Afraid of the Dark

Late one recent night, Mr. Burroughs had gone out to check the mailbox when he saw two green, glittering eyes, triangular ears “and the general impression of height” in the shadows. When the creature began to walk toward him, Mr. Burroughs ran into the garage, fearing for his life. “Our skinny, gym-polished urban bodies are no match for anything that scratches its back on a tree,” he said. “Whatever it was, it was both curious and unafraid — two traits one does not admire in wildlife when one is alone in the dark.”

And it’s not just what lurks outside that sends imaginations running wild. Even the houses themselves can send chills up one’s spine. “You climb into bed, and suddenly you hear groans, creaks and low, deep thumping sounds, as though there are rabbits trapped inside the walls, or fingers gently teasing the exterior window frames,” Mr. Burroughs said. “Not a night goes by that I am not absolutely convinced somebody has entered the house and they do not have a conscience.”

Manhattanites and country living has been the inspiration for many a film.  Usually, comedies.

I’ve known a few people who were longtime NYC residents who needed a tape of traffic sounds playing or a loud TV to fall asleep at night.  It’s interesting how the environment you’re used to acclimatizes you so that a change to something more serene can seem threatening. 

1. I love how all these people make a point of discussing how afraid they are that their new neighbors in the country have--gasp!--guns, and how profoundly disturbing that is to them.
   Then they go back to NY, where the “neighbors” that have guns aren’t the smiling country folks on the next acreage over, but vicious, amoral, predatory gangbangers...and breathe a sign of relief.

   Posted by  on  10/28  at  04:10 PM

2. If they bought a gun they could save all that money on security systems. A cheap motion alarm and a .50 caliber is all you need.

   Posted by  on  10/29  at  02:21 PM
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