MFM Minisode 457

Summary

My Favorite Murder Minisode 457 – Episode Summary

Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Episode: Minisode 457
Date: October 13, 2025
Duration (main content): ~00:02:00 – 00:30:12
Theme: Listener hometown stories featuring near-kidnappings, sibling chaos, workplace mishaps, small-town serendipity, and reminders of human kindness

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Episode Overview

In Minisode 457, Karen and Georgia welcome a new batch of listener-submitted "hometown" stories, celebrating the hilarious, chaotic, and often heartwarming tales from fans. This minisode continues the long-loved tradition of sharing the wild and memorable incidents that have shaped their audience's lives, with particular attention to stories of sibling rivalry, mistaken identities, embarrassing work moments, small-town quirks, and gentle reminders that the world still has plenty of good people.

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Key Discussion Points & Listener Stories

1. The Accidental Kidnapper

[02:21] – [07:06]

• Summary: Listener Cassie shares a story from the "banging on pots and pans" stage of COVID. After taking her dog for a walk to avoid the plumber, Cassie returns home to find a little blonde girl playing with the dog. Mistakenly thinking she belongs to either the plumber or her own family, Cassie looks after the child for hours before discovering, to her horror, that the plumber has no idea who the girl is. A frantic 911 call follows, along with a dramatic police response, before young Jane is reunited with her family.
• Notable Moments:
  • The chaos and anxiety of realizing the kid is a complete stranger.
  • Memorable quote (Cassie via Georgia):
    "So who is she?"
    "I don't know. I assumed she was your niece."
    – [04:13-04:29]
  • Cassie’s remorse melts into relief as Jane simply wants to go back and play with the dog at the end.
• Host Thoughts:
  "You are truly just the consummate host for people old and young. ... You kind of gave her a nice little day and got her delivered back."
  – Karen, [06:40]

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2. Small Town Mayor and the BB in the Tongue

[07:39] – [11:10]

• Summary:
  Rebecca, the mayor of a small Idaho town, shares a classic wild-west sibling story: her dad stuck his tongue out at his brother, who promptly shot him in the tongue with a BB gun. The BB was never removed and remains lodged in his tongue to this day.
• Notable Moments:
  • A female mayor writing in gets excited responses from Karen and Georgia.
  • The secrecy around the BB incident is both horrifying and hilarious.
  • Quote (Rebecca):
    “It’s still in his tongue to this day. … He has no problem getting through airport security, but it does really hurt when he accidentally bites down on it.”
    – [09:38, 09:48]
• Host Observations:
  "That was great. ... We just got an email from the mayor of a small town in Idaho, a woman. ... That’s the way to affect change. So thank you, Rebecca, because you’re doing it."
  – Karen, [11:10-11:31]

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3. Sibling Ferret Trap

[14:07] – [16:13]

• Summary:
  Youngest sister Kira recounts the time her older sisters set a trap using a hidden floor vent covered with clothes, into which she falls when sneaking in to see a forbidden ferret. Thankfully, she lands unharmed, but her pride is bruised, and her sisters are gleeful over their successful prank.
• Notable Moments:
  • The ingenuity and danger of using a floor vent as a sibling trap.
  • Quote (Kira):
    "When I stepped in front of the cage, I fell through the hole and plummeted all the way down to the BASEMENT."
    – [15:20]
  • Karen and Georgia side with Kira on the real crime: “How about don’t be so goddamn greedy with your ferret!”
• Hosts Reflections:
  "How about there’s plenty to go around with that ferret."
  – Karen, [16:57]
  "Good job. And you know what, Jamie? Good job for you too."
  – Georgia, [17:11]

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4. School Librarian’s Drop-Off Line Fail

[17:13] – [21:09]

