"Mom, WAIT..."

I was strolling up the driveway with my friend Chigiy, on our customary afternoon walk with the dogs, when my daughter burst out of the house at a run.

"Mom, WAIT . . . There's a big snake in my room!"  

Chigiy and I both made instant 180 degree turns and began walking back to the house.  The initial report from the front line was 1) that snake in question was not a rattlesnake - phew! - and 2) that one of the cats had brought it in for Tessa to admire (or perhaps, to inquire, "What are we supposed to do with this?"),  and 3) that it looked like a turd.  

O.K., so that ruled out gopher, garter, and king snakes. Tessa thought it might be a Sharp Tail Snake, but they don't really get "big."  They look like this:

One little Sharp-Tail snake

Two little Sharp-Tail snakes

We would have a hard time even seeing such a wee snake in Tessa's room.  Besides, I've never seen a pink poop.  Thankfully.

I wish I had thought to photograph the snake in "turd" form on Tessa's rug.  A soft brown color topside, he was neatly curled around himself, unmoving.  I feared him dead, or badly injured.  Gently, I put a towel over him to pick him up (I hate getting pooped on by frightened snakes).  I was also hoping to discourage that lightning fleeing that snakes do.  I guess if he had wanted to make a break for it, the dishtowel would not have hindered him at all.  (But it works really well for the rodents the cats bring in).  

Anyway, the snake had evidently turned to stone and let me pick him up easily .  We took him outside into the sunlight.  Chigiy already knew that it was a Racer.  They have large, expressive eyes, and tend to like moody music and stormy days at the beach.  

The Racer has a few little dings from his encounter with the cat, but does not seem to be irreparably damaged.  We are keeping him for a few days for observation, and because he is so utterly beautiful.

Top side of Racer, whom we Cannot See because he cannot see us.  (Just play along).

The colors of the underside --gorgeous.

Large expressive eyes.