Writing Prompt: A mysterious box was sitting on the doorstep.
Anna crept down the stairs, holding tightly to the banister as she inched from step to step. She'd heard the postman stop at their house, but nothing had been pushed through the mail slot on the front door. She'd sat at the top of the stairs for ten minutes, waiting for one of her parents to come out to check the mail. Neither of them came. When she couldn't take it any longer, she made her way quietly down the stairs.
Anna took a deep breath and softly let it hiss past her parted lips. Her foot touched the bottom landing. She froze and quickly looked towards the living room to the right. The television played softly, tuned to a news station which meant Papa was in there. Mama must have been reading a book. She could easily picture both of her parents, Mama's feet folded under herself and Papa reading the paper while listening to the television.
Knowing neither of them would come to check the mail, Anna silently moved to the door, gently turned the knob, and, as quietly as she could, pulled open the door. She blinked in the bright midday sun and then blinked again when she spotted a box on the doorstep. The box looked to be completely covered in postage stamps. Curiosity got the better of her and she reached out and snatched up the small package. It easily fit into her small hands. She looked both ways down the quiet street before hurriedly pulling the box inside and closing the door. She nearly dropped the box when it began to vibrate in her hands. Barely stifling a squeak, she put the box on the floor just inside the door.
Papa's chair creaked in the other room. Anna's heart raced as she first looked down the hall towards the living room, and then, seeing his shadow, raced as quietly as she could back to the top of the stairs.
"Anna, is that you?"
She froze at the sound of his voice, just two steps from the top landing. Her shoulders slumped. She had tried so hard not to get caught. Papa appeared at the bottom of the stairs as she slowly turned around.
"Yes, Papa," she admitted quietly, her head hung low. He sighed.
"Did you bring this package inside?"
"Yes, Papa."
"Are you supposed to be out of your room right now?"
"No, Papa."
"That's right. Go back to your room. Your mother will hear of this. We will deal with you later."
Anna couldn't hide the shudder that ran through her at his words. Unable to speak, she turned on a heel, ran up the last few steps, and hurried down the hall to her bedroom.
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