Close Encounter

A few weeks ago I was taking Penelope outside before bed. We went to her normal spot in the front yard and like normal sniffing was more pressing then emptying her full bladder. We wondered around the yard and finally she went pee. "Good Girl". She then became very interested in out solar light in the front garden. I let her play sniff around it then told her we were going inside. She would not leave it alone. I came closer and saw she was sniffing at something just beside it. Something with two white strips standing out in the darkness. AH! Never releasing my breath I steadily pulled Penelope in close picked her up and ran inside. My heart was racing as a little skunk scurried across onto the neighbors yard. Even now I do not know how we got away without a coating of oily stench. I am so grateful my little one did not startle the skunk!