The Brass Key
The morning air was cold. Arthur swept the dust from his front step. A small, shiny object caught his eye near the curb. He bent down and picked up a heavy brass key. It had no teeth like a normal key, only a tiny star carved at the tip.
- Arthur wiped the dirt off with his thumb.
- He looked up and down the empty street. No one was in sight.
- He slipped the cold metal into his pocket and went back inside his tiny shop.
The Hidden Lock
Arthur sat at his work desk. He looked at all the clocks on the wall. They ticked and ticked in loud harmony. He pulled out the key again. His eyes drifted to an old wooden box in the corner. He had bought it fifty years ago at a market in a far town. It had no keyhole.
He walked over to the box and ran his fingers along the side. Near the bottom corner, a tiny star-shaped dent hid in the grain. He pressed the key inside. It fit. With a soft click, the lid popped open to reveal a folded piece of paper and a single, dried blue flower.

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