"Mike, I need to speak with you a minute. Last night there were noises and I don't know if they were from your backyard but they were from that direction so it was either here or possibly the Aldens next door to you." Walt Findlay spoke slightly embarrassed.
"Wait a minute; what are you talking about, Walt?" Mike asked, confused.
Just as Walt Findlay was explaining what his wife had heard Steve and Jeannie had started to head downstairs. When she heard the neighbor's voice she held Steve back. They stood and listened to Mike and the neighbor both doing their best to not laugh. It wasn't long before they heard Mike express to Walt Findlay if it was from his yard he apologized but he didn't know it was as he had slept through the night.
"Honestly I wouldn't have bothered coming to speak with you but my wife was pushing for me to at least mention the matter. Sorry to have troubled you. I'm to go have a word with the Aldens as well. Talk to you later, Mike. Thanks for listening." Walt Findlay sounded friendly.
Mike and he shook hands then the neighbor left. Jeannie and Steve couldn't hold back any longer as they heard the door close. Their laughter preceded their entrance into the living room. As hard as they tried they couldn't stop laughing so finally made an appearance. They were met with a stern scowl on the face of Mike Stone.
"You kids were out in our backyard last night after I went to bed?" Mike questioned.
"Yeah Mike we were. I apologize." Steve answered as contritely as possible. "We just were talking and heard..."
Steve didn't get to finish what he had started to say. Mike dove right into a lecture that lasted at least fifteen minutes. Steve and Jeannie listened as quiet as possible although Jeannie was having to bite her sleeve to stop the fit of giggles that wanted to escape. Both tried to tell him they only talked out there and heard the noise as well and came inside. Mike was skeptical but seemed to accept their words, when the phone rang. Mike answered it thinking it might be SFPD wondering where he was.
"I'm on my way. I'm just running a bit late." Mike tried to explain.
"Mike this is Olivia Charleston. I just wanted to call and make sure everything was alright over there. Last night there were sounds from the direction of your back yard almost like there was a wild animal. I don't know for sure it was from there but thought you might have heard it too. I don't like to complain, but was wondering as it went on for a while. I tried to call last night although it was late and nobody answered. It took a good while for me to get to sleep. I thought I'd catch you before you had to leave to go to work. If it wasn't from your yard I'd call some others that are in your direction as well," Olivia Charleston explained.
"Mrs. Charleston, I'm terribly sorry you were disturbed. I have no idea what the noise was. My daughter said she heard it as well last night. There was no wild animal back there though I assure you. Everything's fine here. I hate to rush but as you said I do need to get to Bryant Street. Thank you very much for calling me about this." Mike tried to remain calm but his eyes were spitting fire in Steve and Jeannie's direction.
"Thank you, Mike. Stay safe." Olivia Charleston spoke warmly before she hung up.
When Mike hung up he opened his mouth to start another lecture but thought better of it. He hurriedly left slamming the door hard as he went out. Steve and Jeannie heard the car as Mike sped away and they burst out laughing again unable to stop. Jeannie made a growling noise like a wild animal and Steve couldn't help but laugh. Once more the phone rang and caused both to groan. Jeannie answered it quickly.
"Hello?" Jeannie spoke politely.
"This is Jeannie, right?" A woman's voice asked and Jeannie answered in the affirmative. "Jeannie is your dad home? I wanted to talk to him about something that was going on last night and I wasn't sure if it was from your backyard or the next house." Opal Peters explained the reason for her call.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Peters, but he had to go to work. Can I help you with anything?" Jeannie inquired.
"There were some noises last night that sounded from your yard or nearby. I wondered if you or your father might have heard it. I thought at first I was dreaming but when I got up and moved closer to the window I knew I wasn't," Opal Peters explained in a quiet voice as though she was afraid of who might hear her.
"Mike slept through the whole night he was tired. I heard it though. I haven't heard of any wild animals escaping from the zoo though." Jeannie was struggling to keep her voice even.
"Well since the sounds haven't been heard in quite a few hours it's probably alright. Please let your dad know I called, would you?" Opal Peters requested.
"I'll make sure to tell him, Mrs. Peters. You have a nice day. Bye now." Jeannie assured her.
She and Steve broke out in laughter again after the phone call. After the call Jeannie made sure all the curtains were closed. She didn't want to chance anyone passing by to see Steve. While Mike was gone they spent most of the day watching old movies and talking. He called to let them know he definitely wouldn't be there for lunch. As he and Jeannie were talking, Roy Devitt appeared in Mike's office door.
"I've got to go sweetheart, Roy just showed up to get me. You kids behave and I'll see you after a while," Mike remarked hopefully.
"Yes, Mike we're both behaving. We love you. Hope the meeting goes well." Jeannie remarked before they hung up.