The men in the porkpie hats
It was a cold, dark fall night. Heavy rain and thunder pounded the side of the house, masking just about any outside noises. I sat at the kitchen table coloring, Grandpa and Grandma sat with me. His nose deep in a book containing material too confusing for my little mind to understand, too many big words, no pictures. Grandma working on fixing a tear in a pair of grandpa's trousers.
I wondered if I'd see them tonight?
They always show up on nights like this. The men in the pork pie hats and long coats. They never say much, at least not to me and grandma. They come just to see Grandpa . They always come with gifts for me, last time I got a kite, other times candy. Grandfather always takes them out back to his workshop. Some days a few men, other days more. Always the same.6 Knocks on the storm door leading to the alley, Always 6 in their special order. Never altered.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
grandfather's head snaps, looking towards the door. Slowly putting down his book.
KNOCK-KNOCK
He gets up and starts moving towards the door. I stop my coloring and watch him. Grandmother keeps working on her stitch, paying no mind to the late night visitors.
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KNOCK
Grandpa slowly opens the door, keeping his body close to the opening, Few words are exchanged and he steps back. In walks a tall man in a black porkpie hat and long tan overcoat.. I've seen him before, he's about grandpa's age, Weathered skin, white hair and the purest blue eyes i've ever seen. He has a weird aura to him and the energy of the room changes with his presence. As he enters the kitchen he shakes grandpa's hand, turns and says something to grandma in a different language. I don't know what he said but grandma turns towards him and gives him a small smile and nods her head.
As my grandfather disappears to the other room to collect something, grandma rises and starts a pot of coffee. The tall man then shifts his focus, scanning the room. He walks over to the kitchen table I'm sitting at to see what I'm coloring and looks over to the book grandpa was reading. Taking a brief moment to read the title, He lets loose a small smirk and says something quietly I don't quite catch.
Grandpa quickly returns carrying a small black leather bag. While pulling on his coat, he signals to the man with slight head nod and they head towards the door. Right before crossing the threshold the man turns his head back towards me and shoots me a mischievous smile before then disappearing into the stormy night.
I'm confused.
What was that smile about?
I turn to go back to coloring, and now sitting in my field of vision, next to my set of worn out well used colored pencils is now a brand new pack with a little red bow on top
When did he?
As my head turns back, looking at the closed door .
"Thank you" I said quietly to myself before returning my focus back towards the unexpected gift.