
Out of the Shadows
Just past midnight my dog wakes from sleep and begins to whimper. I rub my eyes, lift my head from the pillow and grumble. Not now, Lily. It’s the middle of the night.
Whimpers become more insistent. I turn on the light and her eyes look beseechingly into mine.
Come on. I don shoes, coat and football beanie, pick up the leash. Lily dances. Stand still; I can’t clip it on!
Outside the murky mist is thick but the moon peeps through, lighting our path, a well-worn track around our small acreage, a few kilometres from town.
I hear a twig snap through the shadowy trees. Movement. A kangaroo, I suspect, searching the undergrowth for fresh green shoots of grass. An owl hoots in the distance and I can hear ducks splashing on the dam where the pobblebonk frog orchestra rises to a crescendo.
Lily walks on, oblivious. Her ablutions completed, still I decide to continue on. Another lap around the track. There is something mystical about the night. Sleep can wait a little longer.
The moon follows. Frogs echo. The owl stays silent but the ducks pause splashing and call to each other. Who is this crazy lady, pyjama-clad, walking through the night?
Another lap. Another twig. Two. Three. Suddenly something emerges from the shadows and the trees.
It is my muse. Indistinct. Unclear. Vague. But as I walk it moves closer, becomes clearer.
And then I am half-running, skipping, as fast as my not-so-young body will allow.
Into the warmth of the house, shedding shoes, coat and football beanie.
Lily quickly snuggles back to sleep but I make coffee and pick up my pen.
The mystery and magic of a new adventure is just beginning.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello, Sandra. You developed a beautiful image and scenery in my mind. And your story took me everywhere, and the fun thing is the different animals that suddenly appear that make your story more beautiful and fascinating. I never expected that. Good job, Sandra.
Hello Lotchie, and thank you! This story is true of many of my walks with my little dog, Lily. In fact, I just returned from walking her, not in the middle of the night this time but it’s still half dark, I’m in my pyjamas, the frogs seem to be croaking a welcome to a new day and it was glorious to be outside. Sometimes I hate waking up through the night… Read more »
Oh, I love this Sandra. And I simply had to look up and listen to the pobblebonk frog on YouTube. Great pacing and I was riveted throughout.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleSo glad you enjoyed it, Carrie, and could experience the pobblebonk frog. I live on a 7 acre property and our dam is about 50 metres from the front door. I’m not always eager to get up when my dog needs to go out through the night but when I hear the frogs I always smile. And, ever since I adopted her just over a year ago, I’ve found our walks really… Read more »