The Muse is Loose

The rap on our front door here in Dallas was a firm one. I knew who it was and I dreaded opening. I had just allowed the worst possible thing to happen with the burglar alarm system. I had sent out a false alarm. It was a real alarm, however, that reverberated through this huge home we are "house-sitting" for family. I had set it for "interior", then promply became the intruder as I walked through the den and created motion before a sensor. The panic I felt was surely worse than if someone breaking in had caused it.

Ann came running to where I was, thinking the worse. Finally, we gathered enough composure to shut the thing off. We then tried to call security and could not get through. After a few tense moments it was decided the crisis was over....wrong. The rap on our door was from two Dallas men in blue. They had badges and guns and handcuffs. Would they take Ann as well? She had been involved, (abetting I think is the word). I invited them in and tried to explain what had happened though I really didn't know. Finally, one of them smiled and said, "May I see your driver's license please?" I hadn't even been driving and was going to get a ticket! That's how nervous I was. He simply wanted to confirm my identity. Now, the bright orange slip was handed to me and they were out the door and gone. Badge 9360 had given me a false alarm notification. It may or may not have a charge with it. We shall find out in days ahead.

False alarms will never mean the same to me. I will not casually say, " O it was just a false alarm." I look at that little box with it's green light on and dread seeing it turn from green to red. I know the code to turn it off better than my birth date. I check all doors to make certain they are locked so as not to set this monster off. I may simply leave it off and set with a baseball bat by one of the doors. False alarm? Don't believe it!