Nightmare Occurrence

As I am an aging female who lives alone, I don’t usually go out to the mailbox late at night; but I’d been writing and got all involved in a story before I remembered a package I was supposed to get today. It was Fall, and my driveway was covered with acorns, so, I walked, very slowly and carefully, down the slope to the brick post that housed my mailbox, which usually contained, surprise surprise, several requests for donations.

As my balance is rather iffy, I always hold onto the brick structure with my left hand and lean around to peer into the box and grab the contents with my right; bang it shut, then push off to help me back up the incline.

I must have stepped on a large pile of acorns, because suddenly, my left ankle gave way, and down I went onto the cement. It felt like my right cheek bone was on fire and cracked acorns cut my nose. My ribs weren’t in great shape either. I was so tired and achy and old, I just lay there and cried.

Before I gathered enough strength to try to get up, I heard two sets of feet crunch up the driveway behind me. One said, “Think you can get up, ma’am?”

“Maybe, when I catch my breath, but not this minute, no.”

“Here, lemme help you,” he said, lifting me from the back where I couldn’t see him.

Before I could say thank you, the other person giggled, a girl, and I thought, OMG I’m in trouble. I screamed as loud as I could as they tried to push me in my front door, when a voice said, “Put her down, gently! The police are on their way. And the neighbors have been alerted.”

As he let go of me, I grabbed the doorknob, trying to stay standing, and turned my head. I could see neighbors’ lights coming on and my across the street neighbor, Linda, called from her driveway, “You’re being photographed!

The guy’s girlfriend hollered, “let’s get outa here!”

The two ran around the side of my house to their car. My daughter spoke again, through the camera in the corner by my front door. “Mom, I’m so sorry. Let Linda help you get to your bed to lie down. The police ARE on their way. I think Linda got a picture of those two and she tried to get the license plate but the car was over in the dark, so I don’t know about that. Side neighbor, Kaye, is going to take you to the emergency room and stay with you. I can’t drive from Austin tonight, because of my eyes, but I’ll be there as early as I can in the morning.”

Thank you, Sweetie, for all your help. I appreciate it so much! You were so smart to install this camera.

~

Well, thank goodness! I had said I didn’t want a camera installed by my front door, but thanks to my thoughtful (and persistent) daughter and her husband, they had installed one anyway, also in a tree overlooking my side gate, and another on the corner of the garage. And, most fortunately, they were monitoring it.

This is a fictitious scenario, but all too possible. What’s true is my daughter and son-in-law did install the cameras, and I am so thankful they did. You never know if something like that could happen—especially since I live on a corner of a busy street.

PS. One summer, years ago, I WAS down at my mailbox, and walking back up the slope, (in slingback heels), purse and keys in one hand, bunch of mail in my right, I turned my ankle and did fall on my face, ribs, and lay there, in pain, hoping a neighbor would see me and come help. Middle of the day, nobody did.  Slowly got myself in a sitting position and just sat there awhile and cried. Finally got myself up.

The next week was a writing conference in Chautauqua, NY put on by Carus Publishing Company, which included Cricket and Spider magazines for kids, which I had signed up for, airline tickets and all, (plus they had published two of my stories) so I went, horribly bruised face and cracked ribs. Because of my shyness around people I don’t know, and since no one asked, I never explained how I had acquired a purple/yellow face, cracked ribs and skinned hands.  I wish I had a more outgoing personality, I could’ve made up some wild stories. :)

As you can tell, it’s different when I write. That’s why writing’s fun!