• Summary:
  New school librarian Kay finds herself accidentally caught in the student drop-off line on the first day, greeting her new coworkers from behind the wheel and arriving very late. Despite a series of embarrassing blunders, Kay bonds with students—especially when one excitedly shares, “Guess what? My grandpa got sick and ... he died. Guess what?”
• Notable Moments:
  • Strong empathy from the hosts for school staff dealing with logistics and embarrassing first days.
  • Quote (Kay):
    “Here I am, more than 20 minutes late ... and stuck in this long ass line. ... The principal and assistant principal are doubled over in laughter.”
    – [18:32, 20:07]
• Hosts' Takeaway:
  "That’s a good teacher. Because that’s a person who understands you are going to make mistakes and you are going to do better the next day.”
  – Karen, [20:59-21:09]

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5. Flamingo Ghost: A Meant-To-Be Love Story

[23:32] – [27:21]

• Summary:
  Angelica from Rhode Island shares a "meant-to-be" story: after a breakup, she meets James, who turns out to be closely connected to her family. Unbeknownst to James, a flamingo figurine Angelica’s mother owns once belonged to his late mother—and was actually bought for her by James himself. This serendipitous link leads to love, engagement, and family lore.
• Notable Moments:
  • The "ghostly" return of the flamingo, which James recognizes at Angelica’s mother’s house.
  • Quote (James):
    "I bought my mom a flamingo that looks just like that one."
    – [26:46]
• Host Response:
  "Everything means something. ... Or nothing means anything."
  – Georgia, [27:50-27:52]

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6. A Cowboy, a Boy Scout, and a Priest Walk Into a Gas Station

[27:51] – [30:12]

• Summary:
  Megan recounts a tire blowout outside a small town reunion. Despite her big city independence, three would-be rescuers—a cowboy, a boy scout, and a priest—offer help in sequence, making her realize there’s still a lot of good in the world.
• Notable Moments:
  • The “walking into a bar” style setup comes to life at the gas station.
  • Quote (Megan):
    “At this point, I’m just laughing because this feels like I’m in the middle of a joke where a cowboy, a boy scout, and a priest walk into a gas station and try to help this stupid stubborn woman.”
    – [29:19]
• Host Response:
  “I would have let the cowboy help me immediately.”
  – Georgia, [29:55]
  “Let us know if you’ve made out with a cowboy.”
  – Karen, [30:18]

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Memorable Quotes & Segment Timestamps

• [04:13] "So who is she?" – Cassie to John
• [06:40] “You are truly just the consummate host for people old and young.” – Karen
• [09:48] “It’s still in his tongue to this day.” – Rebecca (via Karen/Georgia)
• [15:20] “When I stepped in front of the cage, I fell through the hole and plummeted all the way down to the basement.” – Kira
• [20:07] “The principal and assistant principal are doubled over in laughter.” – Kay
• [26:46] “I bought my mom a flamingo that looks just like that one.” – James (per Angelica)
• [29:19] “It feels like I’m in the middle of a joke where a cowboy, a boy scout, and a priest walk into a gas station and try to help…” – Megan

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Episode Tone & Signature Moments

• The episode is full of the classic MFM balance—witty, empathetic, and sometimes irreverently humorous.
• Both hosts frequently affirm, comfort, and gently roast their story-tellers while mining the emotional “realness” behind each email.
• Lots of laughter and occasional personal asides from Karen and Georgia about their own family chaos and school stories.
• The closing callout: “Have you made out with a cowboy? Let us know,” inviting even more listener storytelling.

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Final Takeaways

• Listeners' tales span fear, folly, and joy—reiterating the themes of community and connection that MFM thrives on.
• Both the hosts and their murderino fanbase continue to prove that the best stories are personal, real, and sometimes just a little bit wild.
• Under all the laughs is a persistent message: stay safe, look out for each other, and find humor in the chaos.

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Stay sexy, and don’t get murdered!

Transcript

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[D]

My savior. Hello and welcome to my favorite murderer.

[A]

It's just a little gal.

[D]

It's a secret little whisper. Minisode.

[A]

Yeah, it'll be fun. It'll be all asmr.

