What was the story behind the sound of knocking at the door?
Answers
The Knock at the Door
by Stuart Mead
Joey Carter was thirteen. He lived with his mother. He hadn’t seen his father for a long,
long time – not since he was in kindergarten. He couldn’t remember his father’s face
very well. But, at night, he could still hear him say, “Good night, Joey. I love you.”
Joey’s mother never talked about his father. There were no photographs of him
anywhere in the house. Joey didn’t ask about his father, but he secretly hoped his
father would return one day. He felt sure that he would.
The old house they lived in was built by Joey’s grandparents. They were dead, but Joey
always felt that they were still there, watching over their house and everyone who
lived in it. He never told his mother about that. Maybe she’d think he was silly.
One stormy night, there was a telephone
call. Joey’s mother answered it. She
listened to the other person talking. She
said nothing for a while. Then she said
simply, “That’s right.” She looked worried.
“I have to go out,” she said. She didn’t
even look at Joey.
She put on her coat and her old shoes and took her umbrella.
As she got to the front door, she turned to face Joey. “I won’t be long,” she said. “I can’t
tell you where I’m going. Don’t go outside. And don’t open the door if anyone tries to
get in. Promise?”
Joey nodded.
She left quickly. The door closed behind her with a bang.
It was all so fast – the phone call, the
goodbye, the promise, the closed door.
Joey