A Race Number in the Wrong Envelope

Mina collected her number for a small running event on Friday afternoon. At home, she opened the envelope and found the number eighty with someone else's name underneath. Her own name was listed beside eighteen in the confirmation email. The office had already closed for the day.

She wrote to the organiser and arrived early the next morning. Another runner was waiting at the desk, holding eighteen and looking equally confused. They had similar surnames, so their envelopes had been exchanged. A volunteer apologised and checked both records before handing over the correct numbers.

While they waited, Mina learned that the other runner, Marta, belonged to a club near her workplace. Mina had wanted company for evening runs but had never contacted them. I should ask now, she thought. It would be silly to remain quiet just because a mistake brought us together.

They ran at different speeds and did not see each other during the event. Afterwards, Marta gave Mina the details of the club's open evening. Mina wrote them on the back of her number before she forgot. She did not keep the envelope, but she kept number eighteen on her kitchen shelf until Thursday, when she finally visited the club.