As a fourth year traveler on evangelistic teams, I’ve often wondered what it would be like to live in a trailer.  Several weeks ago, in Phoenix, Caroline and I were able to stay in our very own trailer.  We were both very excited to finally get a taste of trailer living! 

        In a back lot of Westside Baptist Church, our team parked three trailers.  Our trailer was a very spacious toy-hauler.  In the back was a set of bunk beds (where Caroline slept), a kitchen, bathroom, and then the bedroom in the front of the trailer (where I slept).  The biggest adjustment we had to make was in the realm of shower taking.  To preserve the hot water, we had to grow accustomed to taking 5 min. or less showers.  The good thing about quick showers was we got to get a little extra sleep!   We learned to make the most of small spaces and lifted the back bunk beds so we could stick our 75lb. suitcases underneath the bottom bunk.  We also ran in an extra extension cord so we wouldn’t blow any fuses while running our hair dryers in the morning.  Caroline and I quickly made this space our home and enjoyed trailer living…until one fateful night.

Our meetings at Westside Baptist only went through Thursday night.  Friday morning began a week of vacation, which meant we would all be going our separate ways.  Thursday night Josh, Caroline, and I had gone out for a snack and returned to the trailers late.  We left Josh at the Coffey’s trailer to talk to Aaron, and Caroline and I headed to our trailer.  We were exhausted and went straight to bed.  The time was 11:45pm.  Suddenly I was awakened to a strange squeaking sound – almost like someone was twisting the cap of a bottle.  It sounded like it was coming just on the other side of my door in the bathroom.  I immediately thought it was Caroline and wondered if she was sleep walking. 

Meanwhile, Caroline, in the back room, also had been awakened to a strange squeaking sound.  She thought a rat was under her bed or some animal had gotten into the trailer.  Having been awakened suddenly, she was wide awake and her imagination was running wild with what could be in our trailer.  The sound became louder and louder, and finally Caroline peeked over her bed to see what was down there.  As she looked down, she saw my suitcase being moved from underneath the bed.   Upon seeing this, she was terrified!!  Something or someone was in our trailer!  She didn’t want to scream because she didn’t want it to know she was up in the bed.  Caroline had to get help and wasn’t sure if I was even still alive.  She began texting Aaron, Josh, and Will.  She was so scared and shaking, she could barely type.  All she could text was the word, “HELP!”  As Caroline continued to look over the bed in fear, she saw a white stick come from beneath her and poke things on the floor.  Someone was definitely in our trailer! 

Back in my room, I heard my phone ring.  The haunting sounds of Caroline’s caller ID pierced the night.  Now a little frightened, I answered it and didn’t hear any response.  I immediately hung up and thought for sure Caroline was sleep walking.  I was a little frightened because I wasn’t sure what exactly she was capable of doing in her sleep.  I sat in my bed listening to the sounds of the trailer, when my phone rang again.  This time I heard Caroline’s voice, “Reba!  I need you to open your door!  Someone’s in our trailer!”  Terrified, opening the door was the last thing I wanted to do.  I asked her if she was playing a trick on me, and she assured me this was no joke.  I began shaking and called Will.  I could barely talk to him because my voice was quivering so badly.  I got off the phone with Will and slowly opened my door, not sure of what I would find on the other side.  When I opened the door, I saw Caroline up in her bed with a horrified look on her face.  I walked into the kitchen and didn’t see anything unusual, until I saw my suitcase.  Then, I realized something was in the trailer.  I still didn’t see any sort of creature.  Caroline finally was able to get a hold of Aaron and a few seconds later, he showed up at our door.  The odd thing was Aaron was still in his suit.  We nervously explained the situation to him when he came in.  As we were talking, Josh showed up at the door.  This was very strange because he should’ve been at his home in bed.  We looked at both of them in confusion and then it hit us.  We had been pranked!!!  Aaron and Josh had waited until the lights were off in our trailer, then came over to do their dastardly deed.  Sometime during the week, they had unlocked one of the compartments that opened directly into the inside of our trailer.  While were sleeping, they opened the compartment and made strange squeaking sounds.  Josh moved my suitcase around and swung a broom stick into our trailer.  This was what had Caroline in terror.  Upon realization of what had just happened to Caroline and me, Caroline immediately began crying with relief.  I just sat down and continued to shake and hold back the tears.  The adrenaline had been pumping through our blood with fear and left us cold and shaking.  We thought our worst nightmare had come true. After Aaron and Josh left us, Caroline came and slept in my room, and it took us several hours before we were able to fall back asleep.  Thankfully we were safe, and Aaron and Josh will never play a prank like that on us again.