Sarah Does Stupid Things, Part II

The summer after freshman year, I worked for family friends as a clerk in their home offices. Thom and Jana are each realtors and also own their own property management company. I'd file property files away, organize things and occasionally go out to properties to do a 'walk-through,' examining the condition of the properties, what needed fixing, cleaning, etc.

One day, I went to do a walk-through in a residential neighborhood I've never been to before. I pulled in front of the house and went up to the front door, key in hand. But, the key didn't work. I tried for a bit, then went and walked around to the side of the house to see if there was another way in. I called Jana and she first asked if I had the right house. I'm pretty sure I said 'yes.' Then she said to just try the front door again.

I went back and continued to try and open the door with the key, jiggling the handle and peering through the dark-stained glass on the door. I walked back to the car and looked at the address again (there it is). Yeah, I was at the wrong house.

I'm about to get into the car, when an older man opens the door of the impenetrable house and calls after me. "Hey there, just what do you think you're doing?" At this point, I'm pretty scared. I try to tell him that it was a mistake, I work for a realtor and I had the wrong house. He then tells me to stay where I am because he called the police. My walking around the house on a cell phone and jiggling the door handle freaked him out. He thought I was trying to break in and was calling for backup. He also told me that he had a gun and that I was lucky he didn't shoot me.

So, I waited by my car (which was actually Jana's car she was letting me drive). The cop came and questioned me, and because it wasn't my car, I think he had to look up Jana's insurance. Fortunately for me, I didn't look like someone who was trying to break in, and the look of panic plastered on my face was convincing. The old guy wouldn't let up, reminding me that I could have been shot dead had he not hesitated and waited for the cops. "Um, well, thanks for not shooting me."

They let me go. I drove away terrified, found the right house and ran inside. This time to key worked. I didn't tell Thom and Jana what happened, just that it was the wrong house.

Lesson learned: You never know who has a gun stashed away in their house, ready to use it on any 19-year-old, 5' 4" girl who comes too close for comfort.