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June 24, 2010

One-Shot Wednesday: Midnight Sojourn













Dexter's "wuff" woke me. It was midnight and he wanted to go outside. Joey, our daschund, can wait until morning, but Dexter, a bassett hound, usually decides that the middle of the night is prime time to visit the backyard. And Joey, being the 'boss' of the two, simply cannot let Dexter go on patrol alone.

My wife started this late-night bathroom trip routine of theirs, being worried about them making a mess inside. And, to be honest, there have been a couple of incidents over the years. But nothing to warrant their habit of wanting to go outside each night while I'm trying to sleep.

My wife does the lion's share of letting the dogs out, which is fitting since she started this whole ordeal. But sometimes she needs a break, so I rolled out of bed and trudged downstairs after the dogs. I slid open the back door and the dogs disappeared into the dark yard. I stood there with the door open, feeling the night air. It was a bit cooler now, after a quick summer thunderstorm, but still fairly warm.

I was just going to slide the door shut when I saw a firefly light up. Just a brief flash, then gone. I watched. Another flash. Then two more. Darkness. Another. Dark. Two in rapid succession. An elegant mid-air ballet was taking place. I stood enchanted in the doorway, then back yard quietly twinkling. Random flashes here... there... and there again. It was quite lovely, even to my sleep-groggy eyes.

The spell was broken by Joey yapping at some unseen menace. I called for him and he came running. (Being low to the ground, Joey doesn't enjoy wet grass much) Dexter lingered out in the darkness awhile longer, but soon came lumbering in too. I took one last look at the lights dancing in my backyard. The dance was still going on and would continue to go on, just as it has for thousands of years.

I guess letting the dogs out in the middle of the night isn't always that bad.

20 comments:

  1. nice read and yes there are many things we miss while we are sleeping..dogs do let us know that...bkm

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  2. Love the description of the fireflies! Think that's one of the coolest things about summer. cheers, Eric

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  3. Neat to remember the beauty we find when we go where we did not want to go. I enjoyed your post. - Bill

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  4. I love dogs.."))) this was a lovely read..sweet,thanks for sharing Eric..:)

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  5. i love the night... there is a magic going on out there...

    you captured one of them. :)

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  6. that's making lemonade out of lemons. Nice.

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  7. Reminds me of a dear, departed friend whose gentle "woof" and light scratch on my bedroom door started many a late-night adventure :-)

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  8. I have never seen a firefly!!
    I am missing out I know - even your dogs have seen them.

    Nice and thanks for sharing with One Shot

    Moon smiles

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  9. smiles. there are some days i miss getting up in the middle of the night with the boys...and the things that often went unseen. nice write. happy oneshot!

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  10. I love to be surprised by fireflies. They always make me smile

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  11. Its amazing what we miss when we sleep! Great thoughts, Ive been there in the middle of the night too!

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  12. Nice Puppies....
    I love Bassett Hounds

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  13. i remember being in corfu many years ago and i came across, in a darkened night, what semed like a clearing that suddenly lit up..it was my first and only experience of fireflies...i had a lighter on me and i flicked the flint..i have never seen so many respond..for 5 minutes i must have talked to these flies..sticks in my mind..must have been 25 years ago..cheers Pete

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  14. guess that's why the dogs wanna go out every night - it's the fireflies and the elegant mid-air ballet - and feeling wet grass tickle their belly...so you should join them more often...smiles

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  15. Very enjoyable read. I've never seen a firefly up close and personal sounds amazing

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  16. Cool, it must have been a little fun adventure in the night, it is good once in a while=P

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  17. A slice of real life. Capturing the poetry of nature in natural terms. Bringing the reader into that moment. Having him/her there beside you for a quiet moment in a strange house in an unknown place. All that is quite a feat. Well written and a lovely experience. Thank you.

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  18. The darkness hides many wonders. And see, Dexter and Joey know that. I love Basset hounds too. They are so ponderous.

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  19. Love fire flies, we do not have them here in the PNW, but had great fun with them back east, my dog(s) always go in and out even the night, this was such a great read, and relate to it so well, Nicely done.''

    Joanny

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  20. I get mesmerized by fireflies myself -- watching them flash, then flash again a space away. I see most often in the early evening, though. Nice post.

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