Charlotte and the Golden Key (Part 3)

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The next morning at breakfast, Charlotte was quiet, pushing her cereal around in her bowl. And her mother noticed. Is everything okay, sweetie? You seem worried about something. Hey, Mom, Charlotte said, how long have you worked at my school? And her mother thought for a moment as she poured her coffee. Let's see. I started teaching art there about seven years ago, right before you were born. Why do you ask? Well, I was just wondering if you know anything about the history of the school, Charlotte said, trying to sound casual. Like, you know, who built it or who was the first principal and stuff like that? Well, it was built almost a hundred years ago, her mom said. The original building was actually much smaller, just one wing of what stands there today. I think Mrs. Abernathy in the library has some old yearbooks and photos. She's a bit of a school historian. Charlotte perked up. Really? Do you think she'd let me look at those old yearbooks? I'm sure she would. She loves when students take an interest in the school's history. Her mom said, looking curiously at Charlotte. Is this for a project or something? Sort of, Charlotte said, getting up from the table. Thanks, Mom. At school, Charlotte could barely focus on her lessons. As soon as the lunch bell rang, she grabbed and yell as arm. Come on, she whispered, we're going to the library. And in the library, they found Mrs. Abernathy, a thin woman with gray hair and glasses hanging from a chain around her neck. Mrs. Abernathy? Charlotte said politely. My mom said you might have some old yearbooks and photos of the school. I'm really interested in learning about the school's history. Mrs. Abernathy's eyes lit up. Oh, how wonderful. It's so rare to find students so interested in history these days. Yes, I have quite a collection. Follow me. And she led them to a back room of the library where several shelves held old books, binders and boxes. These go back to when the school first opened in 1925. Mrs. Abernathy explained pulling down a dusty album. This right here is our oldest yearbook. As Mrs. Abernathy pulled out more albums, Charlotte felt the key grow warm in her pocket. When Mrs. Abernathy set down a particularly old photo album labeled 1930 to 1940, and the key seemed to grow even warmer. Could we look at this one? Charlotte asked, pointing to it. Oh, of course, Mrs. Abernathy said that's a very special album. It contains photos from during the Great Depression. Times were very hard back then, but the school was a bright spot for many children. Charlotte and Aniella sat at a table and carefully opened the album. The black and white photos showed serious-faced children in old-fashioned clothes, standing in front of a much smaller version of their school. As they turned the pages, Charlotte felt the key growing hotter in her pocket. And when they reached a page from 1932, the key seemed to be burning. Charlotte slipped her hand in her pocket to touch it, and the moment her fingers brushed against it, her eyes were drawn to one particular photo on the page. It was a group photo of a class about 30 children standing in rows. In the front row, slightly apart from the others, stood a small girl with dark braided hair and a solemn expression. Unlike the other children who looked directly at the camera, this girl was looking down at something clutched in her hands. Something that was just out of the frame. Who is this girl? Charlotte wondered. They continued looking through the album, but found no other mention of the mysterious girl. And just as they were about to close the book, Charlotte noticed something tucked into the back cover. It was a small, yellowed envelope. And with careful fingers, she eased it out and opened it up. And inside was a faded note written in childish handwriting. And it said, my name is Margaret Holloway. If anyone finds this, please remember that I was here. I don't want to be forgotten when we move away. An attached to the note was a tiny black and white photo of the same solemn girl from the class picture. And on the back was written, Margaret, age eight with my music box, 1932. And yalla, Charlotte Gasp, the music box in that picture. It must be the most forgotten thing. And just then the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch period. We need to find out more about Margaret Holloway, Charlotte said, as they reluctantly returned the albums to Mrs. Abernathy. And we need to figure out who it belongs to now. Throughout the afternoon classes, Charlotte could think of nothing else. And when the final bell rang, she and Aniella raced to the small hatch in the hallway. Charlotte inserted her key and the door swung open and they crawled through the room of lost special things. What they saw made them gasp. The room was dim now. The golden glow had faded even further. Ms. Finley hurried over to them, looking even older than before. Her face lined with worry. Did you discover anything? She asked urgently. Charlotte showed her