So last night, I was at home minding my own business, when someone knocked on my door. It was 11pm. I didn't answer it because I wasn't expecting anybody, but I was afraid whoever it was could see me through the blinds because all my lights were on. I didn't move for about a minute and then decided to go upstairs. I looked out the upstairs windows and didn't see anybody (though I can't see my porch from upstairs). I figured whoever it was had left so I came back downstairs and shut off all the lights so I could look out the front window without being too conspicuous. As soon as the lights went off, I saw the guy (who had apparently been standing at my door for a full three minutes) get in his car and drive away. I didn't recognize him or his car. So here's my question: Why would a complete stranger
drive to my house at 11pm and knock on the door??? I could come up with reasonable justifications for an 11pm knock if it were a neighbor or someone walking by ("Hey, your headlights are on." or "Hey, your house is on fire.") but I can think of no reason for someone I don't know to drive to my house at 11pm and knock on my door. Grrr.
Last weekend someone knocked on my door at 9pm. I thought it was my mom because of the way they knocked so I opened it. Instead of my mom, there was a homeless-looking woman on my doorstep crying hysterically. The first thing she said was "My dog *sniff* is friends *sniff* with your dog. . ." I knew she wasn't all there, since I don't have a dog. She wanted to use my phone because her dog had run away "and she's only 13 months old! *sniff* And there's only one person who can help me! *sniff*" I didn't help her. Perhaps that was cruel of me, but it's hard to know who you can trust. Anyway, my cat didn't like her and my cat is a very good judge of character.
So anyway, please follow these simple rules:
- If I know you, and for some reason need to visit me in the middle of the night, please call first so I will know to expect you.
- If I don't know you, do not knock on my door in the middle of the night.
- If you're crazy, go find some other door to knock on.
Thank you.
4 comments:
In Mt. Rainier, MD we once had a knock around 11pm. I yelled through the door asking who it was, and the person responded that they wanted to sell me some "black fish." ???? No thank you.
The danger, of course, is that these are really angels in disguise. There must be some quck and easy test for the angelic . . .
I guess I could have asked who it was. . .
I would have done what you did I think, too scary to call out and let someone know you're inside. I hate it that we live in a time where we have to be afraid the open our door, or afraid to help someone. That really sucks and is a sad truth about the world we live in.
Fact: nationwide, crime rates have been dropping since the early 90's and now crime rates are about equivalent to what they were in the mid-60's.
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