The Door That Would Not Open

The Door That Would Not Open

Leah had promised to open the community centre for the school photography exhibition. By half past eight, the first pictures were hanging straight, the labels were ready and only the entrance lights remained to be switched on.

When Sam arrived with the final display boards, however, the automatic glass door opened a few centimetres, shuddered and closed again. His wheelchair could not pass through the narrow gap. The night’s heavy rain had blocked the planter drain with leaves, sending water and loose gravel across the threshold and into the door’s floor track.

Leah wanted to finish before the visitors arrived, but she noticed the door straining against the stones. Instead of pulling at the glass or reaching into the track, Leah kept everyone back and rang the caretaker, while Sam placed a folding warning sign nearby. They then asked a member of staff to guide early visitors towards the step-free rear entrance.

Mrs Patel, the caretaker, switched off the door’s power with her key before brushing the gravel from the track. She also cleared the blocked drain so that more water would not carry stones back towards the entrance. After checking that the track was empty and dry, she restored the power and tested the door several times.

It slid open without a sound. Sam rolled through with the display boards, then chose a photograph of rain shining on a pavement for the empty space beside the entrance.