Chapter 26 - Callum’s Key
Three years after the barbecue, Callum turned ten.
This chapter belongs slightly before the final family summary, but the moment itself was simple.
We had moved the previous year.
Not because of Ambrose.
Rafferty’s commute.
Better school district.
Smaller yard.
Callum loved his upstairs room.
On his tenth birthday Rafferty handed him a small envelope.
Callum opened it.
A brass house key.
On a blue tag:
CALLUM.
He froze.
I saw it immediately.
So did Rafferty.
“I didn’t think.”
Rafferty reached to take it back.
Callum closed his fist.
“No.”
We waited.
He looked at tag.
Same word.
Different key.
“What does it do?”
“Front door.”
“Locks?”
“Yes.”
“And opens?”
“Yes.”
He walked to door.
Inserted key.
Locked.
Unlocked.
Opened.
Closed.
Again.
Then he looked at Rafferty.
“This one lets me in.”
“Yes.”
Callum smiled.
“Keep.”
He clipped it to backpack.
Three years earlier, keys labeled with his name had existed to control when he could leave.
Now one existed so he could come home.
No one had planned the symbolism.
May you like
Maybe that made it better.
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