I went home Monday night to fix a sandwich and catch the first quarter of the Washington Redskins’ game. But before tuning in the ballgame, I wanted to go to iTunes and purchase an album. This song had been in my head all day, so to get it out, I thought I’d get the album.

So I walked in, hung the keys on the dog by the door and went over to the desk in my workroom. Unfortunately, my computer wasn’t in its place. I let loose an expletive and turned toward the kitchen. That’s when I heard his shoes, but I thought he might be a bird beating against the window, so it didn’t bother me until he stepped out in the light.

He was medium height, dressed in white shirt with something dark written or drawn on the front. He was skinny and wore blue jeans. He had on tennis shoes.

I felt the adrenaline surge and thought he might have a gun, so I hauled tail out of the door, hitting the panic button on the car outside, figuring the horn and lights would startle my unwanted visitor so much, he wouldn’t have time to react, especially if he had a gun.

Got to hand it to 9-1-1. The man on the phone with me was reassuring, staying with me until I connected with Selma Police officers, who sped over right away.  The officers were good, too. They were kind and thorough.

My visitor took a computer and a Kindle.

The young man who took the stuff is welcome to it if he needs to sell it for food or something else to survive.

If he had asked, though, I would have bought him a meal or shoes or a jacket, provided I had the cash. At the very least, he could have had a hoodie of mine and shared a sandwich and maybe a conversation about the Redskins (and, because I’m a Saints fan, listen to me whine about having to suffer a bye week).

But he didn’t ask. He intruded and took.

Now, I feel violated and cautious about going back into my house.

Those feelings will linger a little while, then they’ll go away.

But I won’t quit wondering about that young man who stood in the dim light of the living room. I wonder about his story; what brought him there and why. I envy his agility to climb and jump enough to get in and out of the house. I wonder who loves him or who doesn’t. I wonder if he knows how to read those books on my Kindle, and if he will.

And I guess I’ll have to wonder about these things unless we come face to face again. But next time, I hope neither of us are as surprised.