The Thing Beneath the Floorboards

 Alexa conversation with my sister earlier this afternoon:

A: Things keep moving on the hearth, and Poppy (the dog) keeps sniffing at the air vent in the floor. Do you think I could have a mouse?

Me: It's definitely a possibility

A: Maybe I should put a mat over the ven... Aaaargh! It's moving, it's coming out"  [lunges offscreen]

A (off camera): No! Poppy come away! Poppy leave!! Come on, good girl Poppy!"

Camera catches her headed for the kitchen, clearly dragging Poppy.

Camera catches her running back in from the kitchen, Poppy having clearly gotten away from her

A (off camera): Poppy! Leave it! Come away!

Camera catches her headed for the kitchen, again. Clearly dragging Poppy, again.

A (off camera):  Good girl Poppy! Mam'll get you a treat in a minute!

A (Briefly on camera): It's an effin' bird. It's a full size effin' thrush! I'm just going to get something to throw over it and take it outside.

I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard!

(Bird safely delivered outside. It's not the first one to come down the chimney, it is the first one to end up under the floorboards rather than in the back of the old fireplace behind the gas fire)