It was a silent night in 1995, the kind so quiet that the only sound came from the humming of distant cars. In a Kent neighborhood, Mrs. Matthews– BHS’s beloved history teacher– was getting ready for bed, when her otherwise peaceful evening took a surprisingly slithery turn.

Mrs. Matthews had three cats: Mama Kitty, Baby Kitty, and Little Girl Kitty. Each had their own curious personality and their habit of bringing home special “gifts,” and that night, they had an extra lively gift prepared for their owner.

While Mrs. Matthews was enjoying some shut-eye in the dark, something brushed her upon the arm. Something cold. She flicked her arm as a reflex, which caused something to get launched up and land beside her. Now wide awake, Mrs. Matthews hurried for the light, and there it was: a garter snake, creeping slowly beside her.

Where others might have screamed, Mrs. Matthews handled it professionally. 

“I wasn’t really scared, but just startled,” she said. Then she proceeded to pick it up herself, and casually tossed it outside. Her husband, who was awoken by all the commotion, thought that she was dreaming. After all, who would have believed such an event, had they not experienced it themselves?

Mrs. Matthews said that this wasn’t the first time some wild animal had entered the house, which likely contributed to her calmness in response to the whole incident. Before this, her cats had brought back two other snakes, a tiny bunny, and once, another cat. 

When reflecting on the incident, Mrs. Matthews grew more serious.

“The moral of the story,” she began, “is that as an animal lover, my cat’s safety is my highest priority.”

She paused, noting the frequent appearance of coyotes in the Bothell area.

“Especially where we live here in the Bothell area, there are a lot of coyotes– who are hungry! I do not advocate for pet owners to allow their small animals outside. In retrospect, I would not have had a cat door; my cats were fine, but the dangers of allowing my cats outside should have been considered.”

So it’s October– the spooky month. If you ever hear a noise in the dark, don’t rush ahead and blame the supernatural. Perhaps it’s just your furry companion bringing home one of their animal friends.