That night, Richard and Emma climbed into bed feeling happier than they had in months. The street was peaceful, the windows were closed, and not a single dog was barking. Richard kissed his wife and thanked her for finally solving their nighttime problem. Emma smiled proudly and switched off the lamp. Just as they were drifting to sleep, however, a strange sound came from downstairs. It was a loud, repetitive noise that neither of them recognized. Richard sat up immediately, wondering whether another neighborhood animal had found its way into their home.

Emma walked downstairs to investigate and returned several minutes later, laughing so hard that she could barely speak. Richard demanded to know what had happened. She pointed toward the hallway and explained that their own old alarm clock had started making a terrible noise because she had accidentally set it for midnight. Richard stared at her before bursting into laughter. “So after all that trouble with the neighbors’ dogs, you’re the one keeping us awake?” Emma grinned, pulled the blankets over her head, and whispered, “At least this one is in our own backyard!”