[D]

This time we promised it's just me screaming I'm first. Yeah, okay. This one's long, but it's worth it. Okay, I'm not going to read you the title. Hi ladies. I was listening to Minisode 450 and something about the lovely Lithuanian woman's story made me think it was time to write in. Do you remember that one where the little girl like went on a day trip with the drug dealing Lithuanian woman in the small town? Yeah. Okay place. It's not Mayberry, but you can see it from here. Time the banging on pots and pans stage of COVID Names changed to protect the innocent. We had just bought the worst house in the nicest neighborhood and we were in the process of a full remodel. It being Covid, we decided to take our golden retriever on a long walk by the creek in order to socially distance ourselves from our plumber, John, who is working on the upstairs bathroom. Since we live in a northern climate, the first nice day of the year could be March, could be July, everybody throws open their windows and doors. We did just that and set off. We had the loveliest time by the creek and then headed home and entered on the bottom floor to give John his space upstairs. Almost immediately we heard childlike giggling above us. My husband quizzically looked at me, I shrugged and I said, I assume John's wife dropped off his daughter so she can run errands or something. A little blonde haired, blue eyed cherub suddenly appeared and started cooing and petting our dog. I, being a team player, scooped her up and took her and her new furry best friend outside to play. When we had our fill of the sun, we came inside for a snack and some cartoons, which led to a nice midday nap on the couch. At this point, John was about done with the bathroom, so he called for me to take a look. I picked up his daughter and headed upstairs. When we finished talking business, I asked John how old his daughter was. He looked at me questioningly and told me that the little girl I was holding wasn't his daughter.

[B]

What?

[D]

I threw my head back and laughed. Then, very emphatically, he said to me, cassie. She's blonde, John. Well, he isn't. We, on the other hand. Well, we are. I replied, or shrieked. So who is she? John shrieked back, I don't know. I assumed she was your niece. John, I'm about to call the cops, so you need to tell me one last time that you're not kidding before I make a false report. Cassie, call 91 1. I called 911 holding onto this innocent kidnapped child for dear life.

[A]

Oh my God.

[D]

As soon as the operator came on the line, I verbal vomited. This is going to sound weird. I have no idea how this happened. You see, I have a little girl. And at that it was time for the operator to shriek, what does she look like? I gave her a description and she yelled to whoever was in the room with her, we found her. We found Jane. Oh, they fucking kidnapped a little kid. She asked for my address and told me she was sending an officer to come get the little girl. Remember the place Mayberry adjacent. Yeah, nothing much happens around here. They didn't send a police officer. They sent the three squad cars and the six cops we have in town. And they followed all the protocols. All exits were blocked on either side of our house. The lights were flashing, and cops were in our driveway with their hands on their hips. I come out with little Jane and hand her to the first officer. My brand new neighbors were looking on, undoubtedly muttering, there goes the neighborhood. Turns out Jane toddled out of her backyard and ended up at our house a couple blocks away. While her grandmother turned her back for a split second. Second they were searching for Jane in the opposite direction in a different neighborhood. The entire time. We were playing with the dog, having snacks and taking a nap.

[A]

So scary.

[D]

After I'd been interviewed by the cops, Jane's dad arrived to reunite with his daughter. They thought she got kidnapped. And she did. Yeah. To reunite with his daughter and walk her the couple blocks home. Jane started crying. She didn't want to leave her new furry best friend behind. Her dad asked me if iron or golden wouldn't mind walking them home. So we did.

[A]

Aww.

[D]

I hope beyond all hope that Jane's grandmother forgives me for the prolonged panic I caused her. And as Jane grows up, I hope she continues her lifelong exploration of the world. But only after she tells her family where she's going. Stay sexy and remember what your 8th grade teacher taught you. Making assumptions makes an ass of you and me, Cassie.

[A]

But Cassie, that's not fair because you didn't cause anything. You are truly just the consummate host for people old and young. And you basically, for a child who probably could have been traumatized or in a lot of strife, you kind of gave her a nice little day and then got her delivered back to her family. There was no problem.

[D]

No. And she also didn't throw the first stone. Grandma lost track of her grandma.

