Posted: 11/11/2005 8:09:50 AM EDT
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I was sitting in my little office when I heard a woman screaming at the top of her lungs. It was persistent and I quickly went outside to figure out where it was coming from. My contractor and his son were hearing it too and we quickly determined it was coming from a house right across the street. I took off across the street and they were following. The screaming continued but not quite as loud or as persistent. I went to the gate at the front of the house and the contractor and his son went to the 10 ft. wall on the street. I was yelling into the front area of the house to get someone's attention and several other neighbors showed up, also wondering what this screaming was about. When the contractor's son looked over the wall he saw the woman and her boyfriend holding their small dog that had drowned in their pool. The pool had been in only about a year. Ironically, a young girl had come onto our property a week ago looking for her lost Pug and the people with the pool had let her put a large sign on their wall about her lost dog...a nice neighborly gesture. I can tell you I'm not happy the dog died but I'm relieved it was not violence related. I felt a little vulnerable as I was pounding on the gate and yelling to these people "what's going on in there?" Probably should have called the cops but I have to say I thought it was pretty damn urgent and didn't want to just sit on my hands waiting for 9-11 to work. |
I was having difficulty trying to figure out just what kind of scream it was. In retrospect it makes some sense that it was grief over the dog. The screams were singular, IOW there was no other sound coming from the area, no furniture being broken, nothing. They were, relatively speaking, healthy screams, full of power and coming regularly at first like there was no interference by another, no muffling etc. |
Several months ago I woke up early Saturday morning to the faint sound of a screaming woman. My wife couldn't even hear it when awake (I woke her up to ask if she'd heard it too), but it woke me right up. Interesting difference in our situational awareness. Anyway, I go investigate and sure enough a neighbor is walking around the culdesac screaming hysterically for help. The neighbor to my left and I both walk out our doors at the same time. What was the fuss about? The lady had locked herself out of the house and her toddler was inside.  That's it. She'd been locked out for a couple of minutes and couldn't find a way back in. The kid was fine and had a big chocolate lab watching over him.Good grief. |
I doubt it. There weren't any children living there and I cant' remember every seeing any. I marvelled at the 10 ft fence when they built it. The footing was HUGE. I guess because the wall was on a fairly main (4 lane) street they had to have a 10 footer rather than a more typical 6-8 foot one. We've been thinking about putting in a pool. Guess we'll think some more on it. |
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Well, at least her name was not Kitty Genovese!! But seriously-woman screaming, I would go the other way. Because it's usually that she is getting her ass whooped for the ump-teenth time by her gang-banger boyfriend and when you come to the "rescue" with your fat gut and camo jacket, (ARFCOM stereotype!) she will help her boyfriend kick the shit out of you!!! |
boy its good to know what a brave man you are. So when you see an old lady getting beat up in the street you just circle around with the 50 other sheeple and gawk too or what? I agree that in your scenario its probably best not to get involved. But the least you can do is go check to make sure that something worse is not going on. C'mon man, its that attitude right there that allows predators to operate. |
Well good on you for stepping up.  |
Without visual confirmation that is too hard of a call.....my M.O. would be to get a visual and then ask ( by yelling??? ) if it is her boyfriend or husband....if it is then walk away....if it isn't then time to call the po po or take approprite action. You still may get burned...but at least you have asked.... |
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It turns out there is a kid living there. The wife thinks it's around 2 years old. There was a cover on the pool (just the light plastic for keeping the heat in) and NO security fencing. I worked with a guy and his wife who had a child drown in their pool. Then it nearly happened again with their second child a few years later. The bureaucracy stepped in then and I'll bet their life has never been the same. |
And just call the cops, and let them deal with it. Otherwise, being a Good Samaritan could get you sued..... 
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Something similar happened to me a few months back. On my way to work, this woman nearly jumps in front of my truck to get my attention. She's locked herself out with her kids inside and she's frantic. She tells me to break in the door, but I offer to find a window that may be open first. She says she can't wait any longer and insists that I go through the door. No problem. I put my shoulder into it a couple of times, while holding the handle, to keep it from wrecking the wall, and in it goes. I was surprised at how easy a double door gave way. Now she's happy and I got to break something. Win-win. 
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| No, asshat, I don't stand around and gawk-I go the other way. I am not responsible for anybody's safety other than my family. It's the other person's responsibility to get a gun and protect themself. I went through the time and expense to protect what's mine and dear to me, it's not my fault if somebody else did not. Fuck 'em. |
 I'd hope someone would at least offer to help my wife or daughter or sister supposing they were in trouble not of their own making. |
Your board name is very appropriate. |
I hope you are never in need of help and only people like you are available. What you said before has some merit, but, (and it's a BIG but) if you could allow an innocent person to come to harm when you could have helped, well you're a differnt man than I. Vic out. |