Brief backstory: As you know, 1) we’re undergoing remodeling, which includes the removal of 100-year-old plaster even plastic and duct tape can’t totally contain. Most of my energy goes to frantic cleaning of electronics and food surfaces, so the rest of the downstairs is a little dusty. And 2) the Stacey house runs a little left of center anyway, even the pets.

So for the last week and a half or so, Mini has gone NUTS barking while I’m cooking. She stands in the doorway to the living room in hysterics. I leave the stove (which comes at the backdoor from a different angle) to check and there’s nobody there. Yeah, okay, dog. Keep barking at the invisible ghost.

Last night, while transporting plates out to the living room (because, yes, we eat at the coffee table), I happened to go back into the kitchen at just the right angle and…

Some smartass (who goes by the name of Short Kid) decided to draw a face in the dust on the window. The steam from cooking draws it out and at the right angle, the streetlight across the street illuminates it.