The Red Door

The red door was open. It was never open. Matron Kinney said it would never be open, so none of the children were to try even to touch it.

It was a Tuesday afternoon on a spring day. The kitty clock that hung over the kitchen archway was striking two thirty-three, but school was already over. They’d closed earlier than usual to prepare for the parade. Lisa was the only one back, the other girls were in clubs that had to prepare their own acts for tomorrow. Not her though; the music teacher had kicked her out on the first day, she’d scraped her knee terribly when she’d tried to play football, she’d poured in too much salt in the dough and for some reason Mrs. Oscar hadn’t even allowed her touch the oven. Worst of all, she always turned left when Mr. Presley shouted for a right turn.

She was a mess. Everybody said so. Even James hadn’t asked her why she was the only kid in the school bus when he’d driven her back.

Her bag was downstairs, hung on the hook with her name under it. Matron Kinney was very particular about it, and always turned red when they didn’t hang their bags. Her school shoes were on the shoe rack downstairs too. Matron Kinney was not home, Lisa knew because the kitchen was empty and the matron always had the stove on when school was over.

Maybe it was because they had closed early today.

The red door was upstairs, at the end of the corridor; right after the door to Harriet's room that was just as brown and plain as all the other doors—except Matron Kinney’s door which was as white as the ceiling. Only the red door was that colour, if you didn’t count the shoes Lenny had gotten two Christmases ago. It was the barrier that kept all of them out of the only part of the house they had never entered. Not even Vanessa though she often entered the Matron’s room when she was out.

The red door was more than a door. It was a wall, like the great one in China, a border, a barrier. An impossible knot that could never be undone. That was it. That was the red door. But today, it was open. The knot had come undone and Lisa craned her neck to see what laid inside.

Were there skeletons? Or maybe a pot of gold? The possibilities were endless, Lisa was curious, and though she was not one to break rules, she could see nothing no matter her high she stood on her toes and stretched her neck. Maybe she should take one step closer. Just one, so she could see what was inside before the Matron returned to lock it.

Warm air filtered out the dark room. Like a breath. It tickled the hairs on Lisa’s hand when she pushed the door a bit. Just a bit so she could see what was inside.

The door was wide open, she was only a step away from being inside, yet she still couldn’t see anything. Peeping this way or that made no difference. There was nothing but hot air and darkness. It didn't even make sense. How could there be air if there were no windows? If there were windows, then why would it be so dark?

She stared into the room, debating whether to step in, just for a bit, just to see if there was a window or a skeleton, or both.

‘The torch!’ she gasped before her feet could step over the threshold. It was dark, she would probably trip over something since she was such a mess, and then Matron Kinney would know she’d entered.

There was a torch in the cabinet by the wall in the living room. The big grey torch Julia liked to use when she’d switch off all the lights on Saturday nights to tell them scary stories for the weekly slumber party. It was scarred and a bit heavier than Lisa had thought, but it used batteries and worked fine so she raced up the stairs to see the room before she had the chance to be found out.

Harriet was the first one to jump off the bus. She always sat by the door just to be the first one to get off. ‘Bye, James,’ she called as she raced home, her heart anticipating what the parade would be like tomorrow.

She hung her bag next to Lisa’s empty hook and pulled off her shoes. The scent of coconut bread and cinnamon rolls didn’t help slow her, coconut was her favourite and even though she didn’t like cinnamon, Matron Kinney’s rolls were the best she’d ever tasted.

‘Good evening Matron Kinney,’ she greeted as she settled on the stool by the counter, right behind the rolls, breathing heavily and sweaty in her sportswear. Harriet liked being the first one to greet their Matron.

‘Good evening, Harriet.’ Matron Kinney smiled as she dumped a second tray of coconut bread on the island counter. The other girls trooped in, greeting the matron before running upstairs or going to watch television. Only Harriet always kept their matron company while she cooked. Or just until the matron sent her away.

She always got sent to shower when she came back sweaty, but today Matron Kinney didn’t mind her. It made her happy and more excited about tomorrow. Everything was seeming odd and special and adding to her excitement. The parade happened only once every ten years. Only Tracy and Mila had been to the parade before in their house. They said there would be fireworks and campfires and everybody would be outside until really late.

‘I can’t find my face mask!’ Trudy shouted from upstairs, ‘Harriet?!’

‘I didn’t take your ugly mask!’ Harriet shouted back, one eye on their matron. She didn’t want Matron Kinney to think she was still childish enough to play with face masks. She was already eleven even though she was still short, besides, everybody knew that Lisa was the one that took face masks. ‘Ask Lisa.’

Crash!

‘Are you playing with me?! Give me my face mask, who the heck’s Lisa?!’ Trudy had rushed downstairs, but Harriet had barely registered that, Matron Kinney had dropped the third tray of bread and was clutching her hand.

‘Oh my gosh! Matron Kinney, are you okay?’ Trudy rushed to where the matron had bent to try and pick up the bread.

‘Don’t worry Trudy. Harriet don’t touch that! It’s hot. Leave the tray and go have a bath.’

Harriet wanted to point out that she was holding a tablecloth, but Matron Kinney’s eyes were hard the way they became when she didn’t want to be questioned.

It made Harriet sad, that she’d made the matron angry. It made her want to cry. Stupid Trudy! It’s her fault for accusing her when it was always Lisa that did it. And what did she mean who the heck is Lisa?

Lisa was…

...Lisa was…

Irritated, Harriet ran up the stairs, stomping her feet to make thetears go back. She kicked Julia’s torch by accident right before she could get to her room. The torch rolled and rolled until it banged softly against the red door at the end of the corridor.

As always, the red door was closed.