The Silver Key's Stories

The old man sat on his porch every day at noon. He held a small, silver key in his

hand. He didn’t have a house with a matching lock. He didn't even have

a jewelry box. He just sat and waited. One Tuesday, a young girl named

Mia stopped by his gate. She was carrying a heavy wooden chest she had found in

the attic of the house next door. "Sir," she panted, "I found this. But it is locked."

The old man smiled. He didn’t say a word. He stood up, his knees popping

like dry twigs, and walked to the gate. He held out the silver key.

Mia took it. Her hands shook a little. She put the key into the lock of