Mystery At The Top Of The Stairs

In the old Victorian house, on the third floor, was a room that was always kept locked. It was forbidden for the children of the home to enter and one of great mystery. The three children who lived in the home all speculated on what was hidden behind the foreboding door. Could it be treasures or perhaps the skeleton of a past owner?
Emma, Jacob, and Nancy were the children of Mary Purser who was recently widowed and had to move in with her elderly grandmother. The house was big but had fallen in disrepair in recent years. Cold in winter, hot in summer, it was much different from what they had previously called home. They had lived in a nice middleclass neighborhood in a new home with plenty of air conditioning and heat.
“I say we break off the lock and sneak in,” Jacob suggested.
“Silly, if you break the lock,” Emma said, “you will make so much noise that everyone will hear. You won’t be able to sneak anywhere. Everyone will come to investigate.” Emma was the oldest and was always ruining Jacob’s plans.
“Mommy will spank you if you break anything,” little Nancy said. Nancy was younger than her other siblings and often played the part of tattler.
“If you are so smart then,” Jacob challenged, “how should we get into the secret room?” Emma held her head up confidently as she answered.
“We can use the key, silly,” Emma said. “Grandmother keeps it hanging on a hook in the kitchen pantry. I saw it just yesterday.” Emma turned smugly and walked to the bedroom door to check to make sure they weren’t being overheard.
“Yeah, the key, damn,” Jacob responded.
“Don’t curse,” Emma scolded. “I have a plan as to how we get the key.”
“Okay, what is your plan?” Jacob asked reluctantly. He was dubious of Emma’s plans.
“Nancy and I will go in the sitting room with Mother and Grandmother,” Emma explained, “while you go to the kitchen and get the key.” Emma smiled with pride at her revelation.
“Hold it,” Jacob replied. “I have to do all of the dangerous stuff while you and Nancy sit and act innocent. What if I get caught?”
“You won’t get caught, silly,” Emma answered. “Nancy and I will sing and distract Mom and Grandmother. As long as you do your part, everything will be fine.” Jacob still had his doubt but without a better plan, he had no challenge.
So, it was agreed and the coverts headed off to the sitting room. Jacob stood outside the door listening, and when he heard his sisters begin their recital, he headed to the kitchen. The pantry door was next to the back door and when one door opened, it backed against the other. Therefore, only one door could be opened at a time.
Jacob quietly opened the pantry and looked for the key to the mystery room. Just as Emma had stated, the brass key was hanging in wait, with a yellow ribbon threaded through the hole and tied in a simple bow. The key hung on a rusted nail, but it was too high for Jacob to reach. He looked in the kitchen for something he could climb on.
Grandmother had a stool with a special talent. Hinged under the stool were foldout steps. She sometimes used the mechanism to reach things stored away on the upper shelves. Jacob stealthily moved the stool to the pantry and angled it just right. When in place, he folded out the steps and carefully made his climb.
Jacob took the two steps with care and then stepped onto the stool’s seat giving him just enough room to reach his prize. He removed the ribbon which was looped over the nail and grasped the brass key with success. Just as Jacob moved to step down, the back door opened and jarred the stool, causing Jacob to lose his footing and fall.
A loud commotion ensued as you might surmise as the stool tumbled to the wood floor and Jacob cried out in pain. His mother, who had been in the backyard and not the sitting room, had entered from the back door. She bent down to inspect the damage. Only Jacob’s pride had been bruised as well as his backside, but worst of all he had also been caught.
“What on earth?” His mother asked anxiously. The others from the sitting room entered and stood with curiosity. Jacob didn’t answer his mother for fear of repercussions.
“Jacob was stealing the key to the mystery closet,” Nancy blurted out with more than a little glee.
“What mystery closet,” their grandmother asked.
“The closet at the top of the stairs,” Nancy answered.
Their grandmother laughed and replied, “That isn’t much of a mystery closet. It is where I store my old luggage and travel trunks. I haven’t used any of them in years.” Everyone joined Grandmother in laughter except for Jacob. Not only had his backside been bruised, but his hopes of finding a treasure were dispelled as well.