I Called 911

To begin with I must tell you that during the middle of a very peaceful night there was a murder in my neighborhood. It happened about 1:15 a.m. I was still awake and working on the computer when I heard the gun shots. It was so unusual to hear any sounds at that time of the night. Most people were asleep and it was too early for the birds to start their wake up songs. The popping sounds were very distinctive. At first I thought that someone had set off fireworks. There were four or five popping noises in rapid succession and then a brief silence. And then came two very distinctive sounds of a gun being fired. Was I hearing this correctly? I hesitated and then ran for the phone. I did what I have never done before. I called 911. The county dispatcher took the information and then patched me through to the local police department. I repeated my story and then I answered all of her questions. She mentioned that it may have been a transformer blowout. I apologized for any inconvenience but I told her I felt very sure that it was gun shots. As we were ending the call the dispatcher told me that other calls concerning the gun shots were now coming in to the police department and she thanked me for calling. I went and sat on the porch and watched as the police and rescue units raced to the house at the end of the next street. Something very bad had happened. The police helicopter with the searchlight lit up the area. Someone was on the run. Eventually I went to bed but I could not sleep very well. Sleep came in short segments. I listened off and on to the birds of the night as they started their early morning songs. Daylight brought the neighbors out of their houses and we watched the comings and goings of the police in my neighborhood. The news was very sad. Jealousy. Stalking. An ambush. Waisted lives. Orphaned children. Very sad. So, I think about the call I made in the very early hours of the day. I heard the sounds. I knew what I should do. A slight hesitation and a mad dash for the phone. I did something. I'm glad I did something.