“It’s early, Abe. But not unheard of. Not abnormal at all. Every girl reacts differently and she’s... You’re doing the best you can, I know. But just let me talk to her.”

Abe tapped on the busted door. He waited and knocked again.

“Gretty? Gretty, sweetheart? Open the door, please. Carol Anne’s on the phone here forya. There’s nothing to worry about, OK? Just open the door. OK? She’s worried about you, but everything’s ok. OK? She just needs to talk to you!”

He listened with his hand on the doorknob, his hip fitting without contact into the curve it had crushed only minutes before into the ruined door.