Here in Southeast Boise

Last night I put my pajama bottoms on, came downstairs, checked the doors, and went up, saying to myself as I passed the front door, "No one is going to come to my door tonight." Justification, beyond the heat, for not putting on pj tops.
But this is not the point of the story.

As soon as I got upstairs, the doorbell rang. "Oh, for heaven's sake," I said and threw on a t-shirt, no foundation garment, went down and answered the door with my arms folded.
Not the point of the story.

It was my neighbor from in back, from the one house of the three behind me which is currently occupied. He identified himself, but I knew him anyway--they have lived there 15 years. He said he wanted to know who did my roof. He likes its looks and was most impressed by the speed with which they did the job.

I invited him in, told him I was very happy with the roof and the roofers, offered to give him the names of all five companies who had given me bids, and tried to help him feel okay about coming over so late.
Not the point of the story.

He was quite impressed that I had five bids and wanted to know why I chose the one I did. I explained--I won't here because it is not the point of the story.

He wanted only the name and number of the one I chose, so I provided that for him, and then we talked about his family, his two boys and what they're doing this summer. I showed him the wall of my family pictures, then led him outside to show him some of the extras my roofer did. As we stepped outside, we discovered a lovely little snake on my front door threshold.
Getting close to the point.

My neighbor then went home.

I have heard that you shouldn't kill these little grass snakes because they eat living things you don't want around your house. But this snake is hardly big enough to eat a baby mouse, let alone a squirrel or RACCOON. And snakes give me the creeps, especially on my threshold.

My friend MM has told me twice he'd come over with his .22--equipped with a silencer--and shoot the raccoon. I have declined his offer, even though he has now told me that he shoots squirrels daily. Maybe two or three a day, has probably killed more than 200. Should I believe that? Yes. I know MM.

I have squirrels, too, you know.

But I do not have, as he has because he built it, a cinder block wall behind much foliage to collect the bullets that miss the squirrels. And I do not want him to miss the RACCOON, if he happened to be here with his gun when that pesky animal might show up, and hit my neighbor's house or, worse, my neighbor's child.

I am thinking about the snake, though. If he shot it he would be aiming at the ground.

The point? I live in the city.