Outside Looking In

I have been gone a few hours. Liam is probably upstairs dreaming of rolling in the deep grass, red Kong bone nearby. I open the outside door, known as the storm door or screen door according to the season. Unlock the inner door. I am in. Dump my keys, latte, handbag on the counter. I hear Liam's tags jingling as he rumbles down the stairs. In seconds he will be in the kitchen. A click click of his nails on the patch of wooden floor, he's here next to me, takes a few leg licks (mine), an upward sniff at my latte and he is at the door.

INNER DOOR AND OUTER DOOR

Later for the latte, later for more licks. He wants out. I open the outside door and he propels along the side twirling to a stop at the bird hangoutI step out to watch on the stoop (showing my Queens roots)  Outer door clicks shut. I watch Liam search the bushes for birds
                                                                     sniffing for a scent, a sign
                            and then play
                    a roll over
   then back to business another look
     reaching for that unsuspecting bird or squirrel or bunny.We have only limited time to spend outside. A severe thunderstorm is being threatened. Some clouds are darkening and a heavy breeze is throwing hot air around. Might be a spot shower, the new kind that are just over one town or a few blocks. Add in those biting blood suckling insects. I have no protection. All my weapons inside. Just a few minutes more. Okay, time to get inside. I grab the outer door handle. No movement. Again, pull, push, rattle and yes, kick...ouch. body slam. Nothing. The outer door is stuck closed and I am stuck outside. What! Jammed. Has it locked itself? I assess my situation. No car keys. No front door house keys. No phone. No coat, Storm coming...lightning, rain, flash flood, tornado. We have no garage, no shed, no awning, no overhang.  No place to hide. Insects are gathering...all my zappers, candles, insect repellents are inside.

MOM, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Liam comes around, hearing the storm and smelling my worry. I try all the first floor windows thinking that if I can get the screens off I can push up the windows and climb inside and I know Liam can leap, climb, follow me. All downstairs windows latched. If I had a ladder I could climb to the upstairs where there is an open window. Our ladder is in the basement.

HOW MUCH LONGER?

Storm is closer, I feel the wind, insects lighting  I have minutes before I am drenched, bitten, struck by lightning.  Liam off leash, no thundershirt, hater of all water. We cannot stay out here. I take a rock, yes I pick the one inscribed "hope"  the whimsy pleases me. I resolve to hit the outside door, pushing in the glass panel.  Really? Break our door? With a rock?? Are the neighbors watching?  I hit the glass with the rock. Nothing. I look around. No one. I figure a few hard whacks will dislodge the glass panel. We have not yet gotten around to inserting the screen. Whack! The force of the hit throws me back. Not a dent. This is not glass but some new miracle blended substance. Unbreakable. Which is really commendable except now. Seconds now till the storm. Where will Liam and I hide?  Knock on a neighbor's door? Liam's leash is inside. I will have to carry him. He will force his way out of my arms in seconds. Run into the street. I cannot even hold him in the house he breaks free. No I cannot do it. I try again. Another whack...this time I slam the handle of the door, I hit it fiercely a few times, it opens. Why did it lock and why did it now open?  We race in. Safe.  Don't know why the door jammed. First thing I do is sip my latte...still warm...ah. I do not want a repeat, so I think of...

Solutions

build a garage

build a shed

build an overhang

leave a ladder outside (hidden)

when going outside

leave all doors open

leave windows unlatched

take car keys

take front door key

take Liam's leash 

take phone

all of the above

..or just keep the Hope rock handy. Keep Hope around!

LIAM DOING MUCH NEEDED DOGA TO RELAX

Woof, Woof