Three Knocks

Leo lived in a flat on the second floor of an old building. One night at ten o’clock, while he was reading on the sofa, there came three sharp knocks at the door. Knock, knock, knock. He put his book down and listened.

Leo looked through the little hole in the door but saw nobody. Puzzled, he opened the door. The corridor was empty and dark, and the only sound was the hum of the lift somewhere below. He closed the door, locked it and went back to his book, but he could not concentrate.

The next night, at exactly ten o’clock, the three knocks came again. Leo was afraid, but he was also curious. This time he switched off the light, sat close to the door and waited in the dark.

Knock, knock, knock. Leo pulled the door open at once. On the floor of the corridor sat a small grey cat with a toy mouse in its mouth and one paw raised against the door. It looked up at Leo and said, “Miaow.”

Leo burst out laughing. The cat dropped the toy mouse at his feet. A label on its collar said, “My name is Pip. I live in flat 4.” Leo carried Pip to flat 4, where Mrs Gray opened the door and said, “He likes you!” The next night at ten, Leo was waiting with a bowl of milk.