In the still of the night

It was 10:03 p.m. last Saturday night, when a truck engine roared into life from two houses down, maybe three. I was sitting on a purchased estate-sale blue velvet chair trying to get a better grasp on the German language. Porch Cat was sound asleep in the corner. Toby the Siamese was sound asleep in an old rocker. Sevvy the Calico was nowhere to be seen, and Dax the dog was giving me a side-eye…