The rain stopped tapping on the roof and the whole tenement became quiet, as if someone had covered the streets with a soft blanket. Lena slipped her feet into her red wellies with white peas and ran down the creaking stairs. She lived in the attic itself, so she knew each step by name: the one with the thinner edge, the one with the cracked paint, and the loudest one, which always protested. The courtyard-study smelled of wet brick and laundry that had slowly stopped dripping. A pale patch of sky shone through the clotheslines, and water still whispered in the gutters. Pigeons walked like serious gentlemen in grey tailcoats. In the corner, by an old bucket, waited Piegus, a brindle cat with a white nose and paws traced like socks. - Piegus, come on! - called out Lena. - Let's check the puddles! The cat stretched himself in such a way that his moustache waved and he stomped off after Lena. The girl liked jumping in puddles: small ones, big ones, those pretending to be lakes and those that only twinkled in the shadows. One, by a wall with green flecks of moss, looked different. It did not reflect the balcony, it did not reflect the sky. It was as smooth as glass and as deep as silence. Lena crouched down. An ordinary puddle shows your face. This one showed something that wasn't there in the courtyard. Tiny lights swirled in the middle, like little skylights, even though it was daytime. In the middle, very slowly, a shape blossomed, as if someone had drawn a frame with a golden line. The frame had leaves and little swirls, and on one of the sides a shiny handle began to grow, as if made of raindrops. - Meow? - The little freckle tilted its head and touched the panel with its paw. Instead of the usual circles on the water, there were circles where you could see grass as green as if it had been painted with a new crayon. The shadow of a bird with very long feathers flitted by, and kites with wings like leaves swayed in the air. Lena held her breath. It was chilly, but when she brought her hands close to the smooth surface, she felt a warm breeze, as if someone on the other side had blown into her hands to warm them. The smell of pine needles and something sweet, like freshly baked sugar buns, wafted through the air. - Is that... door? - she whispered. The puddle twitched and straightened under her fingers. The lumps did not fall to the ground, but stopped in mid-motion and turned into a shimmering frame. Now a thin, tall sheet stood before her, like a mirror leaning against a wall. The raindrop handle hardened and turned silver. In it, Lena could see her own puzzled eyes and Piegus' long tail. On the other side it was summer, although the courtyard felt cool after the rain. She could see a path of white pebbles and a small bridge over a stream that laughed quietly like bells. Far away, in the background, flashed something golden and very tall, and above it all flew fluffy seeds that did not fall, but circled as if they had their own little maps. - Meow! - The little freckle paced the frame with its tail and sat down exactly as one sits down when one wants to look very smart. - I know, I know - smiled Lena. - It looks like it's inviting. The girl looked at the windows of the tenement. No one was looking in. Everyone was probably drying their socks or brewing tea. The courtyard already sounded just from the drops that fell from the balconies. Lena felt a slight tickle in her stomach, the same tickle one feels before jumping over a puddle that looks too big and yet tempts. - I'll just take a peek,' she said, more to herself than to the cat. She brought her nose close to the surface. It wasn't as cold as ice, but as cool as a pebble that lay in the shade. The quiet laughter of a brook and a sound like someone shaking a bead box far away reached her from behind the frame. Something small moved on the path of white pebbles. Someone? Something? Perhaps the wind? Piegus jumped down from the bucket and stood beside it. He touched the frame with his paw once more, very carefully. At the point of touch, a luminous dot appeared, which flashed into the picture and turned into a kite. The kite spun a pirouette and stopped right at the edge, as if it wanted to greet him with its nose. - 'Good morning, kite,' Lena said and giggled. Someone on the other side answered with the sound of a bell. Just that. One short, cheery tone that hung in the air and trembled in the doorknob. Lena stood up straight. With her right hand she grasped the strap of her wellington boots, with her left she raised it to the silver doorknob. She felt her heart pounding in her fingers, in her wrists and even in the tips of her ears. Piegus stuck his claws into the ground and spread his whiskers wide, like antennae. - If we count to three... - whispered Lena. - One... two... On the other side, something flashed more strongly. The shadow of a long-tailed bird crossed the path. The kite moved away a piece and lifted higher, as if making room. The brook laughed louder. A glow danced in the handle. - 'Three,' added Piegus silently, blinking both eyes at once. Lena touched the doorknob. It was cool, smooth and very real. At the same moment, there came from the side of the frame a quiet but distinct: tap.... knock... clat. As if someone had put their fingers on the other side and wanted to knock at the same moment as she did. The girl froze with her hand on the door handle. The little freckle wagged its tail. The doorknob vibrated, as if the door itself was also holding it from the inside. And then something on the other side began to move slowly towards the frame, glinting like drops in the sun....