Owl

 

She never went anywhere without her phone, never.

But she was only going out to the car for her sweatshirt, and the yard light was bright enough.

Taking the dozen steps to her car, she stopped on step eight.

There was an owl on the fence next to her car.

He swiveled his head and stared at her with his amber eyes.

“Stay right there! I’ll be right back!” she whispered and trotted back into the house as quickly as she could without startling the bird.

Almost tiptoeing back outside, she slowly raised the phone’s camera.

The owl was gone.