tuesday april 7

today i was thinking about going to bed when i began to hear a persistent - and unsettling - scraping noise that seemed to be coming from the unfinished utility closet off of our bathroom. fearing the worst, i scanned my office for some sort of weapon before i went to investigate, ultimately settling for a cardboard box that i hoped could be thrown over anything that might have found its way into the closet.

after going into the bathroom, closing the door behind me, and steeling myself for a confrontation, i swung open the closet and watched in horror as some sort of mouse-rat creature beneath the floor drain clawed at the grate in an apparent attempt to get up through it. it kept at it for several seconds even as i got nearer and tentatively attempted to bang my box against the floor to scare it away.

after the creature finally headed back underground, i quickly went and grabbed an old bowl that fit more comfortably atop the grate. while i was comforted that the thing's potential point of entry seemed to be cut off and that the sound didn't start up again, it was another two hours before i could actually fall asleep.