The naughty intruder (428)

I heard my mobile ping. It was 4 am. My husband had not yet recovered fully from a viral fever that lasted a week. He was asleep. Half asleep I looked at my phone.

“Don’t make noise. I am on the ground floor and have entered your house" read the text.

I saw the number. It was my hubby's mobile.

"How did you get my hubby's mobile? He is sleeping by my side" I texted nervously.

"Did you not see that I am in your house? I borrowed his phone for a short while. Don’t wake him up. He seems unwell and I am fully armed.” said the reply I was numb with fear at the thought he had been to our bedroom.

Another message came "I warn you not to call police. I can harm you people and get away if I hear a police vehicle."

I saw my hubby snoring blissfully. I knew I should handle this manic carefully. I did not mind losing some money if he was after money. I was worried about another thing. I have been reading almost daily cases of assault on women. I did not know the intruder's age or his intentions. I started sweating and did not wish to make the slightest noise lest my hubby awoke. He is an impulsive guy and given to rushing without a plan.

"What do you want?" I texted

"Nothing much. Please come down.I will tell you"

Oh my god, what a cheek. Surely a maniac on the prowl is here. I took a baseball bat and slowly opened the adjacent room where my nine-year-old son was sleeping. He was asleep with his head covered by a bed sheet as he does always. As I shut the door gently another text followed.

"Do not delay. Come down quick"

I replied "Unless you tell me what you need specifically, I cannot come"

"Don't be afraid. There is nothing to fear”

"I told you very clearly to tell me what you need. If you don't tell within two minutes, I will ring up the police come what may "

One minute passed. The second minute was coming to an end. The text came promptly.

"I am hungry. I want Italian-style Macaroni with cheese"

I rushed to my little son's bedroom and pulled the bed sheet to see him holding hubby's mobile and looking for a message from me He is a mischievous boy given to pranks but it was the Macaroni and cheese that gave away as he wanted it in the evening.