What does the setting say about the boy's character?
The Trap Door

At the age of nine, I was uprooted from the home I'd grown to know and love. My parents promised that the new home would be just as wonderful as our old place, once I got used to it. But all I could think about were the things we were leaving behind: the basement with its colorful shag carpet; the backyard with its grove of pines like a private cathedral; the attic with its endless mysteries and cobwebs.
The new house smelled funny. Actually, it wasn't "new" at all: the house had been built in the 1920's. The floors creaked underfoot, and there were cracks in the ceiling. Meanwhile, there wasn't a backyard at all, just an alleyway. My parents said the place had character. I didn't know what this meant, but it sounded fishy.
I spent the first day sulking in an empty bedroom, looking out the window at an unfamiliar neighborhood. I didn't notice the door at first. It was on the opposite wall from the window, positioned about four feet above the floor. It had been painted the same off-white color as the walls. Eventually, though, it caught my eye.
I walked over to examine it. It was a strange door, about the size of a small window. At the base of it was a little knob. I had to stand on a chair to reach it. Despite its small size, it was heavy, and I strained to hold it open as I peered inside.
At first, all I could see was darkness. Then, as my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized that I was looking into a spacious room. Wooden beams ran across the low ceiling, and I could make out names carved into the beams. Against the far wall was a little shelf made of bricks and plywood, and upon the shelf sat a row of old, dusty books. It looked like the perfect meeting place for a secret club. I couldn't help but wonder about the things that had gone on inside such a strange room.
I heard the sound of my parents downstairs, moving boxes from one room to another. I quickly shut the trap door. I wanted to keep this secret room to myself.
I went downstairs and announced to my parents that I'd figured out which bedroom I wanted.
"Well, David," my father said. "It sounds as if you're warming up to the new house after all, eh?"
A stubborn child, I shook my head. "I just like one room so far. That's it.