This story I wrote was published nationally in The SUN Magazine, in their June 2022 issue.

The SUN has a regular feature where each month they choose the topic, and ask their readers to submit short, 300 – 400 word true stories.

The Topic was: INTIMACY  

The Doorknob Spoke of Intimacy

I was living in a dorm, on campus. I was a 21-year-old junior. And I was still a virgin.

Anne and I had been friends for six months; she lived on the floor above me. We had kissed a couple of times, but nothing more.

The door to my room was old; the doorknob had a small, push-button lock in the center. When the button was pressed to lock the door, it made a distinctive sound, something like “Click-Rit.”

Late one evening, Anne appeared in my open doorway. She stayed there for several seconds, before stepping inside and quietly closing the door. With her hand still on the doorknob, she paused again; a very long moment of stillness and silence. And then I heard the sound: “Click-Rit.” I was stunned, thrilled, and quite un-nerved. Anne had locked the door!

I knew what that sound meant. I knew why she had locked the door. And I knew what was about to happen!

I still occasionally hear the “Click-Rit” sound from an old push-button doorknob lock. And I fondly remember that amazing evening, 45 years ago.