[A]

Turn that back. You know, that's why my parents moved out of San Francisco is the exact same thing happened with my mom and dad. And when my sister was like two years old, she just walked out the front yard and she basically walked into the yard of the next door neighbor and started talking to the old lady that lived next door. And meanwhile, my parents are running all over the. Like, they think my sister has been stolen out of the front yard. And they were like, we gotta get out of San Francisco.

[D]

Oh, man, you would've had such a cooler childhood in life if your sister hadn't fucking.

[A]

I'd still be smoking clothes right now. Damn it. Okay. Here's my first one. I'm not gonna read you the subject line. It says, hello Karen, Georgia pets, and the entire MFM crew. I'm actually the mayor of my small.

[D]

What? We have a mayor.

[A]

See, I told you I didn't read these.

[D]

This is news to Karen.

[A]

We have a mayor. We have a mayor. I'm actually Capital M. I'm actually the mayor of my small hometown in Idaho and have always felt it was my duty to represent my constituents with an epic hometown. But alas, I live in real life. Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show.

[E]

Hmm.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

But then I heard your requests for stories where siblings almost killed each other and I knew I had my tale to tell. My dad grew up in the same small town I live in now. He was one of four brothers all close in age. This was Idaho in the 60s, when things were even more loosey goosey than they are currently. And I grew up hearing tales of the brothers fights and escapades, chasing wild mustangs in the desert of Southern Idaho, racing cars. There's even still a bullet lodged in the wall of my grandparents basement from an argument gone wrong. Yeah, my poor grandma tried to discipline the wild boys by swinging her broom around, but nothing really stuck. One day my dad, who was one of the younger boys, picked a fight with one of his older siblings. I'm not sure what started it, but I can tell you how it ended. My dad stuck his tongue out at his brother and was shot with a BB gun right in the tongue.

[D]

Oh, ouch. Oh fuck.

[A]

The BB was lodged too deep to easily get it out and the boys were. And the boys were too scared of my broom wielding grandma to tell anyone.

[D]

No.

[A]

So my poor dad was sworn to secrecy and had to suffer through very painful dinners for a week or so until his tongue grew over the bb.

[D]

I am, I am. I'm speechless.

[A]

Hold on, because here's the next sentence. It's still in his tongue to this day.

[D]

What the fuck? He says he has a tongue piercing, right?

[A]

Exactly like a tongue implant. He has no problem getting through airport security, but it does really hurt when he accidentally bites down on it. Oh, thank you for your entertaining podcast that I listen to in earbuds on walks all around my small town to get my steps. You two, it's so funny. You two are always so real and I appreciate the laughs. Also, shout out to my cousin Rhonda, who was also a murderino and whose father shot a small piece of lead into my father for eternity. So basically, Rhonda's dad is the is the culprit.

[D]

I love it.

[A]

Stay sexy and maybe tell someone when you've been shot. Rebecca, she, her, he.

[D]

It could have gotten infected and fallen out of his mouth.

[A]

I mean, the levels of. The levels. The levels. Because I think they're kind of right in the way where you shoot your brother in the face, in the mouth.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

You would be in so much trouble for so long.

[D]

Yeah. And you know what's crazy is that the brother, the dad who had it happen, like, didn't rat on him.

[A]

No.

[D]

He's like, I. I will take this because I know I don't want to see you get in that much trouble.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

And also, and you were right. I fucking stuck my tongue out at you. I shouldn't have fucking done that.

[A]

I bet you the older brothers that were older than the one that shot him, Rhonda's dad, I'd like to call him.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

They were like, you have to keep your mouth shut. He will do your dishes. Literally, he will do anything you want. Like, I bet you they bribed the living shit out of him.

[D]

Definite? Definitely. Definitely.

[A]

Also, again, that was great. I just want to underline that we just got an email from the mayor of a small town in Idaho, a woman. And I would just like to also say I just saw TikTok about how women need to start getting involved in politics on the local level.

[D]

Hell yeah.

[A]

That's the way to affect change. So thank you, Rebecca, because you're doing it.

