A Friend Like Ben

Last night when Josh called, I took the phone out onto the front stoop to savor the cool evening air. The moon hung fat and full over the quiet block, and wind rippled through the treetops. A breeze sent a dry leaf scuttling across the lawn at my feet and into the neighbor's hedge. Then the leaf poked its furry head out of the bushes two feet away from my bare toes and regarded me with beady, twitching eyes.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" I shrieked, jumping three feet into the air. "OHMYGOD, RAT! RAT! EEEE! RAT!" I scrambled for the safety of my apartment, slamming doors and throwing deadbolts behind me.

Just another peaceful summer evening in the city.