Sunday, December 21, 2008

What seems to be the problem, Officer?

First thing today, I was face to face with a suspicious policeman with a flashlight in the freezing darkness. Also, hopping from foot to foot because I was still in the tee and chuddies I’d worn to bed. The saving grace: I only had the top half of the Dutch door open, so hopefully he didn’t see the superman logo on my undies--my superhero identity is safe.

A few minutes earlier, the security alarm had gone off and I hadn’t responded promptly enough because I thought it was just Big A letting himself in after work.

A few months earlier, Big A started grumbling about how installing a security system in a college town where crime is non-existent “is a waste of resources.” He still occasionally grumbles. But little A’s bedroom is on the floor below us and the baby’s room has a large window, and I’m paranoid.

And the policeman--he was so disappointed when I told him it was a false alarm. A few minutes earlier, he'd looked as eager as Li’l A at three, who would describe how he would “pachack” the bad guys as i put him to bed.*

____
* This was in Oxford, in the tiny little two-story flat the college had given the two of us. The sad, cold, cell-like, lonely flat that for some reason I just made myself really nostalgic about.

4 comments:

ZenDenizen said...

For some reason I thought it was going to be some kind of handcuffing fantasy sequence after you described what you were wearing. LOL

suitablegirl said...

1) Whew. You had me so worried with the first few words...

2) Waste of resources? Anything which inspires blog posts is HARDLY a waste. ;) Seriously though...if you don't have a large German Shepherd, I'm glad you have a security system.

3) What language is "pachack"? :) I want to see a picture of Li'l A at three.

maya said...

SG, "Pachak" is onomatopoeia, or more precisely, the language of sound effects :P.

I'm glad you agree about alarms and such. Everyone always tries to tell me that the percentage of non-family abductions is something like 4%, but that is 58,000 children a year!

Li'l A at three was *so* cute!!! When i get Flickr figured out [next week?], you'll see. xx

Anonymous said...

i'm completely in love with onomatopoeia and go through phases...right now it's all about the 'smack'.

i'm with you on the paranoia with the kiddos...we had a brinks system installed the month after i gave birth b/c i was all sorts of scared that some lunatic would break into the house and steal the baby. :)

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