The Door on the Wall

Paloma is a painter. At the end of an alley there is a gray wall. She paints a green door on it. It has a shiny handle and a letter slot. Children knock on the door. A man from the city, Mr. Duarte, says, "Paint it gray on Monday." But people put notes in the slot. Someone puts a real mailbox there. Soon there are forty letters. One is for Mr. Duarte: "Please don't close the door." He reads it twice. The door stays. Paloma puts a doormat in front of it.