Pig's out - a night terror

So: it was not all fun and games. On Saturday afternoon it became apparent that our porcine daughter Picci had full-on amscrayed. Our neighborhood is the absolute best, but also the WORST for finding "a" animal, because it's like Nooktown and Crannyville combined. Alleys, overgrown grass in spots, lots of fences to scooch under.

We went to swim at our friends', thinking surely the Pig would return in the interval. But, no, as dusk was settling down, and the area started to sound like a war zone (on our part as well), Fatty Arbuckle II had not returned.

I made a last check before bed around midnight, scouring the alley behind our place and going "psst!" Then the long night dragged on, and I laid there half-sick between terrible dreams and nauseating reality or whatever Nick says after Daisy hits the brown muslin chick with the car.

At five's first blush of light I cocked an ear to the bathroom window to hear if there was the familiar "let me IN, goddamit!" yowling. Nothin'.

Then, an hour later, an excited Bride called out "Picci! You're HOME!" and somehow, there she was, right at the top of the steps, her heart beating, a slightly dazed demeanor and quite thirsty. A side door of the house that was not all the way locked stood ajar and the screen door gauze was torn, in Griz-ish fashion, where the Lardish One had barreled her way to safety!

Later she spent the day being wary of the open door (for once!) and trying to recount tales of "bat-birds," "drunk veterans," "[a spider] the size of a dog" and many other low-budget Stephen King-isms. Oh, and her name outside is now STREET CORN!

WE ARE SO GLAD SHE CAME HOME!

Also, that neighbor Eric's dog Salem turned up!

A dirty paw! Maybe she tried to catch (eat?) an M80!

Back with Mama. Someone cue up "Awash and Somewhat Slightly Dazed..."

Daddy (or possibly a visiting Neil Tennant?) gives thanks!

"You can bet I shore won't ever do that agin for a couple of days!"