Decrease

Wednesday - September 15

"Good morning, dear," says Aunt Ruth, as she gives Claire a kiss on her cheek.

"Good morning, Aunt Ruth. Aunt Ruth, will you sit down for a minute. I need to speak to you about something."

Aunt Ruth smiles at Claire. But before she sits, she neatly does a three-way fold with the dish towel before hanging it on the towel rack. She checks to make sure that it's hanging properly, then turns to Claire, and says, "All right, dear. What is it you want to speak to me about?"

Claire pulls out a chair for Aunt Ruth to sit. Aunt Ruth complies as she watches Claire do the same.

Neither woman says anything. Aunt Ruth continues to look at Claire with her genteel Georgia peach smile, and Claire looks at Aunt Ruth, but is in fact, thinking about what she's going to say. Finally, silence is broken.

Claire clears her throat, and bluntly asks, "Are you involved in this conspiracy that my parents, John's father, Raymond, and Daniel are involved in?"

"What conspiracy is that, dear?"Aunt Ruth states, with a smile.

Taking Aunt Ruth's hand and gently squeezing it, Claire asks again, "Aunt Ruth, you know about the baby, and I'm positive you also know about my visit to the Plaza yesterday. Therefore, I need to know, are you involved in this conspiracy?"

Aunt Ruth looks deeply into Claire's wanting eyes and says, "My dear, this so-called conspiracy is not what you think it is. For years, many persons like myself, and others like your parents, Gerald, Raymond, and Daniel, have committed themselves to a cause that is much greater and goes beyond the goodness of humanity. Claire, you, John, and the baby will be the beginning of a new start for human existence to continue as it should naturally. We, and many others, more than you will ever know, must ensure that the continuing of humanity will not be suffocated by the laws of those whom wish only to seek the greater good for themselves." Aunt Ruth releases Claire's hand as she stands up and walks over to the kitchen counter to grab her purse. Claire watches Aunt Ruth take something out of her purse. When she returