Only Prompts - 3. O. Henry Short Story Prompt 1 – The Green Door

O. Henry Short Story Prompt 1 – The Green Door

Rudolf Steiner lifted the last forkful of Black Forest cake into his mouth, chewed briefly, and washed it down with a mouthful of black coffee. Elbows on the table, he held the now empty-cup by the fingertips of both hands. As he sat, Rudolf looked wistfully across the table at the empty seat. He wondered if that seat would ever be filled—he was so alone.

The waiter interrupted his reverie when he placed the check on the table. After leaving cash plus a ten percent tip, Rudolf slipped on his jacket and left the Black Kettle restaurant.

As he walked home down Jackson Street, Rudolf thought about his life. ‘Rudi, you need something to happen, there is no excitement, no adventure. God, I wish something—anything—would just happen to me. No, I lie, I want something romantic to happen to me.’

This thought had no sooner entered his head when he noticed a crowd up the street. In the centre of it, heads above most of the people was a black man. As he drew closer, Rudolf saw the people from the crowd walking away looking at a card. Many cards ended up screwed up and on the ground, discarded.

‘What a waste,’ Rudolf thought as he stared down at them.

Nearing the tall man, Rudolf found himself veering into an intersecting path rather than the usual one of avoidance. When close he looked up into the green eyes of the striking African American, who extended his hand holding a slightly-larger-than-business-sized card. “Take one, brother?”

And to his surprise, Rudolf did.

It looked the same as the other cards he’d been able to see on the ground—but this one he felt had been meant for him, Rudolf Steiner. He stood on the street, oblivious to the crowds streaming past him, and looked at the card. There was no address or telephone number, just three words printed in green: The Green Door.

With no address, Rudolf figured that he’d try the building the giant man had been standing in front of. Had been.

Where was everyone? Seconds ago there had been crowds and the tall man, now there was only him.

It was like that thought had never happened, as Rudolf opened the perfectly normal door, and entered the building. He searched up to the 4^th floor and found no green doors. Tired now, he looked upward and saw what looked like a green door on the 5^th floor. With renewed vigor he climbed the stairs and found it.

Now in front of the lime green door, Rudolf was in a quandary. ‘Should I knock or just go in?’ He decided on a combination of the two. Rudolf knocked and turned the doorknob at the same time, calling, “Hello?”

Rudolf peered inside—it was pitch black and silent. He called again, “Heelloo.”

He stepped inside, still holding the door knob, unwilling to let it go, with his left hand he groped the wall for a light switch; there was none.

‘Oh, this is stupid. I may as well go then.’

“What happened to, ‘Rudi, you need something to happen, there is no excitement, no adventure. God, I wish something—anything—would just happen to me. No, I lie, I want something romantic to happen to me.’ Hmmm?”

The door clicked shut with a snik, as Rudolf released it in surprise. “Wh … who said that?”

A light from the ceiling appeared. It was a pinprick, slowly increasing in brightness and area until it revealed a large green leather-bound armchair. It was empty.

Light crept its way throughout the room, but the corners were dim and Rudolf didn’t want to go closer. Instead he walked to the green chair and sat in it.

“OUCH, you oaf, get off me!”

Rudolf jumped up, spun around and looked at the seemingly empty chair. “What? Who?”

“Are you blind?”

“No, but the chair is empty.”

“Obviously it’s not because I’m talking to you.”

Rudolf considered that. He walked around the chair and then made to pick it up to turn it over.

“MORON! What are you doing? Trying to knock me onto the floor? Were you raised with wolves?”

“N … no. I … well where are you? What are you?”

“You summoned me, Rudolf Steiner.”

“I? How?”

“Oh, do I really have to repeat myself? Fine—‘Rudi, you need something to happen, there is no excitement, no adventure. God, I wish something—anything—would just happen to me. No, I lie, I want something romantic to happen to me.’—Do you remember now?”

By this time Rudolf Steiner was becoming more than a little nervous, and he was feeling around the room’s walls for the door. It seemed to be missing.

“Oh, Rudi! What are you looking for?”

“The door. I want to go home.”

Laughter filled the room, it grew louder and more maniacal until Rudolf covered his ears and fell to his knees. Tears dripped off his cheeks. “STOP IT!”

The room was immediately silent. The only man in the room wiped his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “Why are you doing this? Who are you?”

“You said you wanted adventure. Well, you’re having one, aren’t you?”

Steiner got to his feet. “This isn’t what I meant. I want to meet a nice man, fall in love, get married, like other people do.”

“Oh, I see. Well then, you’ve had some adventures, haven’t you?”

Suddenly the door opened and the chair disappeared. Rudolf stood in the dark room and looked around.

“Time to go then, Rudolf Steiner.”

Rudolf stepped out of the room, into the hall, and the door hit him on the ass when it closed.

***

Rudolf Steiner went back to his life, eating nightly at the Black Kettle, doing his mundane job in the paper factory, avoiding parties or anything where he might actually meet someone.

After yet another dull day, Steiner arrived back at his apartment. He opened the door, hung up his coat and walked down the hall to the living room. As he reached the halfway mark he looked down and noticed the carpet was wet. To his left was the bathroom, he opened it and saw water dripping from the now-ruined ceiling.

"That’s all I need!” Rudolf put some towels on the floor to soak up the water. He’d just finished wringing out the towels and putting them back when there was a knock on the door. “Great.”

Grumbling to himself in frustration, Rudolf opened the door. “What?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I know I must be interrupting … um, because of the leak.”

Rudolf eyed the stranger at the door. He was tall, well-built and the most handsome man Steiner had ever seen.

“It’s from my place. See, I’m above you, and well, seems a pipe burst or failed and it’s made a huge mess. I’m Jackson … Jack if you rather.” The man put out his hand.

