Eli nearly missed the knock as he darted from his parlor to his kitchen; he froze mid step, nearly tripped and caught himself upon the kitchen counter. It was not often that he had visitors at the hour, least of all his neighbor.
Uncertainly Eli chose to set his task aside, which was collecting a towel, and instead slide to the wood panel floor and went to his door.
He took a brief moment to inhale, tell himself to calm down and to put on the mask of lies and half truths that he wore with most of anyone. It made interaction easier.
Avoiding stepping in the troubling puddle by the door, Eli opened it and looked out at Charls. "Hello there...um, alright?"