Just after I talk to my brother and he tells me the story of a woman co-worker who was recently attacked, I decide it's time to lock not only my flimsy side (and only) door, but also to lock the "new" screen door. It used to lock, that is, until my aunt ( she's a smoker) was visiting and one night ( the only night she stayed, she was so scared in my house, she sat up on the couch waiting for the dawn) she was desperate to smoke and couldn't get the door open, she forced it open and popped out the little metal bar that kept the door locked.
It's never been the same. I've tried and tried to fix it, so did John who does carpentry and round the house work for me, but it only stays fixed for a while, then that little metal bar pops out, and it doesn't lock.
This night I need some extra protection. I fool around with the metal bar and jam it into place ! it's locked. I'm relieved. it works.
Just to be sure it's ok, I try to open it. Doesn't budge. I push and push on the lock - nothing.
I keep pushing, nothing. I get a screwdriver and wedge it against the lock, nothing.
Who can I call ? The list starts, my brother, my neighbor.... I'm too embarrassed to call them.
"Come and save me, I'm trapped in my house." That's what I would have to say. I can't do it.
For awhile I give up. I lay down on my bed and call my sister, she's far away but always offers helpful advice.
"There's a metaphor for you," she says, "your house is holding you hostage, and won't let you go.|" And so it is.
A few more tries and I give up, there's no budging the door open.
Lowes installed the door, I could call them.
By now, it's 9:30 at night. I tell the operator I'm trapped in my house, my screen door won't open.
"Wow," she says, "Please hold."
Minutes go by, no one comes on the line.
I can't hear anything, maybe I got disconnected. I call back.
"Hi, I just called, I'm trapped in my house." I say.
"Oh,yeah," I put your call through and was waiting for someone to pick up, I'll try them again."
A young guy answers, I can tell he's young I don't know how, but I can.
"I bought a screen door from you awhile ago." I couldn't remember how long but I knew it was a long time ago.
"What's your phone number." He says.
I tell him, a minute passes and he says ,"you bought that door from us in 2005."
"Oh," I say, "that was a while ago, can you come and fix it."
"Ma'am, that was 6 years ago, the warranty is only for a year, I don't know what you want us to do."
"I want you to untrap me from my house."
(I want to be set free, I don't say outloud but that's what I want, I want to be saved, again.)
He repeats, "Ma'am I really don't know what you want us to do, it's been too long. We can't send someone out there."
"Well, maybe not tonight, but maybe in the morning?"
I'm talking to this guy like he's the super in my building. Somehow I think of Lowes as my friend?
or the super? What am I thinking? What is he supposed to do?
"Ok," I say. "It's ok, I'll figure out what to do."
"Call a handyman," he says.
Reluctantly I hang up, I really thought he would have compassion for me.
I go back to the door, shove and push it as hard as I can. It pops open !
Now I'm free, just feel unsafe. Which is better ? Trapped wasn't an option.
I lock myself in my bedroom, bring my cell phone and my car key - to be able to make a quick escape....
I'm all set to go to sleep, turn off the light and then I hear it.
Running - something. sounds big, sounds active. It's in the walls or over my head.
I shout go away. I bang on the wall the way you might if you have a noisy neighbor below or above you in your apartment building. I really am a city dweller !
It' sounds like it's galloping through the walls, it sounds like an army - of what ? Mice - bigger than mice ?
I don't know. And I'm afraid to find out, not tonight, not now.
The banging seems to stop the galloping. I turn on the radio, looking for a talk show, something to distract me and music won't do. I find Charlie Rose on the radio, strange, but he sounds familiar and comforting, like listening to a friend, or listening in on a friend's conversation, where you don't have to join in, you can just listen.
I let myself fall asleep to Charlie.
No more galloping for the moment, whatever it is maybe it went to sleep too ?
Tomorrow it's time to call the exterminator - or pest control, maybe they call themselves that because you don't ever get rid of them, they just become a smaller population? Time to find that out tomorrow.
G'night.
No comments:
Post a Comment