There is no comparable feeling to that panic you feel the instant you know you are "locked out." I arrived home one evening after an enjoyable night out and at the door I suddenly remembered my house keys were inside on the kitchen counter. I experienced that sudden sinking feeling of being prevented from entering your own home while standing just inches from the inside. My house was locked tighter than Fort Knox. I had recently installed security locks on every window and an alarm system. Without smashing a safety glass window there was no way in.
While sitting down on the front step to ponder my options, my automated sprinkler system engaged and sent me running for cover. Soaked and frustrated I made my move. A few moments with my Blackberry and a quick phone call and the locksmith was on his way.
Within fifteen minutes the locksmith arrived like a knight on a shiny white Ford F150.
I hadn't ever given any consideration to what was possible with the locks themselves, only their intended purpose. My routine consisted of locking the doors when I left home and checking them before retiring each night. The locksmith introduced himself as Johnny and began examining the lock with a bright flashlight. He was a young guy, looking as if he should be at a frat party somewhere instead of here working.
"How long have you been doing this?" I asked. "I should ask you the same thing," he responded with a smile. "This is the first time I have been locked out." "Looks as if you tried to use a screw driver to get in," he stated.
I moved in for a look. Sure enough there were scratches all over the lock and on the wooden door.
"I just arrived here and didn't notice that. My lock wasn't all scratched up when I left earlier." "You have a handle lock and deadbolt though this will only take a few minutes," he assured me. "I do replace locks after break-ins. Your entry way is dark and secluded. You might consider placing a light out here. Do you have an alarm system?" Johnny asked.
"Yes I recently had one installed." I responded. "You might also want to get these two locks keyed the same," Johnny suggested. "What do you mean?" "You would just have one key for the top and bottom locks." "That would be great. I have three exterior doors and each one has two locks so I could reduce my house keys from six to three?" I questioned. "Well if you've got the cash to replace the lot you could have just a single key for all of the doors," he told me.
One house key! Was I dreaming? This was the very first home I'd bought and though the house fairly old, it was in excellent shape. I had marked all the old keys with a black felt tip pen which kept coming off and there I would stand in front of my door like a safecracker trying to get in playing the key guessing game.
Then like the sudden opening of a pyramid that had been sealed for centuries he pushed my door open. All of the sudden I felt relieved, as if everything was as it should be in the world once again.
"There you are," Johnny announced. "That was fast. Thank you. How long did you say you have been doing this?" "I didn't. I have been doing this almost twenty years." "Why you look barely twenty years old." I exclaimed. "My father taught me everything I know. He was a master locksmith. He began bringing me with him on calls when I was barely four years of age."
I took Johnny's advice and installed outside front lighting and have not had any issues. I hired him to come back and change all my locks and I put his card on my refrigerator and programmed his number in my phone. I will admit I have needed him one other time since; I locked my keys in my car at a club. When you are stranded or locked out late at night there is a great feeling of security when you see the face of someone you can trust.
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