I’m used to depending on food delivery on busy days since I’m a single mum. Ravi, our regular delivery guy, was a known face to my kids. He always smiled and gave them high fives. But something wasn’t right one Tuesday.
Ravi came in stressed and quiet, and he gave me our food without saying a word. His strange behaviour confused me. I was interested until I saw a handwritten note on the delivery bag. Then my interest turned to worry.
“CHECK YOUR TRASH CAN.”
With my heart pounding, I told my kids to wash up while I looked into it. The message kept going through my mind as I walked up to the trash cans. When the lid of the second can was lifted, gloves, tools, and an unknown liquid were found inside.
I felt a rush of panic. The most recent break-ins in our neighbourhood used the same methods. Was my house next?
When I called the sheriff’s office, Leona’s serious voice made me feel better. “Don’t touch anything.” “I’m going to.”
It was hard for me to wait because I was worried about my kids’ safety and innocence. Leona showed up, and I told her about Ravi’s warning and the scary results.
The lab test proved what I thought would happen: the liquid was a corrosive that was used to make locks less strong. But because Ravi and Leona thought and acted quickly, a horror that could have happened did not happen.
When I confronted Ravi at a neighbor’s house, I found out that he had seen strange people messing with my trash. He was brave and saved my family.
After that, I made our home safer by adding security cams and patrols. I knew I wasn’t alone, even though the danger was still there. Because Ravi was alert, Leona worked hard, and I was determined, an event that could have been very bad turned into a story of community and strength.
I stayed alert while watching the security feeds and was thankful for the unexpected helpers who had kept my family safe.
