my father had left, and my brother had left. Daniel and i were playing video games. i swore i heard noises. at first, i heard papers rustling. sounded like it came from outdoors, at least i thought. so i turned the volume down, to listen. i went and looked at the window, to see if the wind was blowing any treebranches/twigs, and maybe something on my super junky front porch was just moving about.

no wind.

so, i figured that maybe i can't see that far, and went back to the game.

i heard noise again. coming from the back of the house. i had Daniel be quiet again. it sounded like more papers rustling. like someone was going through a pile of papers. but slowly. quietly. it was enough to make my heart race. but not enough to make me panic. i was talking to Daniel, when i heard the footsteps.

yep. footsteps. like someone pacing. and as soon as I told Daniel to be quiet, they stopped.

i put a deathlock grip on Daniel's arm and hurried him quietly into the bathroom. i called 911. i figured, since i was within earshot of the back of the house, i couldn't say anything out of the ordinary.
"hi, can i order a pizza, and have it delivered to (insert address here)?"
"ma'am, you need to call pizza hut. this is the 911 dispatcher."
"SIR I KNOW! (panic in voice, do you not hear it?) i was wondering if they could deliver it to (insert address here.)
"ma'am, goodbye."

i call back again. woman this time. same conversation though.
"NO YOU DON'T GET IT! (whispers, there's someone in my house!)
"there's someone there?"
"I THINK SO! please, have the.. pizza. delivered to (insert address here.)"
"got your address ma'am, the pizzaman is on his way. please, open the door for him."
(thank GOD.)

that was the scariest two minutes ever. what if there was really an intruder? and they had a gun to my head? these are some improperly trained dispatchers.

a policeman came to the door, gun drawn. i broke down crying. told him to check the back of the house check the basement, EVERYTHING. five more officers came with. they searched everything. i had texted Jabari and my brother while they searched. Jabari got there as soon as the police finished up. the police didn't find anyone.

i know what the hell i heard, though. and the only way in our house is through the front door, the garage, (which only my father and I have access to, since we have the remote openers) and the basement, which has a broken window or two, but nothing big enough for a big person to get inside.

i told the officers how i tried to ask for help, and they said that next time, just say the address and hang up. wtf. that's too damn obvious. i'm still mad that the first time i called, i was on hold. WHAT THE HELL? 911 PUTS YOU ON HOLD?!

Jabari stayed with me for an hour and a half after they left. my brother called, finally, but was relieved to hear that Jabari was there. after the police left, I had him follow me as i searched the house again, this time holding a knife. i was taking no chances. we have an old house, i know, but i also know i heard another person. we don't have any animals, and even if we did have something wild about, it ain't big enough to sound like that. it took awhile, but i finally felt better.

still, i got that knife by the bed. and i'm locking my bedroom door before i go to sleep. i know what the hell i heard.

(edit-- i settled for a screwdriver by my bed, since Daniel stands right there in between my bed and my night table. i didn't want him to cut himself. and my brother, 6'2, 330 lbs, who thought i was crazy, woke me up at 5:00 the next day saying that HE heard noises, and asked if i could come with him while he checked it out. all while holding the same knife i had earlier. smh.)