Breaking & Entering

It was a windy night, just after Christmas, when my very good friend and I went for a drive to her friend's house. Armed with a village map, we got to the house rather quickly and without missing a turn. We could see that the house lights were turned on so we instinctively knew that there was a living soul in the house. Also, my friend was positive that at least one maid was inside because "they would not leave the dog unaccompanied." So we rang the bell -- no response, we tapped at the iron gate -- no response, we shouted our "tao po's" -- still no response. It was at this time that I studied the gate closely (it was the type that is made of iron bars, the type where you can see through, and actually put your hand through) and found out that it was not padlocked. I lifted the bar and the gate opened easily. With the gate open, we had no recourse but to step inside the garage. Looking at each other, we went separate ways, I went to the left, closer to the main door, while she went to the right, to another smaller gate leading to the laundry area and kitchen. As I peered through the window, she announced that the smaller gate was also open. Heart thudding, and mind racing, we both knocked -- I, on the window near the front door, she, on the door at the side entrance. After several seconds, a maid, hair tousled from sleep, opened the side door and let us in.

Whew! What a relief!!! To finally find out that she was alive!!!

To explain the last sentence . . . My friend & I, without talking about it, had our imaginations on overdrive as soon as we stepped into the garage. I was imagining bloody walls and floors, while she was imagining that she would soon be the bloody one!! So great was our relief that it was just our minds playing tricks on us.

Although we still think she should have had the gate padlocked.