[D]

Thank you. Fuck, I'm just tickled by that. That we have a mayor.

[A]

It's so cool.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Someday we'll find out what the town is.

[D]

Yeah. Maybe she should be the mayor of my favorite murder, too. Yeah.

[A]

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[A]

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[D]

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[A]

Goodbye.

[D]

Okay, this is also a sibling trying to kill siblings.

[A]

Okay, great.

[D]

My sister tried to kill me. Hi. Karen. Georgia and whiskered associates, including Steven.

[A]

Yay.

[D]

So I'm the youngest of three girls. There's five and eight years between them and me. When I was about nine or 10, my eldest sister had a ferret that she wouldn't let me play with. So of course I would sneak in her room when she wasn't home to look at the smelly creature.

[A]

I'm sorry. It's so greedy. It's like the ferret has nothing but love to give and you're just gonna, like, no, your sister can't see it or touch it.

[D]

Yeah, leave it alone. It's in the cage by itself, so leave it alone.

[A]

So mean.

[D]

Depressed in the cage. Okay. One day after school, it appeared to me as if I beat my sister home. So I took the opportunity to go see the ferret. Little did I know my sisters had removed the giant vent cover in her floor in front of the cage and replaced it with a carpet covered with clothes. Like Wiley Coyote. Like a Wile E. Coyote. Acme Trap. They set a fucking trap for their sister, dude.

[A]

They utilized the pre existing hole in the floor. That's right, the heating vent.

[D]

Brilliant. Oh, you can guess what happened next. Yep. When I stepped in front of the cage, I fell through the hole and plummeted all the way down to the all Caps basement.

[A]

Holy shit.

[D]

Bouncing off a shelf in the process. She could have fucking cracked her head open.

[A]

She could have absolutely died just for wanting the love of a ferret.

[D]

I mean, she didn' and so. That's hilarious. Thankfully I landed on a pile of clothes they had placed beneath the trap. So at least they, like, you know, they weren't total assholes.

[A]

They planned ahead. They planned ahead.

[D]

Yes. Yes. I wasn't hurt except for my pride and having the breath knocked out of me. My ass. She could have got a fucking concussion.

[A]

Like a full story or did you say a full.

[D]

Into the basement? Yes, from one story to the basement.

[A]

I mean, just so dangerous. So dangerous.

[D]

My asshole sisters were hiding in the basement laughing that their plan had worked. My mom didn't find it so funny.

[A]

Oh, no.

[D]

Since no. I've since introduced one of my sisters to your show and she is now a murderino. So, Jamie, if you're listening, you know what you did was wrong. Lol.

[A]

Are you reading the email? Are you saying that yourself?

[D]

It's the email. So Jamie, if you're listening, you know what you did was fucking wrong. LOL. My husband and I drove 5 hours from Delaware to see you guys in Pittsburgh and it was amazing. I hope the person in the balcony was okay. What happened in the bedroom?

[A]

They had a seizure, I think.

[D]

Oh, that's right.

[A]

Oh my God, I love that Pittsburgh show.

[D]

Yeah. Stay sexy and don't sneak into your sister's room. Love, Kira. I don't know if that's the lesson here.

[A]

Yeah, I don't. Yeah, Kira, that's very little sister of you to take that upon yourself that it's your lesson to learn.

[D]

Totally.

[A]

How about don't be so goddamn greedy with your ferret. Yeah, how about that?

[D]

Let's go to the beginning.

[A]

How about there's plenty to go around with that ferret. Oh, man, that's so good. People get this. People get. After 10 years, people are really getting the point of the minisode.

[D]

Yeah, totally.

[A]

Good job. And you know what, Jamie? Good job for you too.

[D]

Yeah, thank you, Jamie, for the story.

[A]

Yeah, you have to do asshole things to get good emails for the future. So. Okay. The subject line of this email is, you didn't ask for this, but you're getting it anyway. And it just starts. I recently got my dream job as a librarian in a small private school. I get to read with kids and help them grow into competent, confident adults, unlike myself. And then parentheses, it says jk. I'm usually pretty competent. It says, today was the first day of school and I wanted to make a good first impression. So I decided I would show up 15 minutes before school started. I've never worked in a school before and no one told me that teachers and everybody show up way earlier than that.

