Game Trail

       A narrow path transects the lawn on the north side of our house.  It runs in a northerly direction for sixty feet or so and disappears under the rhododendrons along the fence line at the edge of our property.  At its south end, toward the house, the trail becomes indistinct; it just sort of disappears.  It’s been there for about a year, always visible but more noticeable in the early morning while the grass is still dew-covered, and it’s even more distinct as the time nears to mow the lawn again.
       Clearly, it is a game trail but we have yet to discover the animal that it belongs to; no tell-tale clues reveal its maker.  That it is extremely narrow and never gets worn through to bare earth might indicate that the animal is smallish and light weight.  Yet, the disturbed area under the rhodies seems generous in size.  There is a tree on the other side of the fence just in that area so I’m betting that our visitor is a possum or, perhaps, a raccoon but the tree, itself, reveals nothing.
       On the other hand, why does the trail suddenly end, still more-or-less in mid-lawn?  It’s as though some predatory UFO beamed up our visitor from the same spot each night.  Or does courage fail at that point and the trail blazer turns and carefully returns to the beginning?
       I have considered waiting up for it some night, not only to learn who our visitor is, but also to try to discern the reason the trail just peters out mid-lawn.  So far, however, my curiosity has been over-ruled by my desire for a good night’s sleep.