the photo and the note they'd found. We think the most forgotten thing might be a music box that belonged to a girl named Margaret Holloway in 1932. But we don't know who it should be returned to now. Ms. Finley studied the photo. Yes, yes, I believe you're right. The box on the pedestal arrived here in 1932, one of the first items ever to find its way to this room. But who does it belong to now? Aniella asked. Margaret would be really old by now if she's even still alive. Items like this often belong to descendants. Ms. Finley explained. The memories and magic passes through families from parents to their children to their children. So we need to find out if Margaret had children or grandchildren who might go to our school. Charlotte asked. Ms. Finley nodded and quickly it's almost too late. Ms. Finley said. Suddenly Charlotte had an idea. Mrs. Abernathy, she knows everything about the school's history. Maybe she knows what happened to Margaret. Go Ms. Finley urged, but hurry back. They raced back to the library where Mrs. Abernathy was still there organizing books. Mrs. Abernathy, Charlotte said. Do you know anything about a student named Margaret Holloway? She was here in 1932. Mrs. Abernathy looks surprised. Margaret Holloway. Now that's a name I haven't heard in many, many years. Yes, I do know about her. Her story is quite sad actually. She sat down inviting Charlotte and Aniella to join her. Margaret and her family moved here during the Great Depression looking for work. They were very poor. Margaret only attended our school for a few months before her family had to move again. The story goes that she left something behind, something precious to her, but no one knew what it was. Did she ever come back? Aniella asked. Mrs. Abernathy shook her head. Not that I know of, but her granddaughter actually teaches here now if you can believe it. Charlotte and Aniella exchanged shocked glances. Oh, they both asked together. Why, it's Miss Parker, the music teacher, Mrs. Abernathy said. She's Margaret's granddaughter. Margaret passed away about 10 years ago, but she always told Miss Parker's stories about the short time she spent at our school and the special treasure she lost here. Charlotte felt the key grow hot in her pocket. Thank you, Mrs. Abernathy. You've been a huge help. Charlotte and Aniella turned around and raced through the halls to the music room, but it was empty. A janitor mopping nearby told them that Miss Parker was in the auditorium preparing for tomorrow's talent show auditions. And in the auditorium, they found Miss Parker sitting at the piano playing a soft, melancholy tune. And as Charlotte looked at her, she could see the resemblance to the solemn girl in the old photograph. She kind of looked alike. Miss Parker, Charlotte said, approaching slowly, a music teacher looked up her fingers still on the keys. Yes? Can I help you too? Charlotte took a deep breath. This might sound strange, but did your grandmother ever tell you about something special she lost when she was a student here? Maybe like a music box or something like that? Miss Parker's eyes grew wide. What? How could you possibly know about that? Yes, my grandmother Margaret always told me about a music box. Her mother gave her before she died. Grandma lost it here at school when her family had to move suddenly during the Great Depression. She said it was her most treasured possession and she never got over losing it. She looked for another one just like in her whole life, but never found one. Charlotte reached into her pocket and felt the key practically jumping against her hand. Miss Parker, I think we might have found it. Miss Parker's face showed disbelief. That's impossible. It was lost almost a hundred years ago. How could you find that? Please, Charlotte said, will you come with us? There's something we need to show you. So Miss Parker followed them to the small door in the hallway and Charlotte put the key into the keyhole. And as she turned the key, they heard the same satisfying click and the door swung open. What in the world? Miss Parker said, please just trust us. And Yala said, you need to crawl through and to their relief. Miss Parker got down on her hands and knees and followed them through the small doorway into the room of lost special things. Miss Finley stood by the pedestal, which now contained only a faint outline of where the wooden box had been. We're almost too late, Miss Finley said. Miss Parker stood there frozen, staring around the room. What is this place? I never knew this was here. How is this even possible? Charlotte took her hand. This is the room of lost special things. Everything here was lost by someone who loved it very much. And right now it's all in danger of disappearing forever. She led Miss Parker to the pedestal. Can you remember what your grandmother said about her music box? Can you picture it in your mind from the story she used to tell you? Miss Parker closed her eyes. She described it to me many times. She said it was a small wooden box with roses carved on the lid. And inside