The first portal that appeared in town belonged to Mr. Hogan. It showed up in one of his bathrooms above the sink, blocking a good deal of his vanity mirror and causing several shaving accidents. I don’t know why the portal appeared to him. It’s not like he was the type to attract otherworldly things. A few days after the rumors began, my husband, Bernie, and I walked over to the Hogans’ house carrying a zip-lock baggie of homemade ginger snaps. We intended to drop by to chat, and then, before leaving, I would ask to use their bathroom, the one with the portal in it. I assumed they wouldn’t offer to show it to us; having a portal seemed a private matter, like trouble with one’s digestion. We would have brought along our son and daughter, but it was Saturday, so Billy had basketball and Jeanie had figure skating.