Locked Out

Thump! Bang!

I was startled awake by sounds I believed to be not in my dreams. It was just after 5am on Sunday morning in the predawn gray light.

The back door was creaking in the wind. Did I forget to pull it closed all the way and now it was opening and closing, creaking and waking me up?

I went to investigate.

A few steps from the bed, I noticed out one of the windows that the tell-tale signs of wind in the branches was completely absent- it was a still morning.

Creak, creak, thump.

“Doug, Doug!” I whispered. “Wakeup- I heard a noise.” He was awake, and on high alert. I headed to the kitchen.

Thump thump thump, bang!

I scurried back to the bedroom.

“Doug!” I whispered. He had been sitting there on the edge of the bed, listening. “Get yourself in here- there is someone at the back door.” I was too chicken to open the door myself- perhaps another person in pj’s would be better.

He swiftly and silently swept out of the room as I tried to peek out the window but couldn’t see anything. I followed him to the kitchen.

“Can I help you?” Doug asked. He had cracked opened the wood door and peaked outside. I could see past him that there was a bedraggled looking guy standing there in an un-tucked t-shirt and dress shirt and pants with no shoes. He had taken his soaked socks off and they were on our deck.

“Wrong house bud.”

“Wrong house?” asked the confused guy. “Damn…!” He drawled. He began to shuffle off the deck and down the stairs. Doug closed the door and locked it. The nightly round to check the doors has paid off- otherwise lost drunk guy would have come inside.

”Drunk, right?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Doug shuffled back to bed, falling back asleep as he walked.

I laughed. “College kids are back.”