[D]

I think I knew that. And I've never worked in like. No, I have worked in a school as a lunch lady.

[A]

Oh.

[D]

And I, and I knew that.

[A]

But you had to get there around lunch. Ish. 11:30.

[D]

Well, it was breakfast and lunch.

[A]

Did you wear a hairnet?

[D]

No, but I wore gloves. Like little plastic gloves.

[A]

Good, good.

[D]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. So it says, I pull into the parking lot. I am then shepherded against my will into the drop off line. This was a long ass line and I really couldn't cut out across the parking lot and risk running over any of my new students. I realized I would have to stay in the drop off line and drive past nearly every single one of my new colleagues as they were standing outside to greet the students.

[D]

Why didn't any she. Someone should have said something, right?

[A]

Have you ever been in a drop off line?

[D]

Thank God, no, because I. I had.

[A]

To go pick up Nora at our old grammar school one day and there was a whole. My sister like had to explain it to me and she's like. And you have to get there on time. You have to. Karen. And I was like okay, as if that's possible. But people get there early and then you're just locked into a single lane that they have blocked off on streets. And everybody. It's like this pre agreed where like no one else goes down those streets and they. And you.

[D]

No one honks and you just. I have never been in a drop off line but I have a fear of them still.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Like I understand that they are just like terrifying to everyone.

[A]

They become their own weird machine. And you have to know how the machine works. So if you're the artsy ant from outside, you better, you better watch your.

[D]

Watch your watch before you honk. Okay, Go ahead.

[A]

Okay. So it's so great too. I'm just thinking. Cause my sister just started school again too. So it's like day three of basically her teaching kindergartners how to Go to school. And she's like, it's so hilarious. It's just like every year it starts over and you're like, how do we do any of this? How do public schools function? It's insane. So, okay, so she says. So here I am, more than 20 minutes late by the time I pull up in front of the school and stuck in this long ass line. I slowly inched past each one of the teachers and eventually the assistant principal and the principal, who are literally doubled over in laughter.

[D]

Oh, good.

[A]

Yeah. Thank God. I was later politely informed that I should have arrived much earlier, which I had, of course, already realized by then. I made a dozen more embarrassing mistakes today. Oh, this was a day of email.

[D]

Wow. That's right.

[A]

Yes, Reporting hot off the presses. I made a dozen more embarrassing mistakes today, but I learned a lot and tomorrow will be better. The students were great. I was counting down the days until a kid told me something wild. And it happened in my very first first class. In parentheses it says, a very happy and excited girl. Guess what? My grandpa got sick and he's in the hospital and he died. Guess what?

[D]

Guess what?

[A]

That's what this whole podcast is.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Seriously, thanks for reading. If you do, and if any of my new co workers are listening, feel free to stop by the library and make fun of me. Ssdgm K. Aw.

[D]

You can feel Kay's like happiness and excitement.

[A]

I mean, you gotta love those people who are like, that's a good teacher. Because that's a person who understands you are going to make mistakes and you are going to do better the next day.

[D]

I love that.

[A]

Yeah, it's nice.

[E]

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[D]

Work, family and everything else, getting to therapy can feel impossible.

[A]

And dealing with insurance and referrals or awkward waiting rooms does not help.

[D]

That's where Talkspace comes in.

[A]

Talkspace is the number one rated online therapy provider, bringing you professional support from licensed therapists and psychiatrists that you can access anytime, anywhere.

[D]

Talkspace is also in network. Talkspace therapy and psychiatry is covered by most insurers and most insured members pay a copay of $0. Karen, we're on tour right now, which means I am canceling anything that matters at all. Like nothing is happening except for therapy. I would never cancel my therapy. I don't care if it's a travel day or a show day. I'm taking that therapy in the hotel room because. Because I can't live without it.

