Keep Knocking

Writing Prompt
Keep Knocking by TD Cooper https://amazon.com/author/tdcooper
http://www.tdcooperbooks.com

Keep Knocking

“Areth, answer the door!”

“Mom, I’ve answered it three times… No one is there!”

“Seriously! Then who’s knocking?”

“I don’t know it must be the neighborhood kids, ‘doorbell ditching.’”

“Well, I’m going to catch them…, red-handed this time!”

“Mom don’t, Carl will be home from work in a few minutes let him handle it,” Areth insisted.

Areth’s mom, Sylvia, headed for the front door, ignoring her daughter’s suggestion. She took up station directly behind the door with her fingers wrapped around the doorknob, ready to spring at the slightest noise coming from the front porch.

As she waited, the past ten years raced through Sylvia’s mind. Rocky, Areth’s father, was serving time for murder. Areth was twelve at the time, and Sylvia was waiting tables at a local nightclub. Rocky was on leave and made it a habit of picking her up after her shift, early in the morning. A couple of drunk local boys thought they would have a little fun at Sylvia’s expense. Rocky witnessed the harassment and confronted them. A fight ensued. Rocky finished the scuffle when he threw one of the bullies to the ground, where he hit his head on a sharp rock and died. The DA’s office charged Rocky with murder because of the specialized training he’d received. 

Sylvia grinned, knowing Rocky’s parole hearing had afforded him an early release. He’d be home next week. The two women had been packing the house to move and get a fresh start when that day came.

A loud knock on the large white door startled Sylvia from her reverie. She twisted the knob and pulled the door open. “What…!” she shouted and then gasped. Standing before her was Rocky dressed in his freshly pressed, pristine Navy Captain’s uniform.

“Rocky! Rocky, when were you…, released?” she said, stumbling over the words.  

He said nothing, smiled and reached for her hand, motioning for her to come toward him.

 “Mom, who are you talking too?” Areth called from the kitchen, distracting her.

“Areth, come see who came home early?” Sylvia said, turning back to take his hand, but his smile had faded, and he’d pulled his hand back. Sylvia frowned then heard the sound of a car door closing from the street.

“Mom…” Areth said, rounding the corner to the front door. Her eyes searched the bewildered expression on her mother’s face. “Whose home… What?” She said, shaking her head. Movement caught Areth’s eye coming from the walkway up to the house. Two men in uniform approached the front stoop and stepped to the threshold to greet Sylvia.

“Mrs. Rockford,” the Military Man on the right said, handing her an envelope. “We are sorry to inform you that your husband, Richard Rockford was killed yesterday while in the prison yard.”

“But he’s behind you… Wait, why is the military contacting me about a prison… incident?” she asked, staring through them into Rocky’s eyes. He smiled and waved for her to come to him, again.

“Ma’am we are here to explain, may we come in and discuss it. He’s actually been on special assignment for the United States Government,” the officer said, stumbling over the words as he followed Sylvia’s eyes behind him.

“Mom, do you see dad?” Areth said. Sylvia nodded and glanced down at the envelope. She recognized it as a check. Sylvia leaned over and kissed Areth on the cheek, sticking the check into her pocket.

“I love you,” she whispered, stepping between the two men. Sylvia took Rocky’s hand and vanished.

The two Military Men stood before the door staring into the shadows, dumbfounded.

Areth sighed with a smile, “They are finally together forever,” she said into the stunned men’s faces.