... Craig and Jill saw that the front door of the house was open. They looked at each other in disbelief. Could it be that the house was not empty after all? They cautiously approached the door and peered inside. They saw a figure sitting in a rocking chair in the corner of the room. The figure looked up and beckoned them to come in.
Feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension, Craig and Jill entered the house. The figure introduced himself as Mr. Morris, the owner of the house. He explained that he had been living in the house alone for many years, and that he had been growing the red flowers on the front step as a way to mark his presence in the town.
Craig and Jill were disappointed to learn that there was no mystery to the house after all, but they were also fascinated by Mr. Morris' story. He told them about his life, how he had come to live in the house, and how he had been disconnected from the rest of the town for so long. He explained that he had been discouraged from reaching out to the townspeople because of the discord that had existed between him and his neighbors.
As they were leaving, Mr. Morris asked Craig and Jill to return and visit him again. They agreed and promised to bring some of their friends. Craig and Jill felt a sense of discovery as they walked away from the house. They had learned that sometimes things are not as they seem and that it is important to not be discouraged by discord and to not discard the idea of making connections. They also realized that sometimes the disadvantage of being alone can be overcome by reaching out and disagreeing with the belief that someone or something is empty.