Goldilocks and the Three Bears...

Really odd happening at our house a couple nights ago..
I and my daughter and my niece (who is living with us) went to a Basketball game at 6:30 that evening. My youngest son was playing at the auditorium in town and we three girls were going to go shopping for a few things after the game. It takes about an hour for the game.
While we were into the game about half an hour, my other Son who lives down the road was calling to ask what quarter the game was in and he might stop in to watch. I told him it was about over, so he went on home and since he had been ice fishing for the day...he would be stopping at my house to pick up his dogs. ( He leaves them at my house when he is gone..because they would just run over anyway if he didn't) He doesn't live but 1/4 mile away.
So he stopped at my house to pick up his pups and came in the house to drop off my mail.

He noticed the daughters car was home and assumed she was also home..not thinking that she may of gone to the game with me. He also noticed a silver pickup sitting in the driveway and thought she had company. He heard someone holler "come in" when he came in my house and it sounded like the person was answering from Nickys room. He didn't respond and thought they were just being dopey....
He was driving back to his house when he gave me a call and told me Nicky had company at the house. I stopped short and said..."WHAT?? Nicky is sitting right beside me here at the game!!!
Well, it didn't take long for him to turn that pickup around and he was heading back to my house to confront whoever was there.
Thats when I sorta panicked and called 911 saying someone had entered my home and I was not home...I may have babbled a bit...but it didn't take the operator long to understand quickly the story. Then I freaked a little more worrying about my Son who was going back into my house and the person who was inside my home may harm him. So I called Son back pronto while I am racing home. My son was quite calm and said the man was disoriented acting and seemed drunk but he was making himself at home quite comfortably. This stranger had laid down on my daughters bed then he had helped himself to yogurt and hung his coat in the closet. He had already eaten a biscuit and had a bottle of pop. My son calmly asked why he thought it was OK to enter someones home when they weren't home. He said "The dogs were nice"! (and I am wondering what my Guardian Dogs were doing...licking his hand no doubt! My son told him to sit down and we would be waiting for someone to show up. I don't doubt the man knew he was not going anywhere. My son had a firm grasp of the situation.

I arrived home before the law enforcement got there and I also questioned him but could see in an instant that he did seem drunk or high on something...but harmless. It was sorta sad actually, but he drove a nice vehicle and dressed well. He truly displayed some mental disfunction but was a slight man that even I could of toppled. He appeared to be around 50 and was just a little nervous but there was something about him that reminded me of my Father-In-Law when he suffered dimentia.
I remember asking Colin while racing home, if HE was OK and if this guy would do anything before law got there..could he handle it! Colin said..with a chuckle...(ahh Yea!)
While I was shocked and mad and felt very vulnerable, upon seeing this man it took me an instant to realize he was not right in a very sad way.
Don't get me wrong, I pressed charges for trespassing, but I also stated many times that he needed a mental evaluation. We had 3 law enforcement vehicles sitting in my driveway with all the lights and they had a tow truck arrive to take away the vehicle. Funny part was watching my neighbors slowing down to a crawl on the road by my home. Bet they were wondering.

We didn't sleep well that night! The girls are still talking big about the fact that "They could of kicked butt" but they also realize he was a sad case.
Only one of the officers displayed aggressive attitude and said "I tell you what, if a guy would of been in my house...I would of killed him". GEEZ...I told him...wouldn't you have sized up the situation a little better first? He stated..."NOPE..not at all Maam..I would of killed him right there". Gad!! and to think he might enjoy the fact that he has that right!! We learned quite a few things that night, but now after I look back, we handled this very well and this strange man was quite lucky he picked our house...or he might not be here!
Now to have a talk with Atticus and Tess....