I don’t know when doors became standard on human dwellings. Nomads transporting their “homes” wanted privacy, but a tent flap is only an illusion of privacy. Still, it does keep prying eyes out.

What’s the allure of a door? Think about it. In a house with, say, 10 rooms, if only one has a closed door, which room would you consider the most interesting? The one you can’t see into, of course.

Regardless of what’s inside other rooms, in our minds what’s behind the door conceals wonders beyond imagining.

Except the opposite can be true. When I was young I went with a friend and her dad to inspect a repossessed property. A room at the top of the stairs was locked, and my friend and I tried imagining what could be in there.

When the door was unlocked, our hopes were dashed. The walls were peeling and stained from roof leaks. I learned an important lesson at nine years old: my imagination was sometimes better than reality.