Concealed

I can’t lose this job; this is my dream. He continued to complement my enthusiasm and called my “go-getter personality” admirable. He hands me a paper file; I open it up too reveal a new story they want me to write on. ‘But also head office wants you to go down to Rockwell High and write a story on the new cricket field’ ‘Great, I’m loving the enthusiasm.’ He replies, a big grin appears on his face and he gives me a less awkward thumbs up as I exit the room. Chapter 2 As I walk towards Rockwell High’s school oval , I hear a blaringly loud whistle ringing in my ears. Gold light filters through the overcast clouds, not yet full enough to rain. Lucky for the cricket players who have their first match this season. They have already started playing, and it looks like they’re winning, but apart from the fact that I must report on this story, I couldn’t care less. I was never much of a cricket fan, but as they rounded into the second quarter, something caught my eye. A little off the side of the oval was a red, rusted mailbox. It was hard to see from all the moss that covered it. I walked towards the mailbox with a fast pace, I try to pry open the lid, I can tell it’s very old. After what feels like a century, but was only a couple minutes, I get the lid open. I don’t know what I was expecting to find, but what I do find is a black satchel. I look back to the game, they are just finishing the second quarter. I take out the bag and as I do, I can’t help but open it. Inside is an old brown box, with photographs, clippings and other small assorted items inside. I find it strange that this would be mailed to a school and, why is there a mailbox here in the first place? Who sent this ‘mysterious gift’ and why has not one found it yet? When I dig down further into the box, I will find my answer. A photograph, torn and brown shows a bunch of small houses. It seems random at first, but as I look closer, I notice a small cricket pitch in the distance and just past that, a school building. Almost identical to the school I was at now. The date on the bottom of the photograph shows that it is from twenty years ago, the land I am on now must not have always belonged to the school. I see another piece of paper and as I read it, chills run up my spine; ‘It’s done, I did what you asked. You’ll never hear from me again.’ I feel like I should turn away, ignore this, it’s probably nothing. That’s what I should be doing, it’s not my business and yet, the journalist in me wants to keep going. To see what this could lead to, it could be the big break I have been looking for. Maybe this once bland story was meant to lead me here. To my destiny. Chapter 3 I must find answers. What does the ‘ mysterious gift’ mean? Where could it lead me to? To find out I head back to the main reception. As I enter, the receptionist glares at me, with her sharp beady eyes, trying to understand my reason for being here. Before she could speak, I interrupt her by asking for details on the school’s history and records. I could tell with the tension between us I wasn’t going to go anywhere. I agree and put the file into my rough leather satchel.