Extraction Protocol

A faint scratching stopped me cold as I cleared the back patio pavers. Over by the garden faucet, a fledgling field mouse had slipped between the tight metal ribs of an old empty watering can and couldn't find purchase on the smooth tin wall. Panic gets you nowhere; calculated action does. I hauled a thick, weathered jute garden twine over the rim, anchoring my boots firmly against the flared handle. Dropping the braided tail straight down into the basin, I held the tension steady. The little runner caught the rough hemp, scrambled up with focused haste, and bolted straight into the safe thicket of hostas. Clean extraction. Perimeter secure.