¶ … Dark and Stormy Night

"Oh my god," you think, "I've got to cover the tomatoes if it's going to freeze!!" The storm began to rage around me as I ran outside to cover my helpless crops. The old elm tree shuddered in the wind and dry leaves fluttered around my feet as I hurried along the garden path toward the vegetables rustling in the pelting sleet. Freezing from the icy rain, I thought I knew just how my tomatoes felt. I found the blankets and sheets folded near the garden beds, and hurried to throw them over the plants to protect them. I could only hope the tender plants could endure the sudden storm.

As I hurried back along the path toward the house, I could swear I heard footsteps hurrying behind me. Suddenly, the sound of the elm tree's branches scraping along the roof intensified. An owl hooted, and the coyote answered. I shivered from the cold, and from a growing sense of unease. The moon disappeared behind the gathering clouds, and I was left in near darkness. As my eyes tried to adjust, I could swear I felt a hand graze my shoulder. I turned, but I could see nothing behind me on the path. Running now, my only goal was to reach the safety of my warm house and lock the door quickly behind me. But that was not to be. I stumbled over an exposed root from that blasted elm, and went down on all fours. Suddenly, I could feel the warm breath of someone standing over me. I must have passed out from fright, because when I awoke, I was inside my home, a fire was blazing in the hearth, and I could smell the aroma of warm soup wafting out from the kitchen. But there was no one in the house but me! Who was the stranger in my garden, and why had he left me here warm and snug, while he lurked outside. I never found the stranger, although I did see footprints in my garden the next morning. I will never know the truth of what happened that night, but I do know that my intruder certainly knows how to whip up a mean chicken noodle soup!