Dax was used to the obsessive organization. When he first came to stay with Mr. Cordova who lived in an old farm house with plenty of room for boarders he noticed that all of his belongings were meticulously placed in some sort of container. There was a special place, nook, or box for all of his things and Mr. Cordova had boxes and containers stacked everywhere. Mr. Cordova had boxes of all sizes and colors relegated to storing everything from food to tools. His food was stored neatly in small boxes of varying colors, some in a large white box, some stacked neatly in rows.

He kept his tools outside along with other things for tending the garden and each had its own small container which was stacked inside a large box in the yard. There were other containers outside which would eventually cause Dax serious problems.

He kept his clothes in brown boxes and also piled in rows along with his shoes and other items. He had many other containers some inside and some out, the contents of which were largely a mystery to Dax because although Mr. Cordova was an amicable roommate he wasn’t much on including Dax in his business.

There was an array of various sized boxes in each room for Mr. Cordova’s things and while the organization always struck Dax as a bit odd he didn’t mind because Mr. Cordova always left his belongings alone and never tried to add them to his expansive organization system.

Two boxes outside troubled Dax the most because lately someone had taken to stealing from them early in the morning. He couldn’t understand why Mr. Cordova allowed them to pilfer his belongings on a regular basis because he either was not aware of the theft or was ignoring it. Surely he was aware that they came and quickly gathered the treasures he stored in two of his blue boxes and speed away before anyone could stop them. Dax noticed every time and it bothered him.

It had been occurring for a while and Dax had long ago decided that Mr. Cordova must be ignoring the theft because of the same fear that Dax had; someday they would venture up the crumbling walkway and begin stealing from the house. It was this fear that compelled Dax to warn them each time they came, that if they ventured any nearer there would be a price to pay.

The first time they came Dax could not believe what he saw. Their audacity to just come into the unkempt yard and begin rummaging through Mr. Cordova’s things left Dax speechless and he barely had time to utter “Stop!” before they speed away with Mr. Cordova’s property. They returned days later and as soon as Dax heard their approach he began yelling, “Stop! Stop thieves!” but they were quick and avoided detection by anyone else.

The third time they came Mr. Cordova was just sitting down to breakfast and even though Dax hated to bother him while he was having a meal he rushed in to tell him that they had come again to steal from his boxes. “They’re here again! They’re stealing from your boxes!” Dax panted out of breath from running through the house.

“What’s the problem?” Mr. Cordova replied too nonchalantly for Dax’s comfort. “Is someone here?”

“They’re here again, they’re stealing from you.” Dax replied now breathless, but by the time Mr. Cordova had laboriously dragged his aging body to the door they had sped off leaving the boxes in their same position as if they had never came.

“It’s alright Dax,” Mr. Cordova said surveying the yard, “no one’s here.” He did not notice anything out of the ordinary and Dax was beginning to think he was imagining the thieves.

“How did you not hear anything?” Dax pleaded with Mr. Cordova “They were just here.” But Mr. Cordova was already halfway up the walk heading back to his breakfast.

They came again, earlier the next time, and Dax knew it was to avoid detection because of the close call the time before. The sun was just beginning to spread its rays over the tree line when they rumbled up to the house to rummage through the boxes. Dax knew that Mr. Cordova who was considerably older and feebler could not make the trip from his bedroom down the walkway in time to stop them. He was also unsure if Mr. Cordova would even believe that they were stealing from him and knew it was up to him to do something.

If anyone was going to stop them it would have to be Dax and he rushed out the door yelling “Stop thieves! Stop!” He thought at first that his cries would be enough deterrent and that since they had been finally been spotted that they would leave. But they only hesitated for a moment before hastening their thievery and speeding away.

Dax’s mind was consumed by the thieves for the next few days and no matter how hard he tried to convince Mr. Cordova that someone was stealing from him he seemed either to afraid to admit that it was possible or remained unconvinced. Dax worried that since he had failed in scaring them off their next step would be to raid the house and he tried to devise a plan to stop them.

The next time they came Dax was ready. As soon as he heard the whirring of their getaway vehicle in the distance Dax burst through the door. He ran right up to the blue boxes where Mr. Cordova kept some of his most valuable treasures and stood resolutely, determined that no thieves would steal the wonders inside.

They approached their large getaway vehicle looming closer. Dax knew if he did not stop them soon it was only a matter of time before they would get the courage to steal from the house. Dax did not want to imagine them inside tearing through all of Mr. Cordova’s containers dumping them out like they did the blue boxes to get at what was inside.

Dax was also concerned for his own few belongings although he secretly hoped that since he did not keep them so meticulously organized in boxes like Mr. Cordova that the thieves would somehow overlook them.

Dax stared up at them as they pulled up to the blue boxes piercing their gaze with his own determination. As they pulled up Dax yelled threateningly “Leave!” You will not steal from these boxes!”

They looked at Dax with expressions of fear and nervously called back “It’s ok, we won’t hurt you.” But their voices trembled and Dax knew that they were finally intimidated. The trembling in their voices gave away their fear and gave Dax confidence.

“No!” Dax shouted “Leave Now.” “Stop Stealing from us!” Dax paused a moment and before he started yelling again they sped off without even dismounting from their get away vehicle. Dax could hardly believe that he had been successful and scared off the thieves so easily.

Dax felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Now that they were scared there was no way they would try to come in the house to steal anything else of value and Dax was sure once he realized what Dax had done he would no longer have to live in fear. Although Dax suspected the thievery may have gone unsuspected by Mr. Cordova he still hoped for a hearty congratulations from Mr. Cordova who was usually very reserved with his words.

Mr. Cordova rose soon after the incident and went about fixing his breakfast as usual. Dax figured it would take some time for him to notice that anything unusual had happened as he did not have Dax’s astuteness for such matters.  Mr. Cordova did finally make it outside to tinker in the garden and trim the unkempt lawn and from the window Dax notice Mr. Cordova inspecting his blue boxes and the treasures that still remained inside.

That afternoon Mr. Cordova still had not thanked Dax for saving his treasures and Dax was beginning to seriously wonder if Mr. Cordova was even aware of the string of robberies that had occurred of late. As the evening dragged on Dax decided that Mr. Cordova had probably been unaware that anything had happened and although he was disappointed that his good deed would go unnoticed he was happy with the knowledge that he had stopped them.

Just before supper there was a knock at the door and a neighbor who often stopped by to visit came in to speak with Mr. Cordova. The two men sat in the kitchen talking while Dax who usually tired quickly of their pleasantries retired to bed. He did notice something unusual in their conversation as he was drifting off to sleep, a mention of something he did not recognize. Dax did not pay it much mind and drifted off, secure in his home for the first time in weeks.

“Did the trash men come by your place today?” Mr. Cordova asked, “Because they forgot to empty my bins this morning.”

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