Page 55 of The Spirit Key
My hands shook as I flipped through it. Her handwriting, so neat and elegant, flowed on the page.
“Read it aloud. I only read the first entry, then decided it would be a better decision to wait on you.”
I went back to the first page and started reading to Tim.
October 10, 1994
Today my son was born into this world. He is a child of serene grace. His brown eyes are filled with a beautiful sense of peace and harmony, just as a lock’s eyes are meant to be. He will grow strong, and when he meets his key, the two of them will bond and carry on the work that generations of our family have been tasked with.
The sole purpose of the lock and key is to maintain a balance between the mortal realm and the realm of the spirits. Most often, the essence of the deceased passes on without prompting, but many times a spirit will be confused or angry or have something they never finished in their lifetime. These spirits need to be helped along to whatever lies beyond.
As the key, I am now the bearer of this proud tradition. I don’t yet understand why each generation becomes the mirror of the previous. My son, Timbo, with his dark eyes that can see into a person’s soul, will follow in the path of the generations of locks that came before. I can’t wait until the day he meets his key.
I gave him an incredulous look. “Timbo?”
His cheeks pinked. “Shut up. It was my grandfather’s name.”
“Yet never once have I heard you mention it. Why is that, I wonder?”
“Because I hated it. At least when I was a kid. Mom said that I didn’t have to use it and that I could tell people my name was Tim, so that’s what I did. She never called me it but doesn’t seem to have had a problem writing it down.”
“Timbo.”
“Shut up.”
“But why, Timbo?”
He grinned. “I don’t mind it so much when you say it.”
That warmed my heart. “I’ll remember that, Timbo.”
The smile grew wider. “Shut up and keep reading.”
July 17, 1996
Tragedy struck today. Beth’s husband, Michael, fell off a building at work. He died en route to the hospital. I do not know what this will mean for Timbo. Beth and Michael never had a child, which means there will be no new key. A lock cannot live without his key.
April 3, 2002
The world never ceases to astound me. Timbo made a new friend today. His name is Scotty, and somehow he’s a key! To be specific, he’sTim’skey! I’ve never heard of this happening before, but knowing that Timbo has a key and that he has someone he can protect means everything to me. I only wish I could tell him what’s to come.
June 12, 2002
Scotty died today. We knew it would happen one day, but I don’t know that it’s ever happened to someone so young. His life will be a nightmare now, and there’s nothing we can do to help him. Timbo is devastated and inconsolable. I’ve left him to grieve in his own way and hope that when he finds out Scotty is back, he’ll be relieved. Unfortunately, I fear that with this happening so soon, there will be more heartache in store for both of them.
January 16, 2005
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Timbo is not yet ready to be Scotty’s lock, and now the ghosts know Scotty can see them. Today one of them attacked him and hurt him badly. I know he’s strong, but he’s a child, and this will bring pain to both of them in the long run. Oh, Beth, what happens when we can no longer protect them?
August 15, 2009
Scotty’s father left his family, adding yet more stress to an already volatile situation. Scotty has seen them—felt them—already. He’s young and doesn’t understand what he’s part of yet. Timbo has been standing up for him against the bullies at school, and I’ve never been prouder of my son. I know, with all my heart, that he will make a great lock for Scotty someday.
December 25, 2010
Though you’ll never read this journal, I will still continue to write in it. If nothing else, it soothes my mind. I miss you already, Beth. I know you told me to be ready, but can one ever really be prepared when the person who is closer to you than your own husband is torn away? You were the best lock anyone ever had, and it was my greatest honor to call you my friend. I hope that one day I’ll see you again.
January 2, 2012
