It was a dark and windy night...[NO! NO! Too trite! ]

As the winds swept down the mountainside to the lower valley...[ are you kidding?! There’s not a mountain within 300 miles of here.. And what’s with all this WIND stuff? ]

Oooohkaaaaay...start again...

The moon had just settled behind the clouds, darkening the night to pitch black. The calming of the STRONG BREEZE [ ahem ] became an eerie silence across the land. Yet the snap of a twig and scrunch of dry leaves belied the peacefulness of
the night. Something was moving in the darkness. Something stealthing [ stealthing? What’s that?....ok, ok...I’m quite! ] Stealthing! its way closer to the house.

The ever so slight noise of the leaves indicated there was more than one intruder. There was a conspiracy to invade the privacy of these peaceful grounds. An invasion never to be forgotten. [ mmmm..so far - so good! ]

In the distance...[ No, make that near distance ] OK! Ok! -

In the near distance (pause...), you could hear the whistle of a train, and barely discern the clickity-clack of the wheels upon the track. Still, the intruders felt this would be enough distraction to cover their footfalls.

Quietly and furtively, they approached the house. A slight distance covered at first, then more brazenly and swiftly they grew nearer. If the deep clouds could only hold, they could make it to the back edge of the house without detection. [ hmmm...getting interesting ]

Stealthily [ cough! cough! ] SILENTLY, (they had now reached concrete) and with a spurt of speed, and a muted cry of hi-ho-silver, they reached their cover. The house was in darkness. Not another creature was stirring, not even a mouse. [ moan! ]

Thank goodness they had thought to wear their masks; they couldn’t be identified if someone did come upon them, and being fleet of foot, they could escape.

Alas! [ what kind of nonsense is “Alas!"... sheesh, you’re right, go on ] Their target was in their hands; just there for the taking. They were almost drooling over their good fortune.

“All ours! All ours!” they conveyed, relishing their treasure.

“HARK! What light from yonder window breaks?"  [ plagiarism, girl, plagiarism ]...quoting from Shakespeare!!!! They were nearly paralyzed by fear. Then sudden recognition as they realized it was...

”Oh, hello my pretty little raccoons. I see you're hungry again tonight. I hope I put out enough of your favorite food. Eat hearty my beauties; there’ll be more for you tomorrow night, and sweet dreams” said the old [ I BEG your pardon!! ]
...errr...YOUNG woman, as she entered the house for a good nights sleep.

The sound of the whistle of the long, long train drifted off into the night, and the winds swept down the mountainside to the lower valley! [ sigh... ]

Thus the Great Solvable Mystery was resolved, ever to return, again.  


© Copyright Jackie (Micke) Jinks, 2000.

An oldie not previously posted on A.D.