Winter is settling down in Windhoek. Days have shortened. Early mornings and evenings bring cold winds. At times it blows really hard to bring down the wires of electric fence or dry branches, and to create loud banging music by slamming open doors or window panes.

The other day, the windy morning was quite agitating. I went in the Backyard as usual to access the clothesstring. While I was putting the wet clothes one on the string, I heard some Rustling noise in the nearby bushes. I stopped for a while and tried to follow the sound. But as I kept quiet, the rustling sound also stopped.

After a long pause I continued my work and the rustling again started. Someone was surely there around. Could it be a snake? I knew the snakes also liked basking in the morning.  The thought of having a snake nearby brought goosebumps on my neck. There were some clothes still in the bucket waiting to go on the string. I left it as it was and moved back a few steps as slowly as I could. I decided to wait.

The rustling came again and this time I could follow the direction of the sound. All I could see was a little smiling face behind some succulent plants. I had never seen him before in the backyard though I had seen numerous birds and a couple of mongooses there. It was somewhat like a rabbit or a mouse. It appeared slowly from behind the plants and I understood it was a little Rock Dassie It went to a stone and sat on it to bask in the warm morning Sun. It was staring at me with all the curiosity in the world gathered in its glass-bead-like pair of eyes. It was the first creatureI found super-cute while staring!! Yes, only while staring.

When he yawned, I could clearly see its sharp incisors and decided to keep distance from it. I stood there for some time. It must have become tired of sitting there. It went towards the fence, climbed the wall and jumped into the yard of neighbouring house. I couldn’t see him again for long since then.