For she had taken nothing. The old man didn’t know that because he was blind.

Soon the door opened. A young man came into the house carrying wood for the fire. The young woman brought him a plate of food. There wasn’t much on it.

“Where is your supper?” he asked his sister.

“Oh,” she pretended with a laugh, “I just ate with Father.”

“I don’t believe you,” the young man whispered. “There is enough for both of us.” And he gave her half his food.

 

“Let’s not be unhappy, children,” said the old man. “The house is warm. And you are strong. And we have each other.”

Soon everyone was laughing and talking. Then the old man started to play his guitar again. And all three of them sang.

My Monster listened and listened. What did all those sounds mean? How he wished he could tell! Yet there was one thing he did know. Though he did not know words for it. He knew that all the people in that house loved one another. And they belonged together.

The Monster decided to stay near them. He would make them his own family. But of course, they must not know it. They might hurt him and chase him away as the others had done. No, they must not see him. But he could see THEM!

So, day after day, he sat there in his little hut. And hour after hour, he watched his new family through the hole in the wall. In the daytime, he watched the daughter working in the house. And the old man playing the guitar. In the evening he listened to them singing and talking. He saw them hug and kiss each other. How he wanted to do that!

He was starting to learn things too. What “father” meant. And “sister” and “brother.” That the woman’s name was Agatha. And her brother’s name was Felix. He learned the words “fire” and “wood” and “food” and “sleep.”

Soon he was learning more and more words.