it was a tiny ballerina that spun when you opened it. She said it played a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her. And as Miss Parker spoke, Miss Finley exclaimed, that's it. Keep remembering. Miss Parker continued her voice thick with emotion. She said the inside was lined with blue velvet. And there was a secret compartment in the bottom where she kept a small photo of her mother. She always told me the music made her feel safe even during the hardest times. And all around them the room was beginning to regain its golden light. Now Miss Finley said, you must complete the return Charlotte. You are the keeper. Charlotte carefully lifted the music box from the pedestal. It felt warm and alive in her hands as she turned to Miss Parker, who was staring at the box with tears in her eyes now. Miss Parker, Charlotte said formally, I believe this belongs to your family. Your grandmother Margaret left it behind when she had to move away, but it's been waiting here all this time to be returned to her family. She placed the music box in Miss Parker's trembling hands. My grandmother's music box, Miss Parker whispered, I can't believe it. She searched for this her whole life. Slowly she opened the lid and a sweet gentle melody filled the room as a tiny ballerina began to twirl. Miss Parker's tears began to fall. This is the lullaby she used to sing to me, she said. I recognize it from my childhood. She carefully pressed a hidden latch in the bottom of the box open to reveal a small faded photograph. This must be my great grandmother, Miss Parker said. I've never seen a picture of her before. As Miss Parker held the music box, a wave of golden light swept through the room of lost special things as the lanterns overhead burned with a renewed brilliance. Miss Finley, now fully visible and looking somehow younger, clasped her hands together in delight. You've done it, Charlotte. You restored the balance. The most forgotten thing has found its rightful owner and the room has been saved. Charlotte felt the key in her hand once more as it settled into a comfortable warmth. What is this place, Miss Parker asked? How did my grandmother's music box end up here? Miss Finley explained about the room of lost special things, about how it collected and protected treasured items until they could be returned. And Charlotte is the new keeper, Miss Finley explained, chosen to help return lost special things to those who need them. Miss Parker looked at Charlotte with a newfound respect. Thank you, she said simply. This means more than you could possibly know. I can see why this place is so special and why it needs to be kept hidden, Miss Parker said. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else about what's hidden here. I can see it's already in good hands. And over the next few weeks, Charlotte and Anniella spent many afternoons in the room of lost special things. Learning from Miss Finley how to read the ledger and properly return items. And with Miss Parker's help, now in on the secret as the owner of the most forgotten thing, they were able to return Emily's music box just before the talent show auditions. Emily played beautifully. And when Jason's bottle of laughter was opened during recess, the sound of his joy echoed across the playground for the first time in what seemed like forever. And in the room of lost special things, the ledger was still filled with names and dates of items waiting to be returned. And on the very first page in shimmering golden ink was written, Charlotte, keeper of lost special things. And below it in slightly smaller writing, it said, Anniella, deputy keeper. Below that added just recently Miss Parker recipient of the most forgotten thing. The room had been saved, the lost things were safe, and Charlotte had found exactly where she belonged, helping others find the pieces of themselves they thought were lost forever. And it all happened because she had lost a tooth and found a key that changed everything. You Hey, there, Storyland fans. If you've been enjoying the podcast, I've got some great news. Right now you can find the Storyland collection, volume two Enchanted Journeys and Hidden Treasures. That's right. Now you can pick up both volume one and volume two and experience all the stories in their true chronological order professionally remastered for the best listening experience. You can find them on audiobooks.com, the Spotify audiobooks marketplace, Apple Books, Hoopla, Google Play and Audible. Just search for Storyland, all one word, and you'll find them there. And if you're looking for even more magic, don't forget about Luke and the Magical Marker, my illustrated book that's also available on Amazon. It's the perfect read for kids who love creativity and adventure. And finally, if you've been enjoying the podcast, I would love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It is so much fun to read what listeners have to say about the show and it helps the Storyland podcast grow. Thanks again for listening and I'll see you again in the next adventure.