I woke up this morning feeling good after having a good night’s sleep. It is time for breakfast, I think I will have cornflakes and milk for breakfast. The cornflakes are a great way for me to start off my busy day. While eating my bowl of cereal, I remember that I also needed to make my sandwich before I get off for the day. I still have time before my car pool arrives. I make a nice sandwich with lettuce, mayonnaise, turkey, tomatoes, and cheese on whole-wheat bread. Finally my car pool arrives. I grab my lunch and my keys and head out the door.
The phone rings just as I am going out the door, so I set my keys and my lunch on the counter to answer it. It is a pesky telephone salesperson selling cemetery lots. I decide that I do not need a cemetery lot at the moment and hang up the phone. I grab my lunch, not realizing that I have forgotten my keys, and hurry out the door. After work, my car pool drops me off in front of my house. I am so glad to be home, where I can kick back and relax. Today was unusually busy at work. I wave goodbye to my carpool and reach in my pocket for my house keys. Realizing that the keys are not in my pocket, I remember that I left the keys on the counter.
Looking up, I see an upstairs window. I think it may be unlocked. Only one way to find out, and that is to get a ladder and climb up. If I am going to get into the house, this is the only way in. I go around back and get a ladder from the unlocked storage shed just off the carport. Realizing that my neat shirt and tie could get ruined, I cover them up with an old black sweatshirt I left in the storage room. I placed the ladder against the house, I began to climb. There have been a rash of burglaries in my neighborhood, and many of my neighbors have installed security systems.
We are also a part of the neighborhood watch. I hope no one thinks I am a bugler trying to break in my own home. Just as I reach the top of the ladder, I hear a polite but firm voice ask, “Are you the homeowner? ” I look down and see a uniformed officer. Though I am innocent, my hands begin to sweat and my heart pounds. As I explain what has happened, it sounds false, even to me. The officer then asks if I have any identification. Luckily, I am carrying my wallet with my driver’s license inside, which has my photo and address. As the officer watches suspiciously, I descend down the ladder and show her my license.
She hanks me and explains that she is keeping a close watch on the neighborhood because of the recent burglaries. I tell her that I understand and thank her for keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Once we clear up that I did live there, the officer steadies the ladder for me and makes sure I am able to get into my house. It feels strange to be the suspect, if only temporarily. I have just learned that when I am at the mercy of a ride to work, I must always make sure I have my keys before I leave the house. It has still turned out to be a good day, and I got to meet the officer that was protecting me and my neighborhood.
