Crazy Nights

It was around 11:30 pm, Thursday night that Steve and I heard the crackling.  Sounded like rain on the roof, but it wasn't raining when we looked outside our bedroom window.  I saw orange flames reflected off a neighbors house window down the alley and looked at Steve, "that's got to be fire!".  We threw something appropriate on over our pajamas and took off down the stairs, Cyclone barking behind us.  In the alley, a fire truck screamed by and stopped at a garbage bin about 4 houses down.  Flames were reaching up the telephone pole and was climbing the neighbors fence.  It was all over in about 10 minutes, but the remains of a discarded mattress smoldered.  Steve saw a lady standing nearby, we found out she was a "alley neighbor" across from us and had just returned from a late choir practise at her church (believer? of course!).  We stood chatting for awhile and went back to bed.  We were up twice more that night with gang activity across the street and phone calls to the police.  I allowed myself to sleep in that morning!

Last night, again up at 3 am with someone being chased down the street and sounds of a fight brewing.  Police action broke that up, but as some members ran away and were hiding between the houses opposite of us, Steve called the police and again with their location.  Then (as he described) four police cars, with search lights when up and down our street and alley way trying to find the guys hiding.  Steve could see them, but the cops couldn't and he said it was almost comical the way they kept passing each other on the road, searching.  They never found them.

7:15 am, Saturday morning.....more sirens scream down our street and stop at the "gang house" across from us.  Hoses, axes, windows smashing, smoke rising from top floor.  2 hours later, boards go up and the door is nailed shut.  Burned out, dumped and now left derelict....this small house endured a parting gift of the evicted gang members.  And now peace.  We can hear the rain, smell the fresh air of spring dripping off new leaves.  Birds looking for worms and our new flowers looking pretty in our yard.  It was two busy nights, alot of fear and tension, alot of great talks with neighbors.  so many questions in creating a safe and fruitful neighborhood.  Meanwhile, I'm hoping to get a good rest tonight.  We pray for peace.