Night of Small but Unfortunate Encounters

1. As I am putting trash out, a dragonfly buzzes into the mudroom. I love dragonflies, as they are both beautiful creatures and friends of the gardener, so I turn off the indoor light, hold the door open, and as this big insect is buzzing around my head, holler, "Go to the light! Go to the PORCH light! Go -- " Instead, the dragonfly decides to go for the crack of light under the other door, which leads into the house. In a flash, a black paw with claws extended comes under the door, smacks hi...