the extra room

"we never built that room."

the new kid said it while holding the tape measure against the wall. i had built the house three days ago, and the room had been there for all three. it was behind the kitchen, with a door that opened inward and a window facing the side of the hill. i had put a chair in it because the floor looked worse empty.

the new kid counted the boards around the window. fourteen. then they asked who lived there. i said nobody, which was true until the chair moved.

i took the chair out. the room got bigger by the width of it. i put it back. the door shut harder than before, and the kitchen lost its light.

"you should leave it alone," the new kid said.

i asked them to go get shadow. they went through the door and did not come back.

the room is mine now because it has my chair. that is not the same as belonging to me.

"burnt can keep it. she builds like an idiot."