I hear you knocking

The knock came again - bang, bang, bang bang bang, the sound of a fist hammering on the door. A rent man's knock, thought Adam. That's what his gran would have called it.

Alice put a finger to her lips and pointed to the kitchen's larder, indicating that Adam should hide inside. Margaret, meanwhile, crept towards the front door - in what, Adam thought, was a surprisingly stealthy way.

Alice half-closed the door into the kitchen, and placed herself behind it holding a rolling pin.

While Adam could no longer see what was going on, he could still hear clearly enough.

He was surprised to hear Margaret speak in a high, wavering version of her own voice; it made her sound a frail little old lady.

"Hello?" she said. "Who is it, please?"

There was silence for a second, followed by a woman's voice.

"Mags? Mags, is that you? It's me, Edith. What are you talking in that stupid voice for? Let me in, will you. Now."



Story starts here.