Nine pounds of critter-hunting instinct is hard to handle!

Setting:  Learch house, 11:30ish PM.  Brian has just come home from a night out with friends.  Baby is asleep.  Dogs are slumbering on the couch.  Only noise in the house is the East Dillon Lions cheering on their football team on TV (DVRed from earlier that evening).

Terrier button ears snap to attention:  brraaahhh-arf--arf--arf!
Puggle snout emerges from under blanket:  ruuuufff.  Ruuufff RUFFFFF

Both charge to window, ears pointed, bodies erect, barking at decibels that hearing impaired individuals could easily notice... and, with that, sound levels that could easily awake sleeping baby.

There's no calling them off.  No treat competes with mystery beast outside.  And they are relentless.

Colleen:  Brian, something is outside.
Brian:  Nothing is outside.

Kodi issues unmistakable battle cry (not a bark-- a battle cry.  If only I had gotten it on video).

Colleen:  Really, Bruschi isn't even interested in food he is so focused on the front yard... really?
Brian:  Col, look- there is nothing out there.
Colleen:  I think you should go out and see.
Brian:  What?
Colleen:  (now holding 9 pounds of flailing Rat Terrier who just wants blood and is all but clawing out of arms).  Take the flashlight and go outside.


(More)




Brian goes outside.

Brian:  Nothing out here.  Nothing at all.
Colleen:  Go look under the bush on the side of the house.

Silence

Brian:  OHHHHH..   Colleen....

Colleen: Yessssss......
Kodi: (whimpers a "please let me get it" whimper).

Brian:  Our Opposum's back.

Colleen:  Yup!

Brian: (Now back inside) But how did she know it was there-- she didn't see it?
Kodi still crying at window, pawing at glass, bearing teeth nearly drooling at the taste of fresh Possum.

Colleen:   Terriers!