Mason

Duke was on the floor by my feet.

Roscoe was in the kitchen again, staring at the back door.

At 8.06, the motion light over the back porch came on.

I know the exact time because I looked at my phone right then.

The light flooded through the edges of the blinds over the kitchen window and made the whole room change color.

Roscoe took three steps backward and bumped into the trash can.

Duke stood up slowly, his nails clicking on the floor.

i sat there without moving for a second i expected barking that's what dogs do when a motion light comes on they bark they run to the door they lose their minds but both dogs were silent duke's head was low and roscoe's tail was curled so tight under him it looked painful

I got up and walked to the kitchen.

I didn't open the blinds.

I didn't want to.

I stood beside the back door and listened.

There was nothing at first.

No footsteps.

No scratching.

No animal noise.

Just the hum of the refrigerator and the low murmur of the TV behind me.

Then something knocked on the door.

Three knocks.

It was not a branch.