Chiming Secrets

          Mary Posler was a century old. She had lived in the same house since she was twenty-three. It was the first home she bought with her husband, Robert, seventy-seven years earlier. Robert passed away after a debilitating stroke when he was fifty-eight. He and Mary had just celebrated their thirtieth wedding anniversary. Over the years they filled their home with beautiful antiques and family heirlooms. One of the prize antiques they came upon was a grandfather clock they found in a store in Norway. It stood proudly in the entry hall near the stairway.

          Mary didn't know until years after puchase that there was a secret chamber in the clock's base. When she opened it, she expected to find some letters or other tidbits from the past. Instead, she found it empty and thirsting for fulfillment. At that moment, Mary had a thought. She would store all of her secrets so that nobody would ever find them. The first item she placed in its hollowed belly was a pocketwatch given to Robert by his father. Robert never got along with his father. On his deathbed, the father gave Mary the pocketwatch with instructions to give it to Robert when she felt he was ready to receive it.

          The next item Mary placed was a diary she kept when she was in her late teens and just before her marriage. The diary held a secret that she told no one. When she was eighteen, Mary became pregnant and gave the baby up for adoption. All she knew was that it was a girl and she had curly brown hair. The father was not Robert. The baby was the result of a rape. This secret was as painful today as it was then. She hoped and prayed nobody would find out, and thus far, no one had.

          Other items were placed in the clock for safe keeping. Mary had not looked in that clock for years. She and Robert adopted a baby girl ten years after the marriage. She was to be their only child, and her name was Kathy. The years flew by and Kathy was thriving. Their lives were going along happily.

          When Kathy was sixteen, she was involved with a boy whom Mary disliked. Mother and daughter didn't see eye to eye on the subject. They parted and went their seperate ways. Kathy moved in with Jason, who was seven years her senior. He was lazy and didn't want to do anything with his life. Kathy was pregnant and working two jobs. When she delivered her daughter, Julie, Jason couldn't handle the situation and left.

          The job of housekeeper was added to the two she already had:cook at a high school, and a bus driver. She had to keep her head above water. Several years passed and Julie grew into a beautiful, studious young woman. When she was in high school, Julie was helping Kathy with bringing in the income. Through one of Kathy's clients, Julie found out that there was an older woman who was a century old looking for a housekeeper. She called Mary and arranged an interview. She had just obtained her driver's license and a used car.

          Once Mary saw Julie and interviewed her, she liked her immensely. Julie was hired immediately. She worked for Mary for two months before Mary passed away in her sleep. Julie grew to love Mary and was devastated at her death. She asked Kathy to accompany her to Mary's funeral. It was closed casket, but there was a picture. When Kathy saw the picture, she almost fainted. Julie didn't understnd her mother's reaction. After Kathy regained her composure, she told Julie that Mary was her mother. Therefore, she was Julie's grandmother. While they were talking, Mary's lawyer came to them and told Julie that the house was being left to her. It was in appreciation of the great care she took of it. She could move her family in and enjoy it.

          The next day, Julie and Kathy went to the house. The memories for Kathy were overwhelming. Julie supported her as they walked through the house. Kathy's eyes went to the grandfather clock. It chimed 12:00. It had been a draining week. As they sat, Julie remembered the clock's chamber. She went to open it. She found her grandfather's watch, her grandmother's lace handkerchiefs, old letters and the diary. There were also photos and various items that belonged to both Robert and Mary. Julie started reading the letters to Kathy. Kathy was agast, realizing the letters were to Mary from another man.

          Kathy looked at the photos and came across one that, on its back read,"Kathy, First tooth missing." Most of the other pictures were of people unknown to Kathy. She took the diary and opened it at the lace marker. It read: June 13. My daughter was born today. All I know is that she has brown, curly hair. I'll never see her again. Robert must never know that I was raped.

         Kathy's eyes burst in amazement. She screamed and Julie came running. After Julie read the passage, both women realized they had a mystery unfolding in their lives. They proceeded to find the baby. They knew it may take a while, but they were bound and determined to welcome her in their family.