The break-in surprise

Sometimes I tell stories, while often times I'm accused of being an over-attentive listener. But rarely within my circle (as far as I know) do I become the story. Unfortunately for me and lots of fun for others, that changed this past weekend and I don't know whether to cover my face in shame or laugh my eyes out at the memory and mention of it.

I startled awake sometime around 1:00am Sunday morning to a persistent movement and pounding noise close by. Initially I couldn't tell whether the sound was coming from within the house or outside. I lay still for a few minutes, my heart beat competing with the intrusive pounding and then decided to walk stealthily through other rooms as I listened. The pounding only got louder and to my ears it sounded like someone was bringing down the right side of the house, brick by brick.

After about 15 minutes, I decided to call someone for help and it was then I remembered that my neighbours on both sides were out of town. This only worked to heighten my panic as it occurred to me that maybe someone was trying to break into either my house or the one on the right (from where I thought the noise was emanating). So, after a little more thought I dialed 911. I explained my situation and said that normally I'd go outside to check it out, but that night I was all alone and I felt afraid.

The patient woman on the other end of the line asked me to be calm as I explained the type of noise I was hearing. Then I went to stand by the main entrance, phone in my hand. Within moments a police car raced into the driveway, lights blazing and as soon as it stopped, two officers jumped out. They did a quick around the house inspection as I watched from within the house and then one of them came to the door and before he could knock, I had it open.

"Hello maam. Are you okay?" The officer inquired. "I think so, thank you." I replied. He continued; "We've checked around the house and there is no one except a raccoon that is walking back and forth on the roof. Would you like to see it?"

I didn't know whether to cry with relief or laugh from embarrassment. A raccoon had become the first reason I've ever called 911. That does not happen to smart, normal people. Needless to say, after all the paperwork was done and my heart had resumed normal beating, I could not stop laughing at myself. And I bet those officers had some fun typing their report that morning. Who was the main character? Me or the poor raccoon stranded on the roof looking confused as to how it got there in the first place?

Esther Wambui/Photos
I took this picture in 2006, when I saw raccoons for the first time in my life.

This particular family lived in our backyard for months

But all laughter and jokes aside, this may be more serious than it looks, according to those friends who can pause between bouts of laughter to comment. You see, I have in my studies and work had the privilege of living in some of the most beautiful yet dangerous cities in the world. I have lived in Nairobi, Kenya, Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa and in Quito Ecuador, among others. In two of these places, I have been a victim of break-ins such that when a similar pounding startled me awake, it did not immediately register to me that I was in Toronto, in a very safe suburban neighbourhood, where break ins are a relatively rare occurrence.

Anxiety Disorder or paranoia? I doubt paranoia. But one of my friends is already joking that it just might be. According to him; “It has to be since you’re one of the most sensible and brave people I know.” Brave or not, all I know is that my yet unborn offspring will know this story whether I am the one to tell it or not. And as for the remaining summer barbecues, I'm sure I'll be an anecdote, and in a “you can’t talk your way out of this” kind of way. Go figure!