Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Lock (03/06/06)
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TITLE: A Locked Up Past | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bud Young
03/08/06 -
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The First National Bank of Sacramento. I have been here a hundred times, but never alone. My father was always with me. I still can’t believe he is gone. All I have left is this safe deposit box key his lawyer gave me and his house, such as it is. I wish mom would have come with me. I guess she is still bitter about the affair. I can’t blame her, some things are just not forgivable. Still, it was a long time ago and it wasn’t my fault. Oh, well.
“Good morning, Mr. Jones.”
“Oh! Hello, Mr. Anderson. I’m sorry for being late. I’ve been getting lost in my thoughts lately.”
“I understand completely. Considering your current circumstances, being a little out-of-sorts is to be expected. My condolences for the loss of your father. My wife and I have been praying for you.”
“Uh, thanks. Can you show me to my father’s safe deposit box? I would like to get this over with.”
“Certainly, right this way. You know, this is our oldest safe deposit box account. Your father started leasing it over 40 years ago. I am curious about it, I must admit. I have been here for 20 of those years. I have been involved in many of your father‘s financial decisions, but I have never seen him touch that box.”
“I know what you mean, Mr. Anderson. I didn’t even know it existed. So, he actually opened it before I was born?”
“That’s right. Your father got a bit of a late start as a parent, didn’t he.”
“I suppose so. I’ve never really thought about that. He was 37 when I was born.”
“Here we are, box number 133. Let me get the bank key out. You do have the other key?”
“Oh, yeah, sorry, here it is.”
“Quite alright. I’ll just open this right up for you.”
“Ok, here you are.”
“Thank you. What is this?! Another key?! I don‘t understand this!”
“Mr. Jones, people use safe deposit boxes for many reasons. Sometimes, they use them to hide things, like a key. Is there anything at his home he never touched, something stored somewhere?”
“I’m not sure. There was an old trunk that was stored in his attic. I remember it from before my parents divorced. My mom said it was just full of junk from my father’s first marriage and I shouldn’t bother him about it.”
“Really, did it have a lock on it? From the looks of that key, it would have been a rather large lock.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact it did. Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I’ve got to be going.”
“No, thank you, Mr. Jones. My wife and I will keep praying for you.”
“Uh, right.”
Boy, nice guy as far as Christians go. All that prayer talk just gives me the willies.
What did my father put in that trunk? He was not the most open guy in the world, but why all this just for some junk? If it was just junk, why keep it at all? I obviously have missed something. This just doesn’t make sense.
Hmm, I’ve got time. Getting in that attic won’t be easy, but, I need to know.
I still don’t see why Dad liked this little house. It’s just a shack. He could have afforded so much more. Where is that ladder? There it is.
If I remember correctly, the access to the attic is in his bedroom, strange place for it. Climbing up there will be fun.
Uhh, mmmph, shew, glad that’s over with. Man! At least it is not very hot.
Where is that light switch? There it is.
Now, where is that trunk? There it is.
Wow, it sure does turn easy for such an old lock.
Now, what have we got here? Hmmph, these are some kind of robes. What are these scarves? Did my father keep his ex-wife’s scarves? A Bible?!!! I didn’t know my father owned a Bible!!
What are these certificates? “Anthony Michael Jones, Elder, United Methodist Church.” What is an Elder? What is this one? “PhD, Theology, Southern Theological Seminary.”
This doesn’t make any sense. My father hated church and Christians. Oh, my God!! he used to be a pastor!! What in the world happened?!!! Why didn’t he talk about this stuff?!!! So much of his life, I know nothing about!!
Hmm, stuff from his first marriage indeed, mom and I need to have a talk!
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Try something like this. "Where is that light switch? Click. Light filled the vastness of the attic. Now, where is that trunk? There, in the corner of the attic ...." [Just a thought :) ]