CAASPP - Introduce a Narrative 8

Paula and Annie stood gazing at the ancient door, with its peeling white paint, unsure of what to do next. "You knock," said Paula, pushing Annie in front of her.

“Oh, come now, you aren't afraid of a few ghosts and zombies, are you?” replied Annie to dismiss her own thought that the house really did look like the setting for a horror film.

5

“Very funny, thanks. I feel much better now. Please remind me why we're here again.”

Annie rolled her eyes at Paula. “We're here to look in on Mrs. Weathers, remember? Mrs. Weathers used to play bridge at Grandma's every week, before she broke her hip and stopped going. Grandma wanted us to see how she was doing and if there was anything we

could help her with. Weren't you listening?”

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Paula looked around and cringed. “Well, when I realized which house we were going to, I sort of missed the rest. Are you sure someone lives here?” 

“That's what Grandma said,” responded Annie. “Let's knock before she thinks we're burglars or something.”

Annie raised her hand to knock, then saw the doorbell and decided to try it instead. The bell sounded an old-fashioned “Ding-dong!” from somewhere deep inside the house. For about twenty seconds, there was no sound at all. At last, there came a faint “clunk-clunk, clunkclunk” that grew slowly louder, then stopped. 

15

The girls held their breath as the doorknob turned and the door began to slowly open. . . .

“AAAAAHH!” screamed Annie and Paula in unison as a bolt of

something shot past their legs and down the steps. They turned to see

20

a large Siamese cat race along the edge of the yard before darting into

some bushes. 

As they recovered from that little shock, they turned back to the welcoming smile of a frail, silver-haired woman leaning on her walker. 

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Mrs. Weathers said, in a kindly voice, “Girls! How nice of you to drop by! Don't mind Rascal, he just loves his exercise. Won't you come in? I was just making some tea.”