[A]

Right. And if you are the kind of person that, like, maybe you're new to therapy or that's something that feels intimidating to you, Talkspace can make it so that it becomes very comfortable so it's as accessible and easy for you and affordable.

[D]

As a listener of this podcast, you'll get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com mfm and enter promo code SPACE80.

[A]

That's S, P, A, C, E80.

[D]

To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com mFM and enter promo code SPACE80. Goodbye.

[A]

Goodbye.

[D]

Okay, my last one is called the Flamingo Ghost question mark. Hello amazing ladies, pets and people. I am anxious so let's just get into it. I was listening to a minisode recently and you had asked about meant to be stories. So here is mine. After a breakup and living on my own for almost 10 years, I moved back to my parents house. I am so thankful for my amazing parents. Parents. They are truly two of the most selfless, wonderful people out there. Brag.

[A]

Yeah, I know. Lucky.

[D]

Lucky sounds great. They made it easy for an almost 30 year old to live at home. After a year of living at home, I was ready to start dating again. I'm on the apps, just letting whatever come my way. I start messaging with this guy James. He was so nice and quick to ask me on a date which I've actually. That's a positive, right? It's like let's not talk for three weeks. Exactly. Asked me out.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Don't waste my time. Essentially, yeah. First thing he says on the date is he forgot his first cousin is from my hometown. I asked him their name. It was one of my close friends in high school and our families are still Friendly and see each other. That just put me at ease knowing he wasn't a complete stranger and I'm safe on this date. The date goes amazingly. We talked the entire time and I really hope we go out again. I could go on about how great he is, but I will try to keep this short. Initially I was like, they're gonna be related, I bet.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

They're not. Spoiler.

[A]

We fall in love and then we get the blood test.

[D]

We're also cousins. When I get home, I told my parents about the date and how he was my old friend's cousin. We had actually met once at a birthday party. My mom puts the pieces together and realized she has something of his late mothers. She goes on to explain that after James's mother had passed the year before due to her long battle with cancer and cancer related illnesses, her family was giving some of her belongings. Loved ones. One of the items given to James's aunt, his mom's sister, was a flamingo figurine. Auntie has many things of her sister's and feels like the flamingo figurine deserves a home with someone who will love it. That home being my mother's. Everyone that knows my mother knows she loves flamingos. Aren't flamingos a sign of swingers? Or that pineapple.

[A]

Pineapple. I've heard, and I think it's like an upside down pineapple, right?

[D]

Something like that.

[A]

Because, you know, my welcome mat in my front door has a pineapple on it, Karen.

[D]

That's like inviting swingers. When people go on cruises, they put a fucking like a picture or a thing of a pineapple on their door to let everyone know.

[A]

I didn't know to knock. I didn't know. But that's why my. My doorbell's going off night and day.

[D]

That's it. Oh, my God. Okay, I'm ruining this. At a bridal shower for a mutual friend that my mother and I attended. James's aunt gives my mother this flamingo. She loves it. She puts it in her bathroom. I never tell James this because in my head it just sounds weird. Hey, I know we just went on a first date, but my mom was given something that belonged to your deceased mom. Hope we can hang.

[A]

Yeah, don't bring that up.

[D]

I'll keep that to myself for a while. A few months down the road and we're dating and it's time for James to meet my parents. He comes over to our home and things are going very well. After using the bathroom, he comes out laughing and says to my family, that is so strange. I bought my mom a flamingo that looks just like that one. Jaws drop. Oh, shit. Not only was that flamingo his mom's, he bought it for her.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[D]

Meant to be? We think so. Cut to three years later. James and I are now engaged and are getting married in November 2026. Our families always say that his mom, Joanne, saw me and picked me out for her son. I truly wish I could have met Joanne. I know she was spunky, had a huge heart, and was an extremely strong woman. And I am honored that she chose me for her son. I cannot wait to see you at your late show in Boston. Thank you for fostering everyone's love of true crime and giving out more knowledge on sobriety and therapy. Stay sexy and don't get murdered. Angelica, Rhode Island.

