The house was totally quiet. Evening had fallen, the atmosphere darkening in seeming preparation.
Kittens had retreated underneath the bed, and the front yard was oddly vacant of squirrels since the old coon dog was hiding in his doghouse, feigning sleep.
Even the squawking of the parrot had ceased as she had buried her head in the little tent that hung inside her cage to provide protection from the outside world
“Animals,” he thought to himself, “are good at sensing approaching danger.”
The loud bang at the door startled him in spite of his preparedness. “OPEN UP! IT’S YOUR MOTHER!”