What the ... ??

It sounded like a whimpering dog.

It was loud.

It was unrelenting.

It was nearly 2:00 a.m. and I was still up watching television (ESPN). I lowered the volume to make sure that I was not hearing things and if it was indeed an animal in distress.

I listened more carefully.

Then, I realized ...

It was "those sounds" of the night -- primal, visceral, rhythmic, unabashed.

When it ended, the echoes sounded like air out of a balloon and a descent to oblivion.

An eerie silence followed.

I was stupefied.

I remembered seeing on my calendar that it was the night of the full moon.

I think I chuckled silently and wandering thoughts haunted me.