Spooky.

At 3am this morning, Pete ran into the living room and started barking ballistically. It happens upon occcasion, so I just waited for him to quiet down. Just as he stopped barking, I heard someone slowly walking through the crunchy leaves right outside my bedroom window. I flipped on the light and crouched on the far side of my bed while Pete paced and softly growled for another few minutes. I heard maybe 5-10 steps, what sounded like something being set down, and then silence.

When my heart started beating again, I grabbed my comforter and laid on the floor, hidden by my bed. I laid awake with the light on and Pete settled down until 5 when he got growly again.

While laying there sleepless, I rationalized that it was a possum or raccoon, but the footsteps sounded too heavy and didn't sound like a 4-legged creature. I came to the conclusion that someone might be sleeping back there.

A few times before, I've noticed little things in my yard that weren't there before, but I never thought too much about it aside from taking stock of how many great places there are to take shelter in my yard. The grate over the crawl space under the house has been pulled out several times, which I always figured critters pulled out, but as I put it back each time, I thought about how it would be a pretty great place to sleep. There's also a little niche in the corner of the yard where the fence, the house, and the air conditioner meet that would be a great place to sleep. And the neighbors conjoining yard has a tiny pink shed that I've totally imagined sleeping in.

These are the important things with which my mind is filled.

Andy rationalized that it was probably an animal and not a person who decided to take shelter in a stranger's backyard or a prowler who decided to scope out the smallest house he could find within 3-square miles, but I'm making him spend the night tonight anyway. Because it was spooky. And because my yard is a veritable treasure trove of secluded hiding spots for anyone seeking shelter.