WEBVTT

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This episode may contain content that is
not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion

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is advised, especially for those under
the age of thirteen. Welcome to Into

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the Night. I'm Nari, your
guide on to day's excursion down a twisted

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path. Be careful not to get
lost. Be it dark or light,

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It's easy to lose your way.
Are you ready, then let's begin Spring

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Peepers Part two. I hadn't thought
about this for years, but I know

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that feeling. There were times as
kids when my cousins and I had that

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same sensation. On some nights,
Grandma would just tell us not to go

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outside. When we'd ask why,
Grandpa would just say, just don't.

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We never went against their word,
but sometimes even the darkness outside our windows

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gave us the creeps. Both women
sat quietly for a moment, and the

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waitress came by to take their orders. Cassandra finally spoke. I hadn't even

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thought about that in all the excitement
to buy our family farm back. As

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you know, your father and I
went to school together. He and my

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twin brother Cal were best friends from
the time we started elementary. I knew

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Paul very well. The waitress brought
their orders and filled their drinks. After

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she walked away, Kay continued,
My point is that your father was like

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part of my family, and strange
things happened when he grew up on that

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place too. Really, Cassandra stopped
her fork in mid air and placed it

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back on her plate without taking a
bite. Yes, that same feeling that

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something watched them. Cal experienced it
too, Kay looked down. I hope

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you aren't angry with me. Why
would I be mad at you because I

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didn't tell you all this before you
bought the place. Kay, it's not

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your fault. I contacted you.
Remember, I was so excited and it

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was so long since I thought about
that feeling. But it's not as though

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I didn't know about this on the
farm. Thank you for understanding. Besides,

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it's probably just our imaginations getting the
best of us. That's what I

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thought too, until Tony played me
the recording. What recording? Well,

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Tony's brother lives out of state and
he wanted to hear what the spring peeper

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sounded like that Tony told him about. He asked Tony to record for him.

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Tony did, But the peepers weren't
the only thing on that tape.

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Go on When he sent the recording
to his brother in Milwaukee, the guy

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rope back to Tony, asking what
the hell is that? So Tony listened,

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Kay paused, there were these low
voices, like a voice sounds when

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the speed is slowed down on a
recording. Could there be a malfunction in

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the recording? The peepers came through
like normal. He played it for me,

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Cassandra, and it wasn't glitch.
It wasn't natural. Neither said a

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word. They picked at their food
in silence. I shouldn't have said anything.

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I've ruined evening out. I'm sorry, cass you haven't ruined anything.

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Dad should have told me years ago. I guess he didn't want to scare

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us because he knew how much his
parents loved having us out there. After

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he died. There wasn't anyone else
in the family who said anything either.

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I feel like you should know,
just so you can be more aware.

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I will be, Kay. Let's
finish this meal up, and if you're

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up to it, let's do some
window shopping or around the shops. That

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sounds lovely, cass Let's do that. As they walked around the downtown shopping

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area, they saw a woman walking
a little dog. Oh, I've always

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wanted a dog. The homeowners association
didn't allow pets in the condos, though.

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Well, you have your own farm
and you can have whatever you want.

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I know some people who raise dogs, so I can put you in

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touch with them. If you'd like
a dog or two would be good company

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for you. Cassandra's eyes lit up. That would be wonderful. I've wanted

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a dog for so long, maybe
even two, cass you can have twenty

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dogs now if you like. No
homeowners association around here, You're free to

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do what you want. Cassandra hugged
her. I'm as excited as a kid

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on Christmas morning. I'll let them
know you're interested in one or two.

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Cassandra laughed, yes, in one
or two. The women walked and talked

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for over an hour. At the
end of the evening, Cassandra asked Kay

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the question that had eaten at her
for hours. I need to know is

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Tony's still in this area? He
is, He's living down south of town.

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Why could you put me in touch
with him. I'd like to talk

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to him, and I'd like to
hear that recording if he still has it.

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Kay pulled her phone out of her
pocket. Here is his number.

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He is a nice man and I'm
sure he will talk with you. I'm

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not sure if he kept the recording
or not. Cassandra created a new contact

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for Tony atwhile on her phone.
Thanks, Kay, we'll have to do

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this again soon. We will,
and next time I'll try not to drop

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big surprises on you. It's a
deal. See you soon. On her

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drive back home, Cassandra's childhood memories
of the feeling that something lurked in the

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dark flooded back to her. So
that has to be why there were times

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Grandma and Grandpa wouldn't let us go
outside at night. They had to know

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something was out there. Has this
been a secret no one talked about for

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years? Just what is going on
out there? In twenty minutes she arrived

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home. The porch light glowed and
the house looked so welcoming. Maybe there's

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nothing to all of this talk of
creatures in the dark. Still, the

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night was dark, almost darker than
usual, Cassandra thought, and she briskly

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walked from her car to the illuminated
porch. She didn't even pause to listen

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to the din of spring peepers belting
out a chorus of their tiny frog song.

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She hurried in the door and placed
her purse and keys on the small

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oak table lining the wall to her
left. Maybe a dog or two isn't

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such a bad idea. I'm out
here by myself, and protection and company

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would be nice. She messaged,
Kay, don't forget to talk to the

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people with the dogs. I'm interested
and hope they have some available her phone

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it was Kay, I already did
they have a few litters ready for you

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to choose from? When I told
them you're Paul Carmichael's daughter, they said

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you can have the pick of the
litter. Susan and Gregg went to school

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with us, and Gregg played ball
with your dad. Kay sent her the

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phone number and wished Cassandra a good
night. The next morning, she awoke

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to a beautiful blue sky and the
sounds of songbirds outside her window. She

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drew back the curtain and watched as
robins hopped around the yard searching for meals.

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Robbins spring has officially arrived. As
a girl. She sat at this

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very window watching the seasonal birds.
Her grandmother kept feeders full for them,

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and Cassandra added bird feeders and seeds
to her mental list of things she needed

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to buy in town. Checking her
phone notifications, she saw a new message

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from Kay. Good morning. If
it works for you, Susan and Greg

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Hartman can meet with you today.
They have beautiful dogs and I know you'll

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find the right one for you.
Looking around the house, she realized just

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how still and quiet it was.
I do need a companion. I'll stop

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in town on my way to the
Heartman's and pick up dog food, toys,

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beds, and whatever else I'll need
for my new friends, and something

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from my wild bird companions too.
She arranged to meet the Heartman's at eleven,

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and when she arrived, they gave
her welcoming hugs. We haven't seen

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you since you were a little girl, but your parents were dear friends of

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Oz. I think I remember you
and this place. I remember the big

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weather vane on top of your barn. Yes, that's been up there for

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ages. Come on in and meet
all puppies. Are you looking for a

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big dog or a small dog?
Maybe one of each. Let's see what

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you have first. They brought in
the small puppies. These are sheepoos.

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Mama is a Shitzu and Daddy is
a poodle. Cassandra sat on the floor

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and was warmed by a litter of
six of the cutest puppies she'd ever seen.

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Oh gosh, I want all of
them, she laughed, as one

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puppy climbed onto her lap as if
to claim Cassandra as her own. Well,

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hello, little girl, it looks
like I have a puppy. The

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puppy, as if it knew it
was going home with Cassandra, gave her

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multiple kisses on the chin. Okay, that's settled. Greg, bring in

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the English Shepherd puppies for her.
Turning to Cassandra, Susan said, we

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can't say enough good things about our
English shepherds. They are loyal and versatile

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and just what you'll need on your
place. I've never heard of them before.

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There aren't many around here. They
come, though. Eight exuberant puppies

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ran into the room and greeted Cassandra. One sable boy ran to her and

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sat patiently for his turn to be
petted. Look at you, you have

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such good manners, she looked up
at the heartman's I'll take him. She

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paid for the puppies, and as
she carried her new best friends to the

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car, Susan and Gregg brought out
the registration papers and shot records. Soon

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she was on her way home with
Sadie and Ike. That night, she

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brought her new companions onto the porch. You want to listen to the frogs

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with me, wagging tails, answered
her. She sat on the swing with

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Sadie on her lap and Ike by
her feet, in the darkness, just

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outside the glow of the porch light. However, she swore, she sensed

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a presence. What Kate told me
is messing with my head. I shouldn't

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let that keep me from enjoying a
beautiful evening like this one. Just as

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she shook off the idea that something
watched her, Ike let out a low

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growl while he nestled closer to her
leg and stared out into the dark.

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Sadie whimpered in her lap and climbed
to hide under Cassandra's chin. Suddenly,

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she felt like it was more than
just an overactive imagination fueling her It's okay,

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babies, let's go inside. She
stood and opened the back door.

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Sadie clung to her, and Ike
backed his way into the house, keeping

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himself between Cassandra and whatever lurked in
the night. Unsettled Cassandra brought the dogs

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into her room. Let's all sleep
in here tonight. I'm glad I have

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you sweet puppies. The next morning, she contacted Tony Atwell. She called

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and explained who she was. Would
you mind meeting me? And do you

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have that recording still? Ah?
Do, I'll bring it with me.

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Do you want to meet tonight after
work six o'clock at Miller's Dinah, I

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can do that. I'll see you
then. Thank you for joining me for

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Into the Night, an anthology series
written by Caroline Giamanco, narration by Nari

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Quok, Theme music by Nico Rodriguez. All original music, sound design and

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editing provided by Flyboy Entertainment. You
can find our links in the show notes.

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Please remember to like and subscribe,
and if you enjoy what you hear,

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please leave us a five star review
to help other excursionists to join us.

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You can find us on your favorite
podcast directory. See you next time,

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and remember, whether in the shadows
or in the daylight, All Twisted

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Paths take you into the night.
Into the Night is a creative Typo Entertainment production