Author's note: In an attempt to preserve some of the stories and culture of the United States Postal Service, I will occasionally share a post such as this. I wrote this on April 13, 2010 and it took place at 168 E. College Avenue in Cedar City, Utah. As mail carriers, we face dogs all the time and sometimes things don't end so well.
I stepped outside my mail vehicle with a watermelon-sized parcel in my hand with the words “Fragile” written all over. The mail slot was inserted through a lattice wall that separated the sidewalk from the three apartments inside the fence. This package I would have to deliver to the door.
I turned off my truck, slid the door shut, locked it, and slid the key ring onto my middle finger. Having had to deliver a certified letter here a few weeks ago, I was somewhat familiar with the premises inside this mini-compound. There was a large fence that surrounded the perimeter of all three apartments. But to get to these apartments, another gate and fence had to be traversed. None of the apartments showed a number, so I had no idea which door I was looking for.
I entered through the second gate and slid shut the latch behind me. I saw a door in front of me and another to my right and debated which one I should knock on. I walked over to the door on the right and glanced through the adjacent window which gave the appearance of vacant lodging. No furniture, no shelves. Just carpet and empty walls.
As I turned to my left, I noticed the stir of a white animal in front of the far apartment. Suddenly, a crazy mongrel swept towards me, barking violently with every step until he was right in front of my body. I didn't know what else to do so I kicked him hard on the side of the face. This knocked him back and sidewards, but I was hoping he would whimper and run away. He didn't. He was mad. The roaring from his throat became more intense and he turned back towards me. I about lost the package as I kicked him, as well as the keys that were around my finger. I readjusted the parcel and slipped the keys off of my finger and into the chest pocket of my shirt. The package I held out, my arms mostly extended, and at the level of the dog's face.
He was a stocky mutt, a body builder if there was such among dogs. His white fur was short and clean, but about all I took notice of was his mouth and teeth. His bark echoed in the little breeze-way where we stood, he and I face to face. He didn't stop. His jaw and teeth incessantly moved up and down like one of those little toys you saw as a kid, a skull that you could wind up and watch the mouth chatter. I didn't know if his mouth was vibrating or if it was the pulsating inside my head.
I didn't know what to do. No one seemed to be home because surely they would have heard the din and rushed out. I searched around for anything to grab, something that I could throw at him or jab him with: a chair, weights from a dumbbell set, a rock. Maybe the package. But every time that I would lean towards the rock or the weights, the dog stepped forward. He was looking for his opportunity to lunge and wrap his sharp fangs around my leg.
By this time, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. Perhaps we would stand off all day long until somebody came to my rescue. The gate that held the route for my escape was probably fifteen feet away.
I took a step towards him and was pleased to see him step back. His intensity didn't quit, however, as his high-pitched cries shrilled from his mouth. The corners of his lips pulled back and his white teeth, all as sharp as knives, looked ready to bite me.
Once again I stepped towards him, and again he stepped back with his rear leg, and again I did it and this time he almost fell to his haunches. I didn't take my eyes off him though, because I knew that once I did, he would be on my leg quicker than a bear on a salmon.
At last I was at the gate and with my left hand I felt behind me and unlatched the lock and slid my left leg and then my body through the opening and into safety. Quickly I fumbled around shutting the gate and latching the lock and still the hound was within the walls yapping and growling and mad. But I was out and safe. Now all I would need was time to let my heartbeat return to normal. ♠
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