Frightening Moment They Won\'t Hear

¶ … Frightening Moment

They won't hear a scream so don't bother." I had seen movies in the past where similar statements were used. My mind went into slow motion. Why on earth did I decide going to the grocery store at 1 a.m. was a wise move? The next few minutes would be the most frightening of my life.

It began innocently enough. We were out of milk and when there is a 12-year-old in the house milk is an absolute necessity. I had to be at work in the morning so I knew there would be no time before leaving. At that moment, the most logical solution to me was to go to the store before going to bed and get some.

I had been to this store so many times I felt I should have a parking place named for me. We had lived in the area long enough to know all of the neighbors, the cashiers and have a passing nod relationship with others who frequented the store, but I had not gone late in the evening before.

On this particular night it was raining. Normally I would think that rain would be excellent protection from what was about to happen to me. Looking back I wonder how I was so naive to think that carjackers were afraid to get wet. It turned out rain provides enough background noise that no one would have heard my scream. In addition, a carjacker hiding behind an umbrella with a gun is less noticeable than someone holding a gun without the visible protection of an umbrella, but in any case, these are things I know now and didn't know on that fateful night.

A made my way to the store and easily maneuvered into the parking place. The brand new Honda that I had received from my husband for my birthday the week before, handled very well when it came to turning into corners and parking places.

I remember walking through the store and thinking "I should shop here late at night more often, no wait, no lines, its great!"

Little did I know that idea would be changed forever in a few short minutes.

I remember making idle chitchat with the cashier and leaving the store. Funny how when one watches CSI one ALWAYS notices the strange man lurking in the shadows isn't it? In real life its not that easy.

A approached the car and had my key in the lock just as I noticed movement at the corner of my eye.

He was quick, I'll give him that. He had an open umbrella shielding his activities from the rest of the world as he shoved me hard, against the door of the car. I felt the gun before I saw it but I knew the minute I saw it that he was not a good person.

Nice car, now gimme the keys or I shoot and take them anyway."

The voice was cold. I remember thinking "But my husband gave it to me for my birthday, he is going to be mad!"

As I looked around the parking lot I saw that it was empty except for me and my new companion. I did see inside the store, just inside the door there were two people waiting in line at the checkout.

As if he read my thoughts he jammed the gun barrel into my back and said "They won't hear a scream so don't bother."

It was then I knew I was dead. I thought about my child waking up in the morning and stumbling down the stairs, knowing there would be milk in the fridge. I thought about my husband who would be awakened by officers at 5 a.m. And his anguish as he crumpled into a chair trying to process what they were saying and strangely I thought about my pet cat that wouldn't have anyone to lap sit with now that I would be gone.