In the large oak tree across the yard from her window, a bird flapped its wings, drawing her attention. She had just gotten off from the phone with the Freda girl, but not without telling the her to inform her sister about her call.

The bird had a round facial disk with a very pronounced ruff. It wasn't an owl but it was large. Very large. The unusual bird could easily weigh at least twenty pounds. She stared at it, and it stared right back. She could see its eyes, round and shiny ...