The lost and found. Where SDA students’ missing objects make a new (hopefully temporary) homes, hoping to be picked up by their owners.

For the past two years, April Llamas has been the woman in charge of airing out the schools dirty laundry, water bottles and other runaway items. Needless to say, in her time at SDA Llamas has gained a slew of interesting stories. A Pikachu costume, A Batman costume “with the abs”, a few fishing poles, sleeping bags, a cloak, baking dishes, and a cooler packed with Capri sun are just a few missing  artifacts that have come into her possession.

“I saw a cereal bowl once.” says Llamas “there was milk left in it”.

When I inquired as to what is the grossest thing Llamas has encountered is she replied “there’s tons!” everything from sweaty gym clothes, to a not-so- fresh batch of mold stew brewing in a sealed thermos. “That last one was pretty bad” she adds, her face scrunching up in disgust at the memory. One aid clearly recalls discovering a pair of used panties in a bag. “I touched it too!” she shutters as a flashback takes over.

What Llamas finds particularly puzzling is the multitude of keys and glasses that end up on her desk every year and are unclaimed. “How do you lose your car keys and never come back.” She has a bunch from Volkswagens to jeeps.  “And glasses, especially the near sided pairs,” she continues, “they should be on your face always, otherwise you’re blind”.

Llamas’ favorite thing that came into the office was probably, the Ouija board. “Earlier this year there was an Ouija board and the moment I got rid of it, I saw some very nervous kids looking for an Ouija board. It was scary because my door got possessed too” Llamas laughs.

As you can see this job does not come without its risks, but what makes sacrifice in the line of duty worth it for Llamas is the interesting characters she meets on the daily. “I like the student interaction the most because everyone is kinda goofy to say the least”. She also holds all of her aids in very high regard.

Today and at the start of next week all the items in Llamas’ possession will be recycled or donated to the community service center and second hand stores.

If you’ve been stumbling around blind because you can’t find your glasses, or the absence of your car key has made it tough to drive, or perhaps a sweater, water bottle, cloak or some smelly gym clothes have gone missing in your life, pay a visit to Llamas. Bring your lost items back to their home.

Special thanks to April Llamas and her 4^th period aides.