Looking out my Backdoor: Sometimes a shadow

Up at 6:30 and out the door to walk Lola. The sun is almost up, the sky spread cool with night clouds.

These days, when Lola and I go walk-about, I have an entourage. A few months ago Josue and family adopted a pup, named him Hunter. He is mild-mannered. Most of the time. He thinks I am his. When he hears my belled gate open, Hunter bounds like Tigger, meets me with wet tongue greetings.

Lola takes lead. Hunter races between me and Lola. Hunter does not walk. Pup, remember. A large pup.

Snowball, tiny, ancient and blind, lags behind.

This morning there was something, a shadowy presence at the...