Final answer:
The families are startled by a crash and footsteps while gathering together to celebrate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is English at a High School grade level. The question is asking about a scene in a story or poem where families are startled by a crash and footsteps while gathering together to celebrate. This could be a part of a suspenseful or dramatic moment in a narrative where unexpected events disrupt the celebratory atmosphere. An example of a similar scene can be found in the poem 'Richard Cory' by Edwin Arlington Robinson, where the families are startled by the sound of a gunshot.