[A]

God, Angelica. That is. Wait, so James now knows? When did they tell James?

[D]

I think when he came out of the bathroom, they were like, oh, yeah, your mom had one exactly like that. Because that belonged to your mom.

[A]

Because it's hers.

[D]

God.

[A]

And also, just like, you know me and my story about the bell that my sister found. A little lady that's shaped like a bell. Like, that's the kind of thing where it's like, it seems small and no big deal, but it truly is like, oh my God, this beautiful connection.

[D]

Everything means something.

[A]

Yeah, that's right.

[D]

Or nothing means anything.

[A]

Sometimes, I mean, I think it changes. It switches back and forth depending on. Depending on the week. Yeah, I got one more. And the subject line of this email says, humanity isn't all lost. Lighthearted, it says, hi, ladies, Love you, love what you do. Thank you, and please give your critters a snuggle for me. I was leaving a small town where my family reunion is hosted every other year. 100 plus Czech family members, 2.3 kegs of beer are floated by 3pm when all the good kids go to church half drunk and I go take a nap and then continue to party at my uncle's house. Needless to say, I was tired. I'm almost to the interstate and my tire goes from full to flat in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, I was able to roll into a gas station and call an uncle to come and help. My uncle's on the way and I start trying to get the spare out from under my truck. It's not going well. And over walks a cowboy. I'm in my early 20s and exercise my newfound ability from living in a major city for two years to say, no, thank you, sir, I'm just fine. On my own and my uncle's on his way and shut Mr. Cowboy down. Cool. Independent. Failing at getting this tire out, but still trying. Then comes a boy scout. Once again, this independent big city woman shuts him down and sends him away. Boy scout. A boy scout. Then, I kid you not, a priest caller and all comes over to ask if I was okay.

[D]

Is it all the same person just.

[A]

Like changing outfits, just going behind the gas station, coming back out? At this point, I'm just laughing because this feels like I'm in the middle of a joke where a cowboy, a boy scout and a priest walk into a gas station and try to help this stupid stubborn woman. My uncle showed up about then and changed my tire and I went off smiling. That yes, sometimes life is a joke, but sometimes life reminds you that there is goodness in the world no matter how hard you try to shut it out. Stay sexy and try to see the good in the world. Megan, she her. P.S. i might have gotten the order wrong, but the characters are accurate. A cowboy, a boy scout, and a priest.

[D]

That's adorable. I would have let the cowboy help me immediately.

[A]

Hell yes.

[D]

Right?

[A]

Yes. Let the cowboy help you. Then go to the bar with the cowboy that he will invite you to. After he does that.

[D]

Make out with the cowboy.

[A]

Make out with that cowboy.

[D]

Yes. All right. That was a good one. Thank you guys for sending your stories in. Have you made out with a cowboy? Let us know.

[A]

Yes, any cowboy makeouts in detail. Did you go to the rodeo last year and make out with a cowboy? We'd love to hear about it. Yeah. Thanks for your emails. Stay sexy and don't get murdered. Goodbye.

[D]

Goodbye, Elvis. Do you want a cookie?

[A]

This has been an exactly right production.

[D]

Our senior producers are all 100k Heck and Molly Smith.

[A]

Our editor is Aristotle Aceveda.

[D]

This episode was mixed by Liana Squilacci.

[A]

Email your hometowns to my favorite murdermail.com.

[D]

And follow the show on Instagram at My favorite murder.

[A]

Listen to my favorite murder on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

And now you can watch us on exactly right's YouTube page. And while you're there, please like and subscribe.

[A]

Goodbye.

[E]

Goodbye.

[C]

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[E]

It's Cybersecurity Awareness Month. LifeLock is here with tips to help protect your identity. Use strong passwords, set up multi factor authentication, report scams and update your software. And for comprehensive identity protection, Lifelock is your best choice. LifeLock alerts you to suspicious uses of your personal information and fixes identity theft guaranteed or your money back. Start your protection today with a 30 day free trial at LifeLock.com use promo code NEWS terms apply.

[D]

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