Selling Fear

There should be no one in doubt about it.
The selling of fear.
And the marketing of threats,
Left to frighten people to death.
Leaving them stressed, depressed and upset.
Has become very lucrative for the ones,
Creating a new industry.
To keep kept believe by many,
It would be better to prepare...
And defend themselves,
For what is not there yet to appear.
Yet...
Best it is to remain proactive.
Just in case,
Weapons collected...
In and around the places people live.
Are quick to use on anyone appearing,
To look suspicious.
Become wounded victims or killed.
For soliciting unnounced,
Updated alarms, bells...
And sounds of barking dogs,
Around the house.
That could prevent them,
From making alibis and mistakes made.
Done to claim,
A neighbor living across the street...
Delivering fresh baked cookies.
They thought to believe,
Had been a terrorist disguised.
Knocking on their door.
With intentions to destroy their peace.

'Uh...
Officer?
I know this must seem,
I have lost my mind.
But...
When I shot my neighbor.
I thought she came,
To threaten our way of life.'

'An elderly.
In an electric wheelchair.
And wrapped in a blanket and scarf.
You did not recognized as your neighbor?'

'Officer, I swear to you,
I thought she was playing a role as grandma.
Although I perceived her to be a criminal.
A common nighttime prowling thief.
Attempting to have me victimized,
Like that girl...
From the story of Red Riding Hood.
So...
For no reason at all,
I wanted to show whoever it was...
They came to the wrong house.
And...
Without thinking,
I became the Big Bad Wolf!'

'You can not be serious!'

'Officer, I swear to you.
Even my spouse and children,
Grabbed their weapons too.
And in these days we live,
Everyone...
Neighbors, friends, co-workers and relatives.
Should be suspected of doing...
Something they know could be avoided.
Is she dead, did she die?'

'Miraculously, no!
However...
Those cookies she baked and hit the ground?
Saved her life.
They did more damage to your doorsteps,
No one is going to believe...
Cookies like that were baked with flour.
And NOT reinforced cement.
And you claim to say,
You and your family...
Had never, ever had these cookies before!'

'Officer?
I swear to you...
If I knew something like this would happen?
My family and I,
Would have decided to go to the movies!'

'Stay put.
Don't go anywhere.
I have to call my commander.
He may or may not believe,
How crazy it has become...
To protect and keep the peace these days.
Even in quiet suburban neighborhoods.
Stay put.
I'll be right back!'

'What about, Mrs. Smith?'

'She will be okay.
Stunned and shocked but she'll survive.
She's sitting over there.
Inside the ambulance.
Rambling about her cookie recipe.
Saying the flour she used,
Had been in the garage for years.
She thought her husband kept it there.
If she ran out of flour.
She says...
She had no idea it was powdered cement.
Uh...
Don't go anywhere.
I have to find a way to report this!'

'What about my gun?'

'You keep it.
I have one of my own.'