A Creature of the Night

I lock the kitties up in the barn every night because of the coyotes, killer owls, raccoons and other dangerous creatures of the night. Well, last night I went out to the barn just before I went to bed to turn off the fan that brings cool air in through the window. Suddenly, hearing something, Teddy jumped up on the kitty house to look out the window. I thought I heard a growling noise and wondered what Teddy could be growling at. But Teddy wasn't growling and neither was Buddy or Patsy. Again I heard the low, powerful growl and I could tell it was coming from outside the window in the dark night.

Yikes, I thought, my hair beginning to stand on end. I'm trapped in here surrounded by some unknown, very bold and probably dangerous animal. I have no telephone, no car, not even an axe or shovel. (the shovel was leaning against the wall of the barn, outside)

I made my way cautiously over to each window peering out for a glimpse of any movement or any ominous shadow. Not seeing anything, I grabbed a weapon, the broom. It was either that or the snow shovel. Slowly opening the door I looked out making sure that my escape route to the house was clear. While I was getting up my nerve to leave the safety of the barn the unthinkable happened. Teddy brushed past me and with one leap was gone into the dark.

Luckily the movement triggered the motion sensor lights at the top of the barn to come on and with super-human speed I was able to run after and catch brave (or should I say, stupid) Teddy and whisk him back to the safety of the barn. What was he thinking!

Back in the house, I still had an eerie feeling that something was outside lurking. I closed all the blinds and made doubly sure all doors were locked.

I remembered all the times, though the past six years, that I've gone out into the pitch black night searching for Teddy up and down the road and through trees and bushes. All I ever carried was a flashlight. I'll be taking my shotgun with me from now on if I have to venture outside at night.