WATCH ABOVE: Nearly four decades ago, Debbie Powell borrowed something that wasn’t hers, but as Global’s Shelley Steeves reports, but now she has done the right thing and returned it.
SUSSEX, N.B. – Debbie Oowell of Sussex prides herself on honesty. So, this past week she hopped in her car and drove 60 kilometres to return something that wasn’t hers.
“It’s probably stayed there all those years and Mom just took it out and dusted it whenever she dusted the living room,” she said.
Tucked away in her father’s old bookcase was a novel called “Mistress Masham’s Repose,” the story of a young orphaned girl.
The book sat orphaned itself on a shelf for almost 40 years. Until her son-in-law opened the cover.
“When he opened it, there was a Netherwood stamps on it and I went oh, a bit late.”
Just a bit. Debbie graduated from Rothesay Netherwood School 39 years ago. The private school has been in Rothesay for 139 years and prides itself on turning out students with strong character.
Rothesay Netherwood’s Nic Carhart accepted the return.
“It pretty amazing to hear a story like that and that someone found it after all these years and thought enough to bring it back to the school,” he said.
“Well, I just figure it’s supposed to be where it’s supposed to be,” she said.
She set off on her march of shame back to the school’s library, novel in hand. Fear of repercussions aside, Debbie says she just had to do the right thing.
“Yeah I am not sure how much detention that would get me. The whole three years I was here I only got an hour and a half,” she said.
But Carhart says Debbie won’t have to pay a fine, since they don’t actually charge any late fees.
But he may have to sign it out to her all over again because, after nearly 40 years sitting on a shelf, Debbie is not sure she even read it.
“I can’t remember it, the title doesn’t ring any bells.”
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