Sorry, I haven't been keeping-up with my posts. I have been out of sorts....
The Midnight Raiders
When a person lives solo, night sounds seem louder than usual. The later the
time, the more clamorous the sounds grow.
time, the more clamorous the sounds grow.
On this particular night, the power had gone off. I was in darkness and heard
outside noises like shuffling feet scraping along the back door steps. No house
phone and no cell phone. What to do?
outside noises like shuffling feet scraping along the back door steps. No house
phone and no cell phone. What to do?
Candles were lit and flickering. It was creepy and I was frightened. But, I couldn’t
just sit and wait. I had to act.
just sit and wait. I had to act.
I grabbed a battery-operated LED lamp with three levels of brightness. I walked
to the back door. The scraping was still continuing. Should I open the back door
or run-out the front door to a neighbor’s house?
to the back door. The scraping was still continuing. Should I open the back door
or run-out the front door to a neighbor’s house?
If I opened the door, would I be fast enough to close it before someone came
inside? What if they had a weapon? I wasn’t over-reacting because recent
reports stated that a person had kicked-in the door of the vacant house next
door. The same person had tried to enter another house--with the residents
still inside!
inside? What if they had a weapon? I wasn’t over-reacting because recent
reports stated that a person had kicked-in the door of the vacant house next
door. The same person had tried to enter another house--with the residents
still inside!
Again, what to do? I recalled a hint I heard years ago. If a person attacks you,
scream-out, “Fire, help, fire!” People are more likely to come running when a fire
is happening than for attacks. Would I find my voice when I needed it most?
scream-out, “Fire, help, fire!” People are more likely to come running when a fire
is happening than for attacks. Would I find my voice when I needed it most?
With the lamp in one hand, I unlocked the door and grabbed the door handle.
I eased the wooden door open. Lights were still out and I gazed into total darkness.
I eased the wooden door open. Lights were still out and I gazed into total darkness.
I flicked-on the lamp and aimed its beam through the outside screen door. And,
there on the steps were three masked…Raccoons!
there on the steps were three masked…Raccoons!
Earlier in the day, I had placed a take-out box overflowing with refrigerator scraps
on the landing of the back door deck. The felines had not found it to their liking.
However, the raccoons did. The container was licked clean and the raiders had
even washed their paws in the water dish.
on the landing of the back door deck. The felines had not found it to their liking.
However, the raccoons did. The container was licked clean and the raiders had
even washed their paws in the water dish.
I now understood why the cats did not often stay on the deck at night. The three
midnight diners seemed to be asking, “You looking at us?”
midnight diners seemed to be asking, “You looking at us?”
Like the cats, I was not going to step-out onto the deck steps either. With a sigh of
relief, I closed the back door.
relief, I closed the back door.
