I went to the lobby and asked Stan what he knew about the person who lived in 6A. He said 'Never seen anyone go in or come out. Just a lot of deliveries and a lot of trash.' 'Cool'. He leaned down and whispered 'Haunted'. I whispered back 'I don't believe in the paranormal'. He said 'Ghosts don't care if you believe in them'. I walked back up the steps, this time past our floor and to the sixth. There was a mat in front of the door which said 'welcome' in twelve different languages. That didn't seem like something a ghost would put in front of his apartment. ― Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
In the lobby, the narrator inquires about the mysterious resident of apartment 6A and learns from Stan that no one has seen the occupant. Only deliveries and an accumulation of trash hint at life inside. With a playful tone, Stan suggests the place is haunted, but the narrator dismisses the notion of ghosts, asserting skepticism about the paranormal. Stan counters that belief doesn't deter ghosts, suggesting an otherworldly presence might still loom.
Curious, the narrator ascends to the sixth floor, where a welcome mat greets visitors in multiple languages. This peculiar detail raises doubt about the supernatural, as it seems unlikely that a ghost would adorn their entrance with such a friendly gesture. The contrast between the chilling rumors and the warm welcome creates a tension that reflects the complexities of belief and the unknown.
