It sounded like someone was scratching at the window. My wife, Julia, two children, Ben and Andrea and I always go to Yosemite Park and spend a week in our cabin, located in the center of the wilderness. Right now, they are fishing in a nearby lake to catch our dinner for the next three nights. The cabin was built in 1972, so everything in the cabin is dusty and creaky, although still very cozy. There is a maroon rug hand-woven by my late grandmother, and the plush chairs on top of it form a semicircle around the fireplace, whose flame never seems to extinguish.
As I was preparing my famous mouthwatering Veggie Stew in the small kitchen, I heard the most frightening noise. I thought it was just my imagination so I kept chopping up the cucumber. Then I heard the grumbling sound again. My heart skipped a beat and my palms suddenly got sweaty. I was terrified. When I heard this sound again, the hairs on my spine stood up. I crept to the window to unveil this mysterious sound, and saw the most ferocious animal. Its eyes were bloodshot, gleaming with the reflection of the single bulb hanging in the kitchen. Its fangs appeared to be the size of large icicles that would hang from the roof of my house on a winter’s sunset, while dripping with saliva. It was an American Black Bear. I was having trouble staying calm. I finally managed to say something, “Ahhhhh!!!” I raced as far away from the window as possible. I needed something to protect myself. Then I detected a gun as if my eyes were a radar screen. My great grandfather’s rifle was an antique, but it never lost its bang. It was encased in a glass box. I opened a wooden drawer and took out a tarnished hammer. I brought the hammer over my shoulder and with no hesitation, I whacked it at the glass. I dropped the hammer on the floor, instantly forgetting about it to focus on the more important details. I swiftly reached for the gun out of the shards of glass and speedily walked to the window.
Yep! It was still there! I scurried out the back door and did what all those Park Rangers kept stressing, “If any of you ever encounter a bear, look as big as possible and make as much noise as you can.” And I did just that. I grasped the sides of my coat and brought it over my head. I screamed as loud as my vocal cords would let me. Then I raised the rifle to the sky and shot a bullet to the infinite, starry night. I didn’t want to disrupt the peaceful night with a bullet, but I was given no choice. I was about to shoot the beast with the rifle aimed at its huge chest, but then the bear whimpered in retreat and bustled deep into the woods. I stared at the rustling leaves and branches until they moved no more. Cautious of any underhanded after-attack, I waited another two minutes before I sauntered back to the cabin. I felt out of breath even though I only walked a distance of ten feet. I was suddenly feeling light-headed and stumbled over to my chair in front of the fireplace. I blacked out before I was fully seated. “Honey, I’m home.” I opened my eyes and blinked repeatedly, adjusting to the light. I sat up, expecting a barrage of anxious questions from Julia. When none came, I looked over at the glass case, and the rifle was in its correct spot. I went over to the drawer, opened it, and saw that the tarnished hammer had not moved an inch. A glimmer of light hit my eyes; it was coming from the window. At first, I did not notice anything abnormal, but then that reflection of brightness it my eyes again. The lone light bulb hanging in the kitchen was emitting light that reflected in three deep scratches etched in the glass...