Ang.’s Chicken Coop

I have lived in the country nearly all of my life. Only the four years I was in college and a few months after I was married was I a city dweller. I am comfortable out here without neighbors right out my backdoor. I enjoy the quiet and the openness and the smells. I like being able to see every single star in the sky at night and watching the sun as it slips past the horizon instead of a building. The country is just a good place to be. I like being able to leave for a few hours and not have to lock up my house. I like knowing that when I am home alone I don’t have to be “on guard”.

Err…..I did like those last two things. That all changed on Monday. Let me tell you what happened. I was doing chores Monday morning when I hear a pickup drive in. I see that it is a red pickup and a man is walking up my sidewalk. I holler at him. I don’t think much of it. We have people stopping regularly trying to buy the 1993 Intrepid that sits in our driveway. I am preparing to tell him that it isn’t for sale when he says, “I noticed your barn is full of hay.” Right then my hackles went up. First of all, you can’t see inside my barn at all when you are driving by. The only way you can know what is in my barn is if you physically go inside. Secondly, I am nearly out of hay. I tell him that I don’t have much hay at all. He pushes the issue with, “I thought maybe you would want to trade some.” I explain again that I am almost out and will have to buy some myself. I am getting a little nervous because this man is exuding creepiness and I have an inkling as to who this stranger is. The man continues to try to engage me in conversation about the cats, my chickens, rv repair, anything. At one point, he asks if I sell eggs. I tell him yes and the price. And then he gives me his last name. And I know that my suspicions of his identity are correct. This man is not quite right and has bothered numerous neighbors. He is also a neighbor but one I have never met. I finally get him to leave after explaining I had an appointment that morning. I am glad he is gone and I hope he does not come back.

Tuesday morning I had bible study. I was nearly ready to walk out the door when I hear Belle’s “someone is here” bark. I look out and its a red pickup. NOOOOOOO! I quickly hide away and wait for him to leave. He comes to the house and knocks. I choose not to answer. I don’t want him to start thinking its okay to stop here. I also think it was dumb for me not to lock the door. Pretty soon I hear Guinness beat his tail on the dishwasher. The next thing I know Oliver comes streaking into the living room and I realize Creepy Guy has opened my door. He hollers, “Anybody home?” I stay quiet for a few seconds not knowing what to do. I grabbed my sharp sewing scissors and go into the kitchen. Creepy Guy is halfway through the door. I know he is surprised to see me by his reaction. He stammers out that he brought me some egg cartons and shoves them at me. I close and lock the door in his face! I was in disbelief. A person born and raised in the country, in my neighborhood, who I don’t know, was about to make himself at home in my house because he thought I was not home. I was scared and livid all at once.

I went on to bible study that morning knowing that the hostess this week had been bothered by Creepy Guy last year. I talked to her right away about what had happened. She told me that he won’t quit until you call the sheriff. So that is what I did as soon as I got home. Deputy Scott knew this man, knew of his past and knew what it would take for him to not come to my home again. Wednesday morning Deputy Scott had a chat with Creepy Guy and his parents whom he lives with. If he comes near our property again, he will be arrested. He does not want to go to jail. He does not like jail. So far this threat has worked.

However, I find myself locking my door always. I find myself jumping every time I hear a truck go by or the dogs bark. I have programed 911 into the speed dial on my cell phone and carry it with me always. While I am sure that Creepy Guy will not return, I no longer feel all that safe. I hope that with time this feeling will go away just like Creepy Guy did.