After a moment’s hesitation, Rudolf took the offered hand, and shook it. “Rudolf Steiner.”

“Um, Rudolf, is that okay if I call you that? Okay, thanks. Well listen, I came down to help if you need some. I see you have a carpet in the hall, I can help you take that up.”

Rudolf turned to look at the carpet. It would be a bitch of a job so he agreed, and let Jackson come in. With the two of them working, they got the mess cleaned up, the carpet rolled and ready to send for cleaning.

It was very late when they sat down for a cup of tea in the small kitchen. They talked like old friends, exchanging details of their lives and desires. Rudolf walked Jackson down the hall to the stairs and was surprised when his neighbor’s lips softly grazed his as they said goodnight.

Jackson blushed. “Oh, Rudi, I hope that was okay. I mean I just feel so close to you.”

“It’s fine … um, nice I mean. I liked it, Jack.”

“Can I see you again, Rudi? I’d really love to see you again.”

Rudi smiled and nodded. “I’d like that too.”

“I’ll call you soon, tomorrow, okay?” Jack awkwardly hugged Rudi, who could not stop grinning.

As Jackson walked away, Rudi called after him, “Do you know the Black Kettle restaurant?”

“Yes.”

“Meet me for dinner tomorrow? I’m there by 6:00 pm.”

Jackson smiled brightly. “I’ll be there, Rudi. I can’t wait.”

Rudolf sat at his table, waiting. He was excited—his first dinner date. The first time with a partner who would soon be sitting across from him. The excitement was such that he decided to order a different meal. Maybe he’d just order the special without knowing what it was! No, now, no, that would be a little bit too over-the-top.

It was 6:30 pm and Rudolf was worried about where Jackson could be. As the clock ticked closer to 7:00 pm, his worry for Jackson’s well-being turned slowly to anger mixed with fear. At 7:30 pm, Rudolf gave up, put on his coat and started toward the entrance. As he pulled open the door, he met Jackson who was on his way in.

“Oh, Rudi, I’m so sorry I’m late.”

Rudolf simply stood staring, lips sealed in anger. Then he pushed his way past Jack, and walked swiftly up the street. He could hear Jackson’s footsteps behind him.

“Rudi!” The footsteps quickened and then sped up to a run. “Rudolf!”

Stopping when Jackson pulled on his sleeve, Steiner shook off his friend’s hand, and crossed his arms. They stood on the sidewalk, staring and angry.

“Jack, how could you just leave me sitting there? I felt like a fool! Just another sad lonely gay man—stood up by his date!”

Jackson hung his head, then raised it and looked into Rudi’s eyes and said, “There was a massive accident and we had to stay and help out in emergency.”

“Oh.”

“Please, let’s go back and eat. Please.”

Not being able to think of a reason Jackson would make up such a thing, Rudi nodded. Jackson smiled broadly, took Rudi’s hand and they walked back to the restaurant.

Jack looked sad as he shucked his coat and hung it, along with Rudi’s, up behind him on the coat rack.

“Rudi, I am sorry. I wouldn’t leave you alone for the world.”

The pain in Rudi’s eyes touched Jackson. He got up and went around to his new who-he-hoped-was-his-boyfriend’s seat and knelt beside him. He took Rudi’s hand and whispered, “I love you. I’d never leave you sitting alone, not if there was any way ….”

Rudolf looked into Jack’s dark eyes and saw only love and truth there. “I was so worried.”

“I know, baby. I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

Nodding, Rudolf let Jack kiss him.

After things calmed down, Jack ordered dinner for himself and a bottle of wine for them to share. They toasted each other and their new relationship and Rudi, marveled at the man sitting across from him.

And the season changed and love blossomed. Finally Rudi asked Jackson to spend the night. They made love for the first time, and they promised to stay together.

Several months later, Rudi asked Jackson to move in. They were so in love, and Rudolf changed—he was happy and complete for the first time in his life. He loved that they were just a normal couple with jobs and friends and family.

When moving day came, Jack brought down boxes and clothes and a few bits of furniture. Rudi made space and chucked out some junk to make room for his partner’s things.

After they hung one of Jack’s paintings in the living room, Jack kissed Rudi and said, “Oh, I’m so happy, Rudi. There’s one thing left for me to bring down. I’ll just go and get it.”

“Okay, babe.”

Several minutes later, Rudi heard the front door open and the sound of something being pushed along the hall. Jack’s face appeared in the living room door.

“Okay we’re here.” Jack pushed the large piece in; it was covered in moving pads.

“Just give me one sec … I’ll have it set up.”

When Rudi turned around, it sat there. He couldn’t believe it. He looked at Jack with disbelief and horror. “Where … how? Where did you get it?”

Jack smiled, unsure of what was wrong. “It’s mine, Rudi. I’ve had it forever.”

“It’s from there … the Green Door.”

The green leather-bound chair sat in silence.

Jack cocked his head and smiled. “But you wanted adventure, Rudi, and a love of your own. You got your wish.”

“But you’re not real.”

“Of course I’m real. I’m as real as the chair.”

Over their years together, Rudi and Jack were very happy. The chair waited, and it was silent. And Jackson remained until he buried his loving partner, who had passed away of old age. Once Rudolf Steiner was buried in St. Mary’s churchyard, Jackson and his chair disappeared. Friends thought he’d been overcome with grief.

***

Freddy Boynton, wished for love. On his way home this Tuesday evening, he saw a tall black man on the street, in the crowd, and accepted one the cards the man had been handing out. He entered the building that the green eyed giant had been in front of, and found the Green Door on the second floor. Freddy knocked and slowly opened the door ….