Strange creature, stranger life decision

As I pulled in to park at my home after work on Sunday, I saw a mysterious creature ahead in my headlights.

It was something I'd never seen before -- large and fluffy, nearly a foot wide, but low to the ground with short legs; maybe three feet long, and white with a short tail.

The normal reaction to seeing a strange wild animal roaming around would be to go inside so as to avoid attack. What I did was pick up a small rock and run after it into the darkness.

The critter scurried between buildings, so I cut across the alley and tried to meet it on the other side.

A stray cat shot across the street, underneath a car and into the distance.

Was my mind playing tricks on me? Was it just the cat I saw?

Sure it was. It was dark out; only a half moon. I took one last look towards the cat, but it was gone. I set my rock down and started walking home.

Then there, up ahead, the creature was back, closer this time.

Like a flash, the creature crossed into the alley and down my path. It was clearer this time -- a dark stripe down his back, tiny head, almost like a large porcupine, but not as rugged.

I followed, weary that it might be waiting around the corner ready to launch itself into the air toward my vulnerable neck or even more vulnerable ... places below my waist.

I gave it a wide berth, circling the alley.

The creature saw me and took off running towards my home. I ran after it, foolhardy and brash as it was.

It veered away, under a street lamp and into a car yard.

I like to think it was a blood-thirsty wolverine or badger, but it was probably a really fat skunk.