A Gift for these Things

The rain hammered down. It hit the roof with such force, as Penelope held close to the pillow on the couch by the TV, she could swear that it might just drill right through it. Penelope stared with wide dark eyes out the screen door. A figure, obscured by the downpour, approached the house. Nothing yet but a shadow.

Penelope startled upright as Minnie jumped on the couch and onto her lap. She glanced to the screen door again as he came closer. He knocked on the pane three times, all while staring directly at Penelope.

"Get the door honey!" Her mother's voice called from upstairs. Penelope assumed that she was putting on makeup or trying to braid her hair in the bathroom. The girl didn't respond, but gently put her grey cat beside her on the couch and stood up. She felt her mousy brown hair against her neck and felt goosebumps. Glancing back to Minnie, who just curled up and started purring, she realized that she had to put on a responsible persona to deal with the...