Throwing out the trash isn't so easy...

This is not a tall tale by any means. Throwing out the trash can be quite the adventure when you have cages to escape and wild beasts(alright just one) chasing you.
This all happened within one day of each other.  And so begins the tale of my Trash adventures.

So lets start by setting the scene. I live in an old 5-story apartment building. The garbage bin for my building is located outside at the back surrounded by a tall wooden fence, with a wooden gate that has one of those bottom locks you pull up.

The first tale goes like this. I was throwing out the trash around midnight. Not an usual practice for me,I enjoy throwing out the trash at night, away from prying eyes. It's a quiet night, like most nights in my neighbourhood at this hour. I opened the gate, entered the pen, a little deeper than usual.  and tossed the bag into the dumpster bin. As I tossed the bag, the gate behind slammed shut, effectively locking me in. Of course there's no was for me to open the pen from the inside. So I was trapped! The wooden fence was too tall for me to climb over, and I had forgotten my cellphone at home. I called out for help, but alas not a soul came to my rescue(even though there were a couple of people in shouting distance). I thought I would have to spend the night with the trash. When I thought all hope was lost, I decided to give the door one final shove, but it did not give in. I realized then the door was only locked at the bottom.I pushed on part of the gate, to create a large enough opening to squeeze my hand through. Though I had able to get my hand on the other side, I could not from my angle remove the lock that entrapped me. Before giving up total hope I decided to use my other hand instead, and with hopefulness I give the lock a tug, and freed myself from the smelly cage.

The second tale happened the following night, again around midnight. As I approached the fence surrounding the garbage bin, I noticed a raccoon perched on the outer gate.I decided not to enter the pen this time, hoping to avoid a repeat the previous night's events with a raccoon as company. I decided to toss the bag over the fence and into the garbage bin, to try and keep my distance from the creature. With luck on my side, it went in and I avoided hitting the raccoon. I thought all was well,as the raccoon had not made a single sound and began the walk back to the back entrance of my apartment. When suddenly I hear the snarling of the beast. I look over my shoulder to see the raccoon in a defensive stance ready to pounce, looking at me with demonic eyes. I began to walk slowly away not wanting to startle it even more. But the snarling soon turned into a growl and began to get louder and louder. That was my cue to run. Instead of heading to back door(a 15 sec sprint from my location... but the door was difficult to open) I ran around to the front entrance hoping to lose it as I turned the corner... but it did not give up the chase... I feel my heart beating out of my chest. I finally made it to the front door, an narrowly did I escape its sharp teeth. When I entered my apartment suite I could still hear the beast's snarling outside my window. I am never again throwing out the trash that late at night again.

Has some like this ever happened to you guys? What should be a simple mundane task, turns into quite the adventure. I suppose it tales like these that makes life interesting. Doesn't it make you wonder if the fables we all know, were figments of the imagination, or experiences simply stretched out.