Green Door Antique Store

Chapter 8: Questions

Green Door Antique Store: What’s that Secret You’re Keeping?

You can read the first four chapters here! The fifth chapter is here and chapter six and seven are here and here. If you need the diagram again, it will always be at the end of the chapter. Want to get back in the mood for reading? Listen to Green Door, What’s That Secret You’re Keeping? again!

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Chapter Eight: Questions

When the music began to play, all ten women stepped out of their colorful doors in unison and found a place to sit in the living area. Thyme sat down clasped her hands in her lap and said, “All right, it is time to answer questions.”

Jayne spoke up first. “I assume everyone found their own packed suitcase.” Everyone nodded yes and began murmuring with each other. Then looking at Thyme, Jayne asked, “How did we all get a packed suitcase?”

Thyme sighed, “That is an unfortunate first question because I can’t answer it yet. Can someone ask another one?”

Looks of frustration were on every face, but Katelynn spoke up. “Well, that seems unfair to say we can ask and then tell us you can’t answer, but can you tell us why we ended up here?”

Thyme smiled and said, “Your daughter’s sent you! Just like my daughter sent me many years ago. I decided to stay but you won’t be staying after next Thursday.”

That made sense that our daughter’s sent us all—I knew mine had told me to come. I asked, “Is that how we got our suitcases?”

Thyme looked proud. “Well, yes, but you see, I needed you to ask the other questions first. Who is next?”

A resounding sigh came from the other side of the room. It was Evelyn. “Why would my daughter send me here when she hasn’t talked to me in five years? What kind of stupid stunt is this?”

Karyn leaned across the table and tried to take Evelynn’s hand, but she withdrew it. “I don’t need sympathy; I need answers.”

Quickly jumping in, Jayne said, “Thyme, can you tell us why they sent us here?”

Thyme leaned forward and in the most serious voice we had heard from her all day long, she said, “I cannot answer that question, you are the only ones who can answer the question for yourself. Every answer will be different, but there is a clue in the song. It is the question all the daughters are asking their mothers.”

Belynda stood up and walked to the record player and began the song again. Tick tock, tick tock. Everyone listened carefully.

When the song ended, Jayne spoke up. “There is only one question—What’s that secret you’re keeping? They are asking us that?”

“I don’t know,” Thyme said. “Do you have secrets you are keeping from them? Maybe another question is why is it important?”

Evelynn stood up. “It isn’t important. It is none of her business. How dare she send me here. I am going to bed. It better be comfortable.” And with that, she walked into her room, and slammed her red door.

The other nine women sat in uncomfortable silence for a minute before Katelynn said, “I don’t know what good it does to bring up stuff and talk about things that happened long ago. How is that even helpful?”

Several murmured in agreement before Lynda said, “The Bible says to leave things in the past. Our sins are forgiven. This is just begging for the devil to get a foothold.” And with that, she stood up, said goodnight, and went to her room. She made a point of gently closing her green door.

Thyme, finding her more cheerful voice again, said, “Well, we have a very busy day tomorrow, I hope everyone rests well. You did great work today. Everyone should take a look at each other’s booths in the morning. I am off to bed. Breakfast is continental and available in the Café at 8:00. Set your alarms ladies!”

Suddenly, I realized how exhausted I was, said good night, and headed for my room—carefully closing my light-yellow door. As it closed, I noticed two women still sitting on the couch. The conversation between them seemed intense. I was too tired to remember their names.

I also hoped the bed would be comfortable.

To Be Continued . . .