Though not much nice can be said about the pandemic, to the best of my knowledge, there weren’t many school or workplace shootings. There must have been some (this being America after all), however I just don’t really recall any.
As my mind drifted while I was taking an online Workplace Active Shooter Training course required by my company, I couldn’t help but think that, god forbid, during an active shooter situation at my company’s office, the safest place to be was where I was sitting now…at home…in my library office.
Library Office might sound sophisticated and formal, but in reality it’s just one long room comprising three small spaces. On one side is the kitchen, then in the middle is a small dining area, and finally the library. The library consists of basically two chairs pointed towards a fireplace, a couple of bookshelves, and my desk with my computer.
I created this work area because Eilonwy spends a lot of time in this room. She likes it, and for the most part feels safest here. I say for the most part, because on Tuesday mornings the mowers come by, and frankly according to Eilonwy, nowhere is safe! But this room, especially this room, has the best view of the garden and all the wildlife that passes through. Eilonwy and I usually only see rabbits, birds, and squirrels, but we have on rare occasions also witnessed possums, hawks, and even deer. The back porch also used to be where Rocco, our former next door neighbor’s dog, would come visit us. Eilonwy and I both miss Rocco, though I suspect other neighbors don’t.
When I work at home, the cats usually join me for a little while in the mornings. But as we get settled in for our day, they often find a sunny spot and sleep. This morning, Tippi was in the library too. He had been quietly laying on top of the bookcase. Eilonwy had trampled my keyboard a few times early in the morning, then deciding that her contributions to my reports were complete, she felt a nap had been well earned and was now deep asleep on the windowsill.
So, there we all were, in our places, while I watched the required training course.
The computer: “Let’s now look at how an active shooter situation might play out.”
The video showed a conference room with people sitting quietly, reading reports, when suddenly…
BANG!!!
This wasn’t just any BANG though…THIS WAS A MASSIVE BIG BANG. And though the people on the screen looked up in surprise, the bang was clearly RIGHT BEHIND ME.
I JUMPED.
The computer: “What was that?”
I spun around, and there was Tippi staring at me from on the top of the bookshelf.
Back on the computer screen came a little sound.
The computer: “PEW”…..(little pause)…. “PEW”
One of the people in the conference room suddenly spoke.
The computer: “That sounds like gunfire! We have an active shooter in the building!”
I looked back at Tippi, he was still staring at me from the top of the bookshelf. What wasn’t on the top of the bookshelf, however, was the large container of treats that I had placed up there the night before. That container of treats was now on the floor, and to Tippi’s dismay, fully intact.
He looked back at me a little sheepishly.
Tippi: “I wanted to make sure you were paying attention!!!”
The computer: “We should find cover!”
Tippi: “…and maybe I wanted treats! Both are equally important though!”