IT'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, WATCHING, WAITING, HUNGERING, LUSTING FOR FELINE AND HUMAN FLESH. GOD HELP US ALL!

I'm sitting here with nothing at all to write about.

Except ...

Rerun is begging me to let her outside, but the winds have picked up and it is getting very cold. I told her "no". Besides, there is a large (and -who knows - rabid?) racoon roaming the neighborhood. Last week I saw it, about half a mile from my house, as I was driving. I backed up to shine my headlights on it and get a better look, but it jumped down into a sewer drain and disappeared.

Just a few nights ago, as I was letting Rerun out to play, the racoon (I presume it was the same one) reappeared in my backyard. It jumped when I opened the noisy back door, then it scampered across the yard and scrambled over the fence.

Rerun saw it, too, and was afraid to go outside.

Then, last night, as I lay in bed (very late at night), I heard the side gate to my house being jostled vigourously about. Rerun heard it, too, and ran to the window. Then she moved all across the front of the house, from window to window, peering anxiously out into the night. She was, obviously, pursuing something that was traveling the length of my home's veneer. I grabbed a "weapon" and went out into the front yard to see what was afoot (though I had my suspicions). But first, I flickered the porchlight, furiously, to warn off any possible human intruders lest I actually have to face them with nothing but the walking staff I purchased at Scarborough Faire.

The yard was still and silent. So was the street. I saw nothing.
Nevertheless, I suspected yet another visit from our unexpected guest.

I think I'll name it Rocky.