a stranger in the night

Sometimes I run out of cool ideas of things for people to write about. Tonight I had to consult the mighty internet for ideas and I found this one. (I elaborated on it a little.) I asked everybody to picture their home. Maybe the home they have now, maybe a home they've had in the past, maybe a home they wish to have. Either way, I wanted them to picture a place they liked and felt safe in. Then I asked them to imagine themselves in this home: it's nighttime, almost 11:30, and they're getting ready for bed. They're in their pajamas, they've brushed their teeth, and just as they're about to turn out the lights, there's a knock at the door. They don't have a peep-hole, they can't tell who it is. They go to the door, open it up, and they're face to face with... what? Who? Tell the story of what happens next. Here are the results.



Wolves at the Door, by Anonymous Man

It was more like a scratching than a knocking and seemed to sound through me, or to a place in me I don't go very often. I hesitated, but curiosity won out. My curiosity always wins out.

I opened the door and looked right over them at first: two wolves -- but somehow I wasn't afraid. Not knowing exactly what to say, I just said what came to mind.

"Yes. May I help you?"

"Actually, we're here to help you," the one replied.

"Actually, I think you're beyond help," said the other.

"You're going to help me?" I asked.

"No," the sarcastic wolf said, rolling his eyes. "We just stopped by to observe a human in his native habitat. By the way, you should take out your garbage."

"Now you're frightening me a little," I tried tossing some of his sarcasm right back. "Do you think you could cover your fangs a bit when you talk?"

The friendlier wolf intervened. "My cousin's got some anti-human attitudes," he explained.

"Well, I can't say as I'd blame him. We humans have been hard on you. But I'm not one of those types of people."

"We know who you are," he said calmingly. "You're the one who dreams there's wolves at your door."



Knocked Up, by Greatness

Made it to the big time, living it up in sunny Las Vegas. Nice clothes, cars and a bevy of delicious damsels. The penthouse suite inside the Luxor Hotel and Casino Resort is plushed to expressed satisfaction with a ten year lease.

Everything is going great from day to day or without concern. The City of Roses cannot be missed except for the additional chance to win the mega bucks powerball again.

On a fine and sunny day here in Vegas my retreat is disturbed by a loud knock. Upon opening my door, there stood a police captain. Appropriately inviting the captain inside and offering her a drink, I was duly notified that my great fortune was to end due to an alleged cyber scam that produce a bogus powerball ticket that I was to have collected.

To have lived for a day is better than to have not lived at all.


The Trunk, by 1752

I opened the door and I couldn't believe it! There he was! After 17 years! I thought I got away safely -- new state, new city to hide in -- but no... I couldn't slam the door fast enough. He grabbed my arm and yanked me out of what I thought was a safe place. I had plastic surgery, died my hair -- which had grown out considerably -- my weight had changed -- everything about me was different! I left no trace, or so I thought. I left no track with credit histories -- jobs were all under the table -- I shared no truth about who I really was with anyone!

He carried me to the trunk of his car, blindfolded. We drove for what seemed like hours. Finally we stopped. He left me in there while who knows what he was doing. I heard strange noises -- it sounded like the heavy screeching sounds of the door opening to a dungeon! I felt like I was on fire! It was so dark, I was so scared.

Eventually the trunk opened...

... to be continued!



Untitled, by Anonymous Woman

I was in Sector A in my pajamas. It is mandatory to wear PJs in Sector A because Sector A is a decontamination zone. There isn't much to do in Sector A cause there isn't much there to make decontamination easier. I heard a gentle knocking on my door. The door to my apartment is in the commons. To get to the commons I have to go through Sector C, to do that, I must wrap my feet in plastic and tuck my PJ pants into the plastic bags and not touch anything in Sector C. I jumped up, wrapped my feet and left Sector A, crossed Sector C without touching anything, changed the annoyed expression on my face to cheerful smile and opened the door. To my surprise, it was an alien from another planet. The first thing I noticed was his trouser pant legs tucked into his boots. His trousers were not unlike my PJs. Actually, he was wearing a jump suit. His head was oval shaped and he had large black eyes. He smiled at me with his thin lips and telepathed to me, "I think you are ready to come with us now." I smiled back at him, spun around to grab my e-bag and followed him down the hall.