Unexpected guest

I opened the door
once
to find a squirrel
in the hallway
up on hind legs
frozen mid-run
with a look that said
‘who the hell are you?’

I screamed and dropped
my shopping
the kids screamed
because I'd screamed
and the squirrel bolted
into the living room
around the living room
back into the hallway
and once we stepped away
to give it room
past still
screaming children
and into the street
to freedom. 

The house was a tip
of broken ornaments
torn curtains
up-turned waste bins
one half-eaten apple rocking
on kitchen windowsill.

I tidied up
but it was many
days before the son
would go to bed without
asking if we were sure
it had gone.

We were sure.
That same day it had come
their dad bought
two terracotta chimney caps
so neither squirrel nor
its brethren
would ever
get inside
again.

A Mott