Thunder

Two a.m. and the rain woke me - just as the thunder began.

A barefoot run - no walking - to the gate - a whistle and call for Padimus. Where was she? Was she already out of the yard and working her way to the door?  Was she stuck in the neighbor's yard (yes, she has been known to dig under our fence only to be made prisoner next door)?

I returned to the back door - whistled and called again.

There, there's Paddy, her eyes glowing in the beam of the flashlight. She must have slept through the beginning of the storm. She had been safe in her house or Oreo's. Now she and I were up and awake and getting very wet.

Another barefoot run back to the gate for a surprisingly coordinated fastening of the leash.

We were both shivering as we stopped in the kitchen, the rain conspired with the too cold conditioned air.

We dried off, settled down, and (finally) slept - safe from the storm.