Sweat trickled down her brow. She looked back into the darkness of her room, giving Karen a reassuring smile. Gripping a baseball bat in her hands, she quietly stepped out in the hallway.

Light on her feet she climbed down the stairs that Karen had just run up from. She prayed the intruder hadn’t heard her.

Tightening her grip on the bat she approached the living room. The Television was only source of light making the room eerie.

 She heard little shuffling of feet. Raising the bat above her head, she froze. All ready to hit trespasser.

She heard the scuffling again. Closer, Right next to her. Swinging with all her might she struck her target. Thump.

Proud of her own bravery the twelve year old yelled out for Karen.

“You can come down now, Mom. The rat is dead.”