The Other Side

One of my favorite short stories from yesteryear (ie. high school) was Frank Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" If you're not familiar with it, you can read or listen to it here. I was blown away by the ending, and only slightly annoyed the fact that I wasn't given the full story. I had to make up my own mind, kind of like those choose your own ending books we all devoured when we were kids. Anyway, this short vignette came from a bit of a daydream - I must've been channeling Mr. Stockton (and a tiger also, to boot!) So you decide - what exactly WAS in that hallway? Let me know in the comments below (spoiler alert - I'm not sure that I know exactly, but it definitely wasn't a tiger)...

There’s something out there. I’m serious, man, I can hear it. In the hallway. On the other side of the door. Can’t you hear it, man? It’s like a-a--a tiger or something.

A tiger, man? C’mon, get real. That’s no tiger.

What is it then? What would you suggest? Sitting over there, all cool, in your chair. Smoking, for chrissakes. What’s your opinion?

Easy… it’s a man. It’s a man out there. An angry man - but just a man.

I may not have a college education like you, Pro-fessor, but I do know that what I’m hearing is definitely not a man.

Okay, suit yourself. It’s not a man then.

How come you’re acting so calm about all of this? We’ve got to get out of here! We’ve already stayed for way too long. They’re going to be looking for us. They’re most likely already looking for us.

Keep it down. No one’s looking for us. Not yet. Maybe not ever. We covered our tracks really well.

Not well enough. Unless you think that thing in the hallway is a coincidence.

(opens door swiftly)

Ohhhh, ohhhh, I had no idea! Really, I didn’t. You’re not what I expected at all!