The Zoo over Ambuscade Street

Erik almost had the cops called on him last night. He came home early, which he's apparently been doing every night but New Year's, but I was apparently too sick to notice. So when I heard someone walking around at around 12:45 at night...I got a touch nervous. I decided to be slick, and call his cell phone - I can't describe how relieved I felt when I heard it ringing.

I have a terror of break-ins, because I've been in a house somewhere between 2 and 5 times when one has happened. The first was when I was only 5, and my dad was out of town for a few months - some guy broke in and stole our TV and VCR. My most vivid memory of this involves my mother (usually the calm and quiet type) screaming obsceneties and throwing things from the top of the stairs as this guy walked out our front door with them. The last n times were my father, during what could be termed a rather nasty divorce. Knowing who it was breaking into our house didn't make it any better, let me tell you.

Since then I had pretty much never been alone at night until Erik graduated from the Academy. To the midnight shift. That first night he was gone was one of the scariest nights of my life. Things have gotten better, but strange noises can still really freak me out.