We're well into fall now, it's cold, though we haven't yet experienced a deep frost. The barbecue has not been used in at least a month. It sits, covered, on the deck. It's a gas barbecue, directly linked to the natural gas pipeline that also heats our house, so it's clean and easy to use.

Because yesterday was my regular cleaning day, after hours spent cleaning the house it seemed like a break from cooking mightn't be a bad idea, so we agreed to use the barbecue; my husband would do most of the food preparation and cooking.

When he uncovered the barbecue and lifted the top he saw something tiny out of the corner of his eye, and then it began frantically scurrying about. We've had mice there before, over-wintering. He thought that by lifting the coals and making a bit of a disturbance he would encourage the mouse to vacate its winter premises and allow him to use the barbecue one last time.

But as he lifted the coals and set them aside, he saw a nest. And in that nest was a family of young mice. They too began scurrying about the bottom of the barbecue in confused fear, always returning to the nest, the home they know and found comfort (and, hitherto, security) within.

My husband carefully returned all the coals in orderly fashion as he found them. Closed up the barbecue and re-covered it.