“Did you hear that, Ed?”
“What?”
“That sound in the wall?”
“You mean that loud banging?”
At 3 AM Edna was awake and concerned in the dark room. They shared a double bed, with Ed closest to the outside wall.

“It’s probably just ants, Edna.”
“Ants? What’d you mean ants?”
“They’re small insects that get into—”
“I know what they are, Ed. Anyway, it wasn’t banging. It was a loud scratching noise.”

They both listened to determine what it was.
“Scratching? Are you sure, Edna?”
“I’m positive.”
“Not banging, huh?”
“Do you think it’s a rat again?”

He had just gotten rid of the rat. Did he want to think of another one?
They heard it now, an irritating scratching for 15 or 20 seconds.
Ed couldn’t deny that.

“It’s a little louder than the last rat, Edna. It’s probably just, well, ants.”
“Could it be just a bigger rat, Ed?”
Louder? And bigger?
Another loathsome creature?
He had to give her credit.
Of course, he didn’t want to think about getting another rat trap again.