An Unexpected Visitor at 4:45 a.m.

Recently, my husband Randy and I were sleeping soundly in the wee hours when our terrier, Libby, started barking. Only this wasn’t her usual “hearing a raccoon meandering outside” half-hearted growl. This was a full-throated, loud, angry protest. She leapt off the bed and stood by our front window, yapping in a maddened frenzy. Nervous at what I’d find, I crept over, and peeked out.

An unknown white sedan sat idling in our driveway, with its headlights on. Even scarier, a person was walking up our dark front walkway, with a flashlight. My first instinct was to call 911, but then I noticed something. The person wore a blue Amazon vest. I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so vision was blurry, but it looked like a woman with shoulder-length brown hair. She carried a package to our front porch, took a quick picture of it with her phone, and then made her way back to her waiting car. She drove off.

I came back to bed and told Randy what had happened. He nodded, grumbled something, and fell back to sleep. So did Libby. Of course, I lay there, brooding.

Since when does Amazon deliver at 4:45 a.m.? And, what if this wasn’t really an Amazon driver, but someone intent on breaking in? What if they had donned that familiar vest as a ruse to get on the property? Had this been a botched burglary, foiled by a 12 lb. Yorkie?

All these thoughts raced through my mind as the minutes and hours ticked away. I never fell back to sleep.

Later, I brought in the package, addressed to my mom, who lives with us. She verified that it, indeed, came from Amazon.

Now, I have to say here, I have unending admiration for these drivers. They work in every weather, every condition. They come up our hilly driveway on the snowiest days. They’re always nice. They do their job in all seasons, all climates, and now apparently—all hours.

But 4:45 a.m.?

I went on the Amazon site to lodge a complaint, but then hesitated. I don’t like getting anyone into trouble. I decided if it happens again, I’ll have no choice but to say something. I can’t have Amazon deciding when I sleep and when I wake up in the wee hours, clutching my blanket in fear.

And as much of a pain as she is, I must give credit where credit is due. I once heard a policeman say, “Most burglars won’t break into a house if they hear a barking dog.” Although her guarding skills weren’t needed after all, it’s nice to know Libby’s on duty 24/7, even leaping out of a sound sleep to protect her pack.

Meanwhile, I hope this doesn’t happen again. My nervous system couldn’t take it. Plus, we all need peaceful slumber. Even guard dogs, like Libby.

 

Have you had a late-night scare that turned out okay? Comments are always welcome and if you’d like to receive posts by email, just press here. Thank you!