{"id":6,"date":"2023-03-20T21:44:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T21:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/?p=6"},"modified":"2023-03-20T21:44:37","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T21:44:37","slug":"thecarousel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/?p=6","title":{"rendered":"The carousel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to hear about your uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie sat down at the table opposite her friend and shrugged off her coat. She leant forward to see what Rosie was looking at. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what he left me in his will,\u201d Rosie mumbled, sliding the piece of paper across the table. \u201cWhat do you make of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie picked it up and studied the rough sketch of a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster, with a carousel in the middle and about three centimetres to the right was a big cross.<\/p>\n

\u201cX marks the spot? It looks like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA treasure map,\u201d they both said together and laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get too excited. My uncle Bert was always a bit of a joker; he never had a lot of money and was sort of the black sheep of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d Stephanie asked as a waitress appeared with a teapot for two.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did want tea, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Rosie checked. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes thanks. Tell me more about Uncle Bert, he sounds interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie poured their tea, watching the copper-coloured liquid fill the cups and added a touch of milk.<\/p>\n

Rosie smiled, taking a cup she explained, \u201cHe lived in Cleethorpes, he loved being by the sea. His key cutting shop is still on the sea front and I used to love it when we popped in to see him. As he and my mum talked, I\u2019d look at his key collection. He had some old iron keys with intricately carved handles, they used to fascinate me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas he your mum\u2019s brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sometimes I\u2019d play cards with him while my mum went shopping.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy was he the black sheep?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy granddad didn\u2019t like that he hung about with the fairground folk. He used to help on the carousel at the weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis carousel?\u201d Stephanie asked, holding up the paper.<\/p>\n

Rosie touched the sketch, following the circle of horses round and round with her finger. <\/p>\n

\u201cI remember sitting on one of these horses when I was little, my uncle standing next to me so I wouldn\u2019t fall off. The music floating through the air as I rose up and down with my hair blowing in the breeze. I used to hold on to the smooth golden pole, close my eyes and I believed I was flying over everyone on a magical unicorn.\u201d <\/p>\n

Stephanie smiled and sipped her tea. \u201cIt must have been special to share that with your uncle.\u201d <\/p>\n

Stephanie noticed some writing on the back of the map and turning it over she read, \u201cThe key to a happy life by the sea, sourness keeps the truth for thee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosie frowned, \u201cI don\u2019t know what that means, I thought it might refer to a key at his shop, but other than that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy sourness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only sourness I can think of is his son, my cousin Nigel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNigel turned up at the reading of the will and he wasn\u2019t happy as there wasn\u2019t any money for him. He didn\u2019t have anything to do with his dad anyway, he only got in touch when he needed something. He was annoyed when he saw I got this map, he thinks it leads to a treasure and wanted to take it off me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosie shrugged. \u201cI let him take a photo of it, he didn\u2019t give me any choice. He\u2019s a bit scary.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u201d Stephanie sat up with a determined look in her eye. \u201cThen we\u2019ll have to solve it before he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

She held the paper up to the light and smiled. \u201cWe need a candle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosie got up to ask the waitress and returned with excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know exactly what you\u2019re thinking, I should have thought of that myself. Uncle Bert used to give me invisible messages when I was a kid, I\u2019d forgotten all about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two women watched as Rosie lit the candle and held the paper over the flickering flame. At first, nothing seemed to happen, then slowly there appeared another cross, but this time in the middle of the carousel as the lemon juice on the paper turned brown.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext we need to find the key,\u201d Stephanie whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The icy sea whipped about them as they stood outside the key cutting shop. Waves crashed against the concrete wall sending spray into the air and gulls screamed overhead.<\/p>\n

It was a relief to walk inside, the door caught a bell that tinkled above their heads as Stephanie closed it behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello,\u201d called a young lady with a cheery smile behind the counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi,\u201d answered Rosie looking around. \u201cit\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve been in here and it hasn\u2019t changed a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The girl pulled a funny face. \u201cI know, it could do with a makeover couldn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, that\u2019s not what I mean, I like that it still looks the same. I\u2019m Rosie, my Uncle Bert used to own it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean Bert as in \u2018Bert\u2019s keys\u2019? My dad bought this shop from him years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe very same.\u201d Rosie smiled and added sadly, \u201cHe died recently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry. My dad said that Bert was a character and a great friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie walked up to a glass display case and looked at the rows of old keys, some brass and others iron. <\/p>\n

Rosie joined her. \u201cThose were the keys I was telling you about, but that\u2019s the key I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie looked towards the wall where a picture frame hung, and inside of it was an old brass key and an old photo of a carousel.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould I please see that picture frame?\u201d Rosie asked.<\/p>\n

The girl reached up to take the frame down.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, you can take it, it\u2019s yours. My dad told me that Bert had given instructions to give this to Rosie when she came in. I never thought you ever would.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosie nodded, her eyes filling with tears, and she held it for a moment.<\/p>\n

After a pause Stephanie asked the girl, \u201cI don\u2019t suppose anyone else has been asking about Bert have they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I know of, and I\u2019m here every day. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you do us a favour? Don\u2019t tell anyone we were here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a short drive, the women finally arrived at the fairground. <\/p>\n

\u201cWow,\u201d Stephanie breathed with surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Rosie agreed in shock. \u201cI didn\u2019t realise it had been abandoned.\u201d<\/p>\n

 They slowly walked towards the sad, neglected carousel, the chains that once connected the dancing horses, now hung to the ground. Only dead leaves danced about now, picked up by the moaning wind.<\/p>\n

Rosie stepped closer, entranced by memories. Stephanie looked about and noticed a few holes, dug in the ground. Nigel had been there. Hairs rose on the back of her neck, as she felt they were being watched.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuick Rosie,\u201d Stephanie called and ran on to the carousel to join her friend. \u201c Nigel might be close by.\u201d <\/p>\n

Rosie reached for the old key and crouching down in front of the centre pole she pushed the key into a tiny door. It opened to reveal a compartment. Excitedly Rosie reached in and pulled out a metal box.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember this box,\u201d Rosie laughed excitedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a feeling you\u2019d show up.\u201d A deep voice made them jump.<\/p>\n

They turned to see three men standing in front of them, one of them had a shovel in his hand. The man in the middle, held out his hand towards Rosie.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice to see you again,\u201d he smirked. \u201cNow hand it over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosie held the box behind her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cUncle Bert left it to me, not you.\u201d Her voice was determined.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we\u2019ll just have to do it the hard way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie grabbed the box from Rosie and pushed her to the right,<\/p>\n

\u201cRun to the car!\u201d she screamed, then she ran the other way.<\/p>\n

The men were too confused to move straight away and luckily not too bright it seemed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two get her,\u201d Nigel ordered.<\/p>\n

Stephanie sprinted towards the Ferris wheel and hoped there would be a gap in the fence so she could get to the car. She could hear the crunching of stones and knew the men were behind her. She darted under the wheel and around a carriage with peeling white paint, its door was hanging open. The fence wasn\u2019t too far away, Stephanie thought as she continued on without looking back.<\/p>\n

She ran alongside the fence, hoping to see a loose panel she could pull open, but to her dismay, that part of the fence looked quite new. <\/p>\n

Then she saw a gap underneath, it was too small to climb through, but she had an idea, she pushed the box underneath just as the men caught up with her.<\/p>\n

She turned around as calmly as she could, hands open wide to show she had nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is it?\u201d one man asked looking puzzled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s what?\u201d Stephanie asked innocently, she looked over towards the Ferris wheel and they took the bait. They ran off to look for where she\u2019d dropped it.<\/p>\n

Stephanie ran to find Rosie and eventually saw her with Nigel.<\/p>\n

He glared at Stephanie and demanded to know where the treasure was.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re two goons have it, so can we go now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 She went to Rosie to check she was alright, then to her disappointment she saw the men return holding the box. Maybe they weren\u2019t as stupid as they looked.<\/p>\n

Nigel took the box and opened it, his smile soon disappeared though.<\/p>\n

\u201cA pack of cards? Is that all?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Rosie\u2019s turn to smile this time. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the cards we used to play with when I went to see him, he promised he\u2019d give them to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nigel threw the box on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a waste of time,\u201d he shouted, and beckoning the other two men, they stomped away.<\/p>\n

Rosie picked up the tin box and the packs of cards, wiping off the dirt lovingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s what the treasure was?\u201d Stephanie asked gently.<\/p>\n

Rosie held up the cards to show Stephanie.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is. And did you know that this pack of magic cards\u2026\u201d she leaned to whisper in Stephanie\u2019s ear, \u201cis worth a fortune.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way!\u201d Stephanie laughed. \u201cGood old Uncle Bert.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A treasure map, left in a will, leads Stephanie and Rosie to a bleak, abandoned fairground.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":73,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/73"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jlrobinsonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}