This story is by Debi Fairchild and was part of our 2018 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
The Man and The Box
Today mother granted my wish to go over next door to my best friend’s house. As usual, she shouted for me to remember to look through the peephole, in the door before leaving. I wanted to skip that step and escape over to visit with Dominick right now. But to please mother I decided to stare out the stupid spy hole. Besides hanging above the viewer, was a sign with bold letters “LOOK!”
Mother pointed her finger at me, “You never know who or what is on the other side.You must always be careful. Danger might be waiting for you.”
I sized up my gateway to adventure. Maybe I could jump up to the hole, but how can I hang on? Or perhaps if I climbed it like a tree. After all, doors are made out of trees. No, nothing to grip my hands and feet on. So I scooted the annoying old stool over to the portal of mystery. I knew nothing or no one would be out there, like the times before. But if I don’t check, I would be grounded for eternity.
I was shocked.There he stood, near the entrance, a man with a box in his hands,stared at the door, as if it would magically come open. He wore a mask like the Lone Ranger, dressed in a tuxedo. It’s too early for mother to have a date. Maybe he’s a secret admirer, with a small box of chocolates? We could share.
Who is he? Why the mask? What does he want? Why now? He’s spoiling my fun
date with Dominick. Why doesn’t he go away? What’s in the box? He seems to be on a mission.
What if there’s a bomb in there and he hands the box to me. Then it explodes. Mother would make me clean up the mess and ground me for weeks.
Maybe mother ordered or arranged something and forgot to tell me. But he would ring the bell. Perhaps he’s asking for money to donate to Halloween orphans. He appeared to be dressed for the occasion? He creeped me out, as he stood there glued to the opening, expecting someone to let him in. I imagined if he needed to, he could
push through our passageway, without our permission. What if I invited him in? He probably would chase me around the house, tormenting me with that box. Or maybe, if I cracked the door a little, snatched the package, and raced back in. No, he would grab me and run off. Mother would be mad at me if I got injured or even kidnapped, because she warned me and I didn’t listen to her.
What should I do? I was determined to jump back on the stool. I wanted to see Dominick today! I said a short prayer and took a deep breath. Maybe he finally left,since no one answered the door. I peeked through the hole once again.
The man spun his head up and glared at me, with his icy blue eyes. He blurted out in a mechanical voice. “Hello little girl, is your mother home?”
I almost fell off the stool. I charged upstairs. “Mom! Mom! There’s a robot man at the door, with a box asking for you.”
The Man and The Box
Today mother granted my wish to go over next door to my best friend’s house. As usual, she
shouted for me to remember to look through the peephole, in the door before leaving. I
wanted to skip that step and escape over to visit with Dominick right now. But to
please mother I decided to stare out the stupid spy hole. Besides hanging above the
viewer, was a sign with bold letters “LOOK!”
Mother pointed her finger at me, “You never know who or what is on the other side.
You must always be careful. Danger might be waiting for you.”
I sized up my gateway to adventure. Maybe I could jump up to the hole, but how can
I hang on? Or perhaps if I climbed it like a tree. After all, doors are made out of trees.
No, nothing to grip my hands and feet on. So I scooted the annoying old stool over to
the portal of mystery. I knew nothing or no one would be out there, like the times
before. But if I don’t check, I would be grounded for eternity.
I was shocked.There he stood, near the entrance, a man with a box in his hands,
stared at the door, as if it would magically come open. He wore a mask like the Lone
Ranger, dressed in a tuxedo. It’s too early for mother to have a date. Maybe he’s a
secret admirer, with a small box of chocolates? We could share.
Who is he? Why the mask? What does he want? Why now? He’s spoiling my fun
date with Dominick. Why doesn’t he go away? What’s in the box? He seems to be on a
mission.
What if there’s a bomb in there and he hands the box to me. Then it explodes.
Mother would make me clean up the mess and ground me for weeks.
Maybe mother ordered or arranged something and forgot to tell me. But he would
ring the bell. Perhaps he’s asking for money to donate to Halloween orphans. He
appeared to be dressed for the occasion? He creeped me out, as he stood there glued
to the opening, expecting someone to let him in. I imagined if he needed to, he could
push through our passageway, without our permission. What if I invited him in? He
probably would chase me around the house, tormenting me with that box. Or maybe, if
I cracked the door a little, snatched the package, and raced back in. No, he would grab
me and run off. Mother would be mad at me if I got injured or even kidnapped,
because she warned me and I didn’t listen to her.
What should I do? I was determined to jump back on the stool. I wanted to see
Dominick today! I said a short prayer and took a deep breath. Maybe he finally left,
since no one answered the door. I peeked through the hole once again.
The man spun his head up and glared at me, with his icy blue eyes. He blurted
out in a mechanical voice. “Hello little girl, is your mother home?”
I almost fell off the stool. I charged upstairs. “Mom! Mom! There’s a robot man at
the door, with a box asking for you.”