I was sitting at my desk working on my book when I heard loud voices. Thinking it was just the workers or maybe someone’s grandkids visiting, I turned on my sound machine and thought nothing of it. I’d had enough of the landscaping, sawing and hammering throughout the day and I really wanted to concentrate on what I was doing.

About a half-hour later Tom got home and asked me what was going on. I said, “What are you talking about?” And he told me there were tons of cop cars in back of the house, including a firetruck and park officials. My first thought was that someone tried to steal something at the house that’s being flipped, like maybe some appliances.

But then Tom said he wondered if someone might’ve gotten hit by a car, but that it was unlikely they’d been killed because there was no police tape up. Curious, I went out to see what I could find out. A somewhat attractive policewoman was just leaving with a few patrol cars. There was a couple and a woman I’d never seen before who had been talking to her. When I approached them and asked what was going on, they told the cop that they would fill me in. So a frail woman named Connie J who was part of the neighborhood crime watch told me that an outsider came in to rummage through people’s trash that was put out for today’s bulk pickup that they do three times a year. When spotted by maintenance workers, the guy was told to leave. My first thought was why it mattered if it was stuff no one wanted anyway, but in reality, no one should have any reason to come into this village unless they’re invited… family, friends, caretakers, delivery people…

Anyway, the guy got pissed and they exchanged some words. At that point, Jon went out to assist them, phone in hand ready to take a picture of the license plate. Then the guy jumped back in his truck, barreled toward Jon and hit him. Carolyn said that she had been working in her office when she decided to go out and see if he needed help with anything and when she got outside she found him on the ground.

How scary! That would’ve been a terrifying and traumatic scene to have witnessed, and there were witnesses. Sadly, though, they haven’t caught the fucking cock.

I also learned from Connie that the woman in the news who was killed by an escaping robber at our local Rite Aid lived here.

Violence and death can strike a little too close to home at times. I could jog to this Rite Aid and Jon was hit right outside our house. I told Virginia about it a little while ago and she and Bob were leaving to take their daughter out for her birthday. I was surprised she didn’t know about it. She’s right next to us, though 20 feet or so further from the scene. Still, the cop cars extended back by their place. They were probably in the living room watching TV on the other side of their house.

As Connie said, we really need to start keeping these gates shut all the time and not just at night. This is one of the most upscale parks in the area. This shit shouldn’t be happening here. I hope they catch the guy. I would totally want to catch and lay anyone’s guts open that hurt Tom. If they catch him, it’s too bad Jon isn’t already in his 70s. He will be in February, but from what I heard, attacking somebody 70 or older is a more serious crime. I also hope the punk isn’t black so they don’t get a chance to play the fucking race card. Black, white, green, red, blue… chances are that with all the millions of vehicles out there the guy will never be caught. Who knows what kind of trace evidence may have been left behind? I wonder if the guy wonders if he might have killed the person he hit. Hopefully, he’ll be dumb enough to brag about his lovely deeds to the wrong person. Or at least trip and fall into a cactus.

Later in the evening, Carolyn reported that although he is bruised, cat scans and x-rays show that he’s otherwise okay. It would have been sad to lose him. Most of his Facebook posts are hilarious. I offered to bring some coffee over if they wanted, promising not to use any mugs with rat silhouettes. She laughed.