Freddie and the Secret, the Key, and Something Much More

Prompt: Include the words "My lips are sealed" or "Don’t tell anyone" in your story. Secondary prompts: Write a story that includes something secret in it. 

Freddie and the Secret, the Key, and Something Much More

It was almost noon when I glanced at my multipurpose scuba wristwatch. Unfortunately, there was no function on it that could release me from the predicament I found myself in. The chair I was chained to had no padding and my derriere was flat as a pancake. It throbbed mercilessly as did my heart. I was obviously in big trouble. I should have known better being eleven years old. How I got here is quite the story.  Since escape is virtually impossible, I will analyze the details of my misadventure in my mind with the hope of not repeating my mistakes. Okay, here goes…

The carnival and circus were in town for a few weeks. Joey, Billy, and I decided to dip into our savings to join in the revelry at the most action packed show our town has seen in quite some time. (My first mistake.) The festivities would go late into the night. So, we decided to meet on Friday night knowing we could be back before our parents knew. Plus, we could sleep in on Saturday. (My second mistake.)  

Knowing our parents were fast asleep, the three of us gathered just outside the carnival gate to decide which attractions we would visit. I looked at my scuba watch. It showed 23:00 scuba time (11:00pm). Plenty of time, I thought. The carnival usually closes up shop around 3:00 scuba time (3:00am). (My third mistake.)

We could not agree on anything. I could almost hear them saying,

“Freddie, come on! I want to see the clowns and elephants. Don’t be so stubborn!” said Billy.

“Yeah Freddie, don’t be the boss of us. I want to see the fat, bearded lady and play ring toss. Your stuff is so lame.” said Joey.

“Oh, come on guys. We should do something together. I really think seeing the magician do his black magic would be so cool. On top of that we should also visit the Secret Temple of Doom, too.”

There was no agreement. We would part our ways to do our own thing. Each to his own course of enjoyment. Myself, my choices on the other hand, would point to a very dark, sinister night. I looked at my scuba watch. It was already 00:30 (12:30am). Yikes! The evil, villainous demon, Callous, was eating away at my time. Silly me.  I shook my head. No, I defeated him a while back.

I was heading toward the magician’s tent when the M & M brothers, Mark and Miles, deliberately ran into me. I remember them saying,

“Well, lookie here. Ain’t it Freddie? Why the hurry? Where are you headed? said Miles.

“I’m on my way to see the magician. I have to hurry to catch the next show,” I said.

Mark piped up. “Freddie, I want to share a deep, dark secret with you. You must not tell anyone or else you could be in big trouble.”

Mark proceeded to whisper in my ear. Bzzzz. Bzzzz. It sounded like a bee stuck inside my ear canal.

“You can’t tell anyone I told you this! There could be grave consequences if you do.” “My lips are sealed. I promise not to say anything to anyone”, I nervously said.

Miles then added, “Yeah, Freddie, loose lips sink ships. No slip of the lips. Zip the mouth. Or schäm dich, schwätzer!" ("Shame on you, blabbermouth!").

Miles and Mark snickered as they walked away. I wondered what I should do with the information they gave me. After some deep thought (about thirty seconds), I decided to investigate what they had told me. (My fourth mistake.) 

It’s not that Miles and Mark are bad dudes. They are top notch guys who are prone to playing practical jokes on guys like me. I am a sucker for anything that involves super heroes, mysteries and battling evil forces. I suspect it was one such joke and I’d play along with it. In the end I would disclose that ‘deep, dark’ secret, and proclaim Mark and Miles the fraudsters they really are. (Again, a profound fourth mistake.) I should have consulted with Joey and Billy, but they were lost among the booths and fighting the crowd.

I headed over to the magician’s booth. A sign hanging outside the shed door said ‘Sorry the performance has ended. Beware of what lurks in here. Have a nice day!’

I was not happy about missing the magician show. As I walked away, I scuffled my feet kicking up some dirt. In the process I heard a clinking sound. I bent down to look. To my surprise I saw a rustic, skeleton key. I picked it up (My fifth mistake). I looked over at the shed, and the key did not fit the lock. 

“Where in the world is the lock for this key to fit?” I said to myself. “There’s no one in the immediate area.”

Little did I know at the time, a figure dressed in all black, like the figure of death in Dicken’s Christmas Carol had its eye on me. Then all of a sudden it disappeared.

I made my way over to the Secret Temple of Doom. I lifted the drape covering the opening. Surprisingly, there was no one inside. The air smelled musty and stale. It was one large room, and was dimly lit.

“Really? Haunted This place is empty and not so scary. Where are the exotic dancing girls? Is anyone here? Come out come out wherever you are,” I whispered. Nothing but the sound of steady dripping water and cobwebs everywhere. The water was pooling near a large box in the back of the room.

Needless to say, I was still feeling on edge. No people. No specters. No moaning. I walked over to the box.  I was aghast. Did my eyes deceive me but it was a sarcophagus. I wonder if this box was the one Mark and Miles meant in the secret they shared. 

From out of nowhere the black specter figure appeared. I decided enough was enough, so I tackled the figure to the ground. The specter offered no resistance as I unhooded it. 

“What the heck! Miles! You are a beast! Where is that scaredy cat Mark? I am sure he is behind this as well. You can’t frighten me.”

Miles stammered. “It was Mark’s idea. He had to go because he had a track meet tomorrow morning. I got to do the fun part up until now. Sorry Freddie. We thought the enticement of exotic dancing girls would get you inside. Then the specter, me, would frighten you like a little girl. We didn’t want you to tell anyone else to ruin the plan.”

“Go home Miles. Don’t you know I’ve faced worse horrors than your little ruse? I’ve faced serpents galore, the dreaded dragon from the Shudder River, and the messy goopy people. Go please!”

Miles got up and scampered out of the shed. With the key in hand, I approached the box.

Curiosity usually kills the cat. I sighed and said,

“Here goes nothing. I might kill the cat’s other eight lives opening this so-called sacred box. But I am brave. I am bold. I am superhero. But I am very naïve too.  One, two three.”

I turned the key in the lock on the sarcophagus. CLICK! (My sixth mistake.)

I hesitantly pried open the lid.

Shazam! Kaboom! Shazam! Whoosh! Whoosh! 

A gush of wind catapulted Egyptian debris out of the sarcophagus. A mini tornado then whirlpooled its way out of the box full of dust, bones, and rotten stuff.  The force was so great it pushed me backwards onto the ground. The whirlpool stopped. In its wake I saw a fierce, angry, and very ugly lion with rotten teeth. It spoke to me.

“Well, what have we got here?  Hmmm. A tasty morsel. I was famished waiting in that crazy box the ancient Egyptians locked me in. I didn’t fit their profile as a good god because I would eat them all up. Ha, ha. Somehow one of their children, I think it may have been Moses, grabbed my tail throwing me into this uncomfortable prison. Anyway, thanks my boy for releasing me. Hey! Wait a minute! I recognize you. You’re that Freddie kid who stomps on serpents and anything reptilian, amphibian or otherwise. Looks like you’ve gained a little weight. You should make a fine supper. What time is it anyway?”

“It’s 2:00 scuba time (2:00am) Oh, I should have never released you. What is your name anyway?”

“Some call me the Roaring Lion for obvious reasons. I answer to Abaddon or Apollyon so as not to scare the already terrified children. Let me be your friend. You can be my pet boy. If not, perhaps you can be gracious to me and grant me one meal request to eat you and your soul.”

Nope. I will not be your pet. Nor will I let myself be your meal devouring my body and soul. For Scriptures say, ‘Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may desire’. (a) You’re just a bunch of matted fur, rotten fangs, and skunky stink.”

“Freddie, sticks, stones and your stupid heroic faith won’t hurt me. I rule the world now until the end of time. Ha, ha, you miserable little boy! What do you think of that? Now I shall eat you and delight in it!”

“You just don’t get it! You’ve been defeated you wretched, disgusting pile of scat! My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has defeated you once and for all! By His name I am saved even if you hurt me! Stick and stones may not hurt you, but my Jesus Christ has crushed your pitiful head you nasty beast.  Go back into the depths of the abyss where you belong. And by the way, it wasn’t Moses who locked you up. It was an Israelite child who believed in the God of Abraham, Moses and Jacob, you horrendous, filthy pile of dung. Jesus is the Victor over Death!”

Then I remembered the lion jumped back into the box dissolving away like a puddle of wax. The lid of the sarcophagus relocked with the keyhole sealing itself. The key fell to the ground and melted away. A bunch of flies then began swirling like a whirlwind knocking me off my feet. 

Then next thing I heard was a woman’s voice saying,

“Frederick, last night your father and I had to literally drag you home from the carnival gate after a call from your friends, Miles and Mark. You were not to go to the carnival alone unsupervised. You knew that! We propped you up there in the corner because you stunk, and flies were all around you for the rest of the night!”

My Mama stared over at me. Her gaze filled me with guilt. Her eyes shot out chains that seemingly bound me tighter into this chair.

“Mama, do I have to sit in this chair anymore? I am so sorry for disobeying you. I’ll never do it again. I promise I will not keep secrets from you. Ever again.” 

“My son, why all of the deception? Certainly, you were taught for everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. (b)

“Freddie, don’t you know that you might keep secrets from me but God knows everything. And I mean everything. Freddie, God surely (has) known it, for He knows the secret of every heart.” (c)

“On top of all this you lied to me! What ever happened to honoring your mother and father?” (d)

“Yes, Mama I am so sorry. I serve an awesome God and He showed me last night His power and Majesty.”

I sat in the chair for another hour only allowed to leave momentarily for a bathroom break. The lesson of not being forthright with my parents was well learned on all fronts.

-END-

PS. No real lions were melted in the story. (smile)

1 Peter 5:8, NKJV

 Mark 4:22, NLT

 Psalm 44:21, NLT

 Exodus 20:12, NLT

NLT=New Living Translation

Author: Pete Gautchier

Acknowledgement: Reedsyprompts.com

Word count: 2029