A little story............

Gabriel has developed the WORST seasonal allergies-so I thought I would go to the basement and wash his pillow. See if you can guess what happened as the story unfolds.

Me: Gabriel, come over here. Go get Mommy's blue bag. It's on the table. No that table. No that table. No that table. On top of the table. Wow, thanks Gabriel. You're a smart boy.
Dial Phone: Marissa, hi. This is Sandra. I saw your car in the driveway this morning. Are you home from school.
Marissa: Yes, I am home till Sunday.
Me: Where are you right now, are you home.
Marissa: Yup.
Me: Great, I was wondering if you could come over and help me out. Do you have that key I gave your mom?
Marissa: Yup, it's right here.
Me: Great, I'm locked in my basement and Gabriel is running about. Would you come over and open the front door with that key and let me out of the basement.
Marissa: Oh, of course, I'll be right over.
RIng Ring: Me: Marissa, the storm door is locked isn't it.
Marissa: Yup, I can't get in.
Gabriel: I'm going to go see Missra. Missra Missra!!!(that's his name for Marissa)
Me: Marissa, I'm going to open the metal basement doors and come out to the front, I'll meet you (in the rain).
(Gabriel has opened the inside door and is looking at us through the storm door, smooshing his face and lips against the glass)
Me: Gabriel, turn the knob and open the door. Turn the lock and open the door for Mommy. Turn it, it's right here, turn the lock, no that way, no the other way.
Gabriel: No, I can't. (He runs away to the back of the house).
Ring Ring: Me: Hello officer, I'm locked out of my house and my two year is old in inside.
Police: A two year old inside, we are on our way.
Police officer: Hi Gabriel, turn the knob and open the lock. Turn it. Turn it the other way. No the other way. Let Mommy in.
Gabriel: No, I can't. (he runs to play again, not concerned that Mommy, Marissa and a police officer are standing on the steps in the rain)

So, the basement door knob got jammed and I couldn't get out. The police officer appeared as though I might need some special attention as I was explaining that I got locked in the basement but was in fact standing on my front steps. I escaped through the large metal basement doors but could not get back in the front door because Marissa did not have a storm door key. Picture me pleading with Gabriel to get my diaper bag from the table so I could reach through the cat hole, get my phone out of the bag and call everyone I thought would could help. Gabriel seemed to understand I couldn't get out of the basement. Interestingly, he was not worried and he did not think it was at all strange that Mommy was giving instructions through the cat hole.

Special thanks to the local police who showed up and forced the door open and very smartly reminded me that if I leave the metal basement doors open my cats will escape. He also suggested that I put a heavy duty lockbox outside in case something like this happens again. The lockbox has been purchased but I can't decide on a place to put it. The knob on the basement door has been replaced. Gabriel was sure to get his play tools to help and make sure Daddy did it the right way.