It happened on a warm late summer night
we had just gone to bed and turned out all the lights
back in the day, you could leave the door unlocked
it was an age when neighbors would visit but didn’t need to knock
in a small town people always knew each other
the knocking was a formality and no one bothered
but on this particular warm night
we experienced a terrible fright
We had left the back door open and only hooked the screen door
we needed the fan to catch a breeze to cool things down some more
the windows were all open and the night sounds lulled us to sleep
the kids were sleeping soundly you couldn’t hear a peep
I woke up to a noise and I listened intently
I reached over and shook my husband gently
It startled him and he said what’s the matter
I said are you deaf can’t you hear all that clatter
he was quiet for a moment and said what is that sound
it sounds like the screen door is being ripped down
go check it out! Why me he said
I’m the woman you’re the man get out of bed
find out what that noise is all about
He reluctantly got out of bed but did so with a pout
I heard him go through the kitchen then near the back door
he got quiet for a moment so I listened some more
Suddenly he let out a bloodcurdling yell and came running to our room
it woke up the girls so he grabbed them up too
He shoved them in our room and then shut our bedroom door
He was halfway in the bed and half on the floor
I was mustering up some courage for an impending fight
I ask him to tell me what’s out there but he just said be quiet
He tiptoed where he could put his ear to the door to listen a little more
He was out of breath but he said I think they’re gone for sure
you’re never going to believe who it was ripping up our screen
will you enlighten me please and tell us what you’ve seen
they almost got me for sure but my scream sent them packing
I’m ready for them if they come back, their getting a good smacking
He looked at the girls and said you know I blame the three of you
They just looked at him and said why what did we do
you didn’t take the trash to the curb as I ask you to
you left it by the back door for someone else to do
some orange peels from the trash had slipped out on the floor
that mama skunk and her babies couldn’t resist the smell coming from the door
If just one of you would have obeyed
You wouldn’t have to clean up the mess that they made
and you just better be glad
there’s no smell to be had
maybe next time you’ll just obey
