to guess which friend, and what the joke might be about, even if you can’t guess the contents of the box. Result: option 3- if you can’t answer question number 2, re-read comment number 1 above. Call the courrier company again and demand to know the sender’s name. But most important: Option 4: don’t keep us Dopers in the dark! This sounds like fun 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/27 "2007-10-19T20:28:39Z")
**chappacula** , I can’t believe you would tell someone not to worry about lunatics in Dallas. You do know that Dallas is in Texas, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Wing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/51bf81/32.png) [@Little\_Wing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Wing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/28 "2007-10-19T20:31:43Z")
As a former Dallasite (30+ years there), I can say with assurance that you DO need to worry about lunatics in Dallas. Of course, there’s one less since I left. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/29 "2007-10-19T20:35:02Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Fight] It contains a million dollars. Unfortunately, someone you’ve never met will have to die. [/QUOTE] “Ok, I’ll take the money. Now what do you do with the box?” “We put a million dollars in it and send it to **someone you’ve never met**.” (Cue evil music.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/30 "2007-10-19T20:41:07Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] A strongbox, as in a safe? [/QUOTE] Nevermind, I didn’t read the OP carefully enough. But I’m wondering if the package is the box itself, not the contents inside. Maybe it came from a safe company. It’s possible that the key will come in a separate delivery. If the contents are the point, it would be foolish to ship them together. **Balance** , did a rich relative recently die? Could it be a family heirloom? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/31 "2007-10-19T21:59:12Z")
Thread subscribed ---
**Author:** ![2nd\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f475e1/32.png) [@2nd\_Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_Law)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/32 "2007-10-19T22:03:58Z")
[QUOTE=Balance] The return address specified an agency of some sort in Chicago… [/QUOTE] Did you finally order a Straight Dope coffee mug? ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/33 "2007-10-19T22:07:54Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] Thread subscribed [/QUOTE] Ohhh good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/34 "2007-10-19T22:15:06Z")
[QUOTE=Balance] Quick responses before I run off to a meeting… [/QUOTE] No No No! You do not want to leave that thing unattended! Don’t you know that as soon as you leave the room the door will slowly open and something **Evil[sup]TM[/sup]** will slither out? Better not turn your back on it either! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/35 "2007-10-19T22:28:25Z")
Ummm…maybe it’s the [del]bitter bastard[/del] cynic in me, but I have a nasty feeling you’re going to get a black-boarded letter from a lawyer, with the key in it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/36 "2007-10-19T22:29:40Z")
Bomb was the first thing to cross my mind. This is eerie. I don’t like it…I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/37 "2007-10-19T22:40:46Z")
Dear Mr. Balance, My name is Gnagetr Octopus from Nigeria. I represent a wealthy family who’s wealth had been kept in an safe deposit box in your city. A compatriot of mine has retrieved the box and upon advice from another colleague I am entrusting it to you at this time. You were recommended as being extremely trustworthy and reliable, which is important because I am asking that you please deliver the box tro me personally in Lagos, I have the key in my posession. The box contains $15 million in jewels and american currency, of which I will give you $6 million for your help. In order to facilitate this transaction I request you send me your banking information so that I may deposit the cash into your account. as well as give you cash at this time for a plane ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/38 "2007-10-19T23:07:38Z")
In case I wasn’t clear, I think it is a legacy, from a dead friend or relative. Not that I wish _ill_, but it seems the most likely explanation. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/39 "2007-10-19T23:16:32Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] In case I wasn’t clear, I think it is a legacy, from a dead friend or relative. [/QUOTE] That’s my guess as well. A letter and key from a lawyer or family member was meant to show up first, but just hasn’t arrived yet. That doesn’t explain the odd timing of the delivery, though. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309/40 "2007-10-19T23:18:30Z")
Does it rattle? Whatever it is, I want some. Nobody ever sends me anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-curious-parcel-arrived-last-night/423309.md?page=3)