In other new stories we’re following
The importance of any news story depends on your proximity to the situation, either physically or emotionally. That’s what allows us to scan through the alphabet soup of the television at suppertime without too much stress (normally). It also provides us with ample small talk for the water cooler, should you happen to have one in your community. I have a news story from last night. I was not party to the story, but I was in both physical and emotional proximity, I am taking ownership. Consider me as the reporter.
Sometime before 4 a.m., I could hear a dog barking. My dog barking, since I recognize her voice after sharing quarters for the last fifteen months. I might have been dreaming, but when others around the house awoke, this took on a more conscious quality. I did not get out of bed, since I hate mid-night crowds. I could also hear doors closing, over and over again, and the lights were on. Time to turn up the conscious level a notch.
Within a short time, the noise stopped, the lights went back to a low glow and the story joined me. Well, not actually the story; more like my spouse as well as the dog. So, here’s what happened. Remember, I was not a witness.
The winds arose through the night, and since the front door was not latched in a “solid” fashion, it went from closed to open. The dog, ever ready to profit from such opportunity, went outside to see if anyone or anything needed her able assistance. Birds begin their conversation about this hour, and she is mightily distracted by robins and grackles, so that may have offered further enticement.
Sometime after, the policeman that lives several doors away came through our street in the prowl car (I’ve loved that term and I’ve been waiting for a chance to throw it in). He noticed our open door, and stopped to see if all was “as it should be”. The dog noticed the man dressed for action and decided to see if all was “as it should be”. Different points of view, similar techniques.
The dog decided that we didn’t need a visit from anyone at this early hour, since she was already on high alert for the man that delivers our newspaper about this time of night, and announced her colours (white, black and red; like the prowl car). The prolonged barking which was just starting to play as background in my dream woke one of the boys. Maybe he wasn’t asleep; I suspect the lightly latched door might be related. Anyhow, he went outside to remind the dog of her obligation to guard the couch. Dressed in underwear (a late night fashion statement) he chased the dog twice around the prowl car before snagging a collar (the dog’s). He then bowed politely to the officer on scene, apologizing for the distraction, and the two returned inside where others took on the task of securely latching the front door against any other gusts of wind.
The officer left the scene. Bemused, amused, confused, who knows? We went back to sleep. As I said, a small news story, really of interest only to those directly involved.
