Things that go ploosh in the night

It was about 4:15 -- I know because I was only half-asleep; some folks who'd obviously left a bar at closing time had been sufficiently boisterous on their way down Simonton to wake me up.

Then came the closer noises. At first I thought it might be a dream. But no. A loud, drawn-out eeee-awwrhh, and then a heavy splash, as big as the coconuts that used to fall in the pool out at Patty's house on Donald, when we rented it some years back.

What the hell? Another palm frond in the pool? I didn't remember any that looked ready to go, and fronds don't tend to scream as they fall.

I flipped on a light, then the outside lights. Looked a minute, started laughing. I got the camera.

The big spot must be where a very wet Sparky had clambered out of the pool, a smaller spot where her tail hit when she shook, then a trail back to her secret place between the back wall and the pantry.

By 6, she collected herself sufficiently to reappear and start mewing for breakfast. Still wet.