Tangled Tales: An Unlocked Door

I knew something was off when I came home and both of my cats were sitting on the front porch waiting for me. They were adorable as they came running up to me meowing then ran back to the door. This was weird, since they were both inside when I left. It was also 3:34 am. The wee hours of the morning, not the afternoon.

As I unlocked the front door I was careful not to make any sound. There was an ever so quiet click of the lock, but unless someone was standing right by the door they wouldn’t have heard it. 

The cats ran inside, then they both stopped. One arched her back and fluffed out her tail. That wasn’t a good sign. The other ran up the stairs, no doubt to hide from whoever or whatever was inside of my home. 

The kitchen light was on. Ever so silently I walked towards it. I saw two young men looking around.

“Where is the food. Like, dude, I thought there would be at least sandwich stuff,” said one wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans.

“Just wine and a couple of apples. I see some cheese but no bread or crackers or anything. We can have wine,” said the other, who had curly blonde hair and was wearing shorts and a red long sleeved tee.

“No, you can’t have any of my wine,” I said quietly.

They turned and attempted to bolt from the room. 

“Stop,” I whispered.

They stopped.

“How old are you boys?” I asked. 

“Seventeen, um, we’re both seventeen,” said the one wearing the red shirt.

“You both live on the next street over, on Morning Glory Lane. I’ve seen you around. You’re neighbors. Best friends I take it.”

They nodded.

“Why are you here?”

They both looked scared. They didn’t know why there were there. Well, I actually did know. They thought I was the hot single woman who lived around the corner, and they wanted to check things out. Just stupid teenage boy stuff. Exceptionally stupid stuff.

“Are you here to steal something, or did the opportunity to satisfy your curiosity get to you?”

“We were just curious. I’m sorry. It was a really stupid thing to do. Please don’t call the police or our parents,” said the kid in the red shirt. The other kid didn’t feel like talking.

“I wouldn’t dream of calling your parents or the police,” I said. “But you need to promise me you’ll never do anything like this again. Never.”

Then I blew them a kiss, and I could see them shiver as if I’d thrown them naked out into a blizzard. 

Then I smiled and showed my fangs. 

They stared at me, wanting to ask questions, and wanting to scream and run. But they couldn’t run. I hadn’t released them yet.

“You may go now,” I said. “Stay safe boys. You both have a bright future ahead of you and parents who love you very very much. Don’t do anything stupid.”

They both nodded and I showed them the front door. Then I checked the sliding glass door in the back. I’d forgotten to lock it. Silly me.

Going back into the kitchen I poured some gin on ice and added in a twist of lime and a splash of diet tonic water. Next I called the cats, and they both came running. I kicked off my shoes and we all settled down in front of the TV to watch Local Hero. I hadn’t seen that film for years. Just seemed like a good idea. So much of the story seems relevant now. 

The boys rarely walked down my street after that, but when I saw them I’d wave. They’ve wave back with shy embarrassed smiles.

I know, I could have ripped their throats out. I could have drained them of most of their blood. I could have called the police or their parents. I could have just screamed. I could have offered them a drink. But I let them go. Youth is too precious to waste, or throw away on stupidity. Instead. I put the cold fear of wrong in their souls and embedded it like a cold sharp knife with a barbed end. They’d be fine. I’d be fine too. 

As the sun came up I crawled into bed, the cats curled up next to me. Back to normal, at least until Halloween.

~ end

I just wrote this while waiting for my plane at the Long Beach CA Airport. Safe travels everyone and alway remember to lock your doors. ~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman