Today's adventure in hypnopompia

[jere7my]

There was suddenly something in the corner, something like a skinned seal. It wheezed, glistened, flopped painfully forward. I leapt out of bed, and it was gone — oh, thank God. I'd been dreaming.

Then from downstairs: a moan, a throaty rising whine. It came again, and again, pulsing. I ran downstairs, my heart hammering. Was it invisible? If it was downstairs...if it found the cat....

I ran into the kitchen. My wife was there, grinding coffee beans in her coffee grinder, looking at me quizzically. "Yes?" she asked.