It was going to be a great morning. For once, I was on schedule: a full cup of coffee down the hatch, three plastic bags in my jacket (just in case), kennel preloaded with toys and out the door in time to get around the block with the hound and still catch the 8:15 22A.
And then, I recognized the lightness of pocket that is keylessness.
It has been a while since I’ve felt that sensation. (Before the summer 2000 incident is mentioned, let me note that that was a key card situation, not a key situation. And I had no pockets.)
This time, after a fruitless trip to the management office, dog in tow, and 20 minutes loitering by the front door hoping a neighbor would emerge. But even when one did, my rusty lock-carding skills failed against the door to the apartment.
Much to Belby’s confusion, we returned, defeated, to the back yard. I pried loose the screen over the bathroom shower window, draped my jacket over the still-wet sill, and boosted myself over the patio steps, through the window and head-first into the bathtub.
Everyone survived, unscathed, even my nice-ish pants. (One large spider was dislodged from the screen track.) Belbs got another hour of freedom. The only one to suffer was Melissa, after I took the bus to her school and swiped our car from the parking lot to make up lost time.
A great story, a happy ending! Hopefully, you told Melissa why her car disappeared!