The End of the Hall

Ages 12-15

Henny pulls the clean sheet across her bed.

At the bedroom door, her little brother waits with two folded pillowcases.

She reaches for them. The sheet slips off the far corner.

Henny puts the pillowcases on the bed and goes around to fix the sheet.

Her brother follows with a towel.

She turns and nearly walks into the folded pile.

"Wait outside."

He steps back into the hall.

Henny tucks one corner. At the door, the towel appears again.

She looks down the narrow hallway. A low stool stands at its far end, with nothing on it.

Henny takes the towel. She puts it beside the pillowcases and walks to the stool.

Her brother follows.

She pats the empty seat, then goes back to her room.

Henny finishes tucking the sheet. She walks down the hall and picks up the towel.

Behind her, the bedroom doorway is empty.

On the bed, she fits a pillow into its case. Its last corner catches. Henny turns it and pulls the cloth straight.

At the far end of the hall, her brother holds another pillowcase above the stool.

He sees her looking and sets it down.

Henny puts the finished pillow at the head of the bed. She goes back down the hall.

This time there are two pillowcases on the stool. She takes both.

Henny smooths the bedspread.

At the other end of the hall, the finished bed waits beyond an empty doorway.