False Alarm

A funny thing happened on the way to my house. Another balmy spring evening whiled away in the park, Swinging through examination blues and unrequited crushes. Those rocky teenage years! Homeward-bound, my best friend and I, Via avenues bowered by cherry blossom in the prime of life. Tranquil thoughts and cheerful chatter. Dusk was falling. Suddenly conversation was curtailed. A twinge of anxiety. Panic over, the crawling car advanced up the road. And stopped! Window down this time! It waited for us to pass then resumed its creeping tempo. The tension rose. We picked up pace. There it was again, the menacing vehicle, awaiting our approach. No words exchanged but a fleeting glance triggered the alarm; A grotesque appearance repelled the eye. Decision made. At the nearest house we rang the bell And explained our anxiety. Our liberator ushered us into the lounge, Where a sea of eccentricity greeted us. The doorbell rang. It was him! Behind us the latch clicked firmly closed. We stood face to face with our ‘pursuer’. And then the penny dropped. He had been checking the house numbers Simply wanting to locate the address Of the fancy dress party. Our ‘good Samaritan offered us a drink. We sheepishly declined, eyes lowered, faces reddened. We made our excuses And laughed all the way home!