Noises

My woman and I were watching TV when we noticed a growling sound outside the window. At first it seemed to come from underneath the floor. All but one of our cats were inside for the impending snow storm so we reasoned it had to be something else.
I loaded my .38 to investigate but my woman didn't want me going out there. I put my gun up & we looked through the window with a flashlight. The growling had stopped by then.

Everyone else had gone to bed when I heard a noise like feet running across the roof. Again, I checked on the cats and their locations and then zeroed in on the sound - something was trying to get into the trash can and was bumping it against the wall outside.
I looked through the windows to make sure it wasn't a bear and then I went outside armed only with a puny flashlight.
The garbage can rattled in the mist-filled beam of white light. There was something alive inside.
I tore the lid off ready to tear anything else & then I saw inside with the light, amongst the ravaged paper and plastic sacks and pizza cardboards - a goddamned possum.
I layed the bin horizontal and explained to the possum he was lucky to be alive. When he didn't respond properly, I kicked the bin hard once & then he strolled out with the sort of confused, drunken stagger I have always noted in possums.
"Stupid bastard," I cursed, aware that suffocating in the trash was probably warmer than finding refuge in the rain.