Oh wow! It’s 3am and I was watching TV in my bedroom next to my sleeping wife, in my boxers. I was flipping through the channels when I heard a scream. Now this isn’t out of the normal. Around this time many people come home from the bars drinking and hoohaaaing and carrying on, but then a second scream, a blood curdling cry for someone to “HELP ME!”. The sound was an obvious panic stricken burst of desperation from a lady who thought that she was about to get robbed, raped, or worse.

I would like to say that “without thinking I leaped and saved the day” but I did think. I thought enough to grab my 7iron and my shorts (next to the bed) and I ran outside.

Note; My golf bag is in my closet and it’s propped up in a large windowsill. When I grabbed my club I dropped my bag to the ground making a crashing noise, and it was only that noise that woke up my wife. She sleeps real, real, heavy.

Running outside I saw a woman (I’ll call her Lady) who looked to be in her late 20’s and she was hysterical. I asked her if she’s ok and she said yes. She told me that a man in a ski mask came up from behind and grabbed her. When she screamed he ran away. At that time a lady from across the street (I’ll call her neighbor) came over talked to Lady and walked her home. While neighbor walked away she gave me a dirty look. Now at this time I’m standing out there with a 7iron and my shorts unzipped and halfway on, but at that point I was so pumped full of adrenaline that I couldn’t get the wits to explain myself. I’m sure, I hope, that Lady told neighbor that I wasn’t there for sinister intentions.

So they left and I went back inside. My wife is wondering what the hell is going on so explained to her what happened, the best I could, considering how freaked out I was. After a grunt like interpretation of circumstances she went back to sleep. But for me, I can’t sleep! I’m so freaking pumped. I laid in bed for like a second and then my wits came back and I called the cops to tell them what happened and to have a cruiser around here to patrol the area and maybe even find the guy. After I called the cops I took a Tylenol PM, and I’m waiting for the effects to kick in so I can get some rest. In the mean time I thought I would right out what happened, to get it out of my system. That’s probably why it sounds like I’m rambling.

God, I hope I never here someone scream like that. That was a sound that was truly from someone who felt terror.

Now for the tips. This is useful for Chicago but it’s also helpful tips to know no matter where you are. If you go out, don’t go alone, don’t walk in the allies, try to stay on well traveled streets, and if you are attacked, I always tell My wife to yell “FIRE!” people tend to pay attention to that, but nevertheless just yell something. I think Lady is alive because of her of her screams. That probably gave the guy a scare.

Sorry this is so long, but wow, that was just horrible and I feel so bad for her, and a bit sad for us as people. Now if could just stop shaking and fall asleep. I wish I would of gotten out there faster to catch this man, no strike that, this scum, nothing I would love better to do right now then to make him regret his existence.

Anyway, thanks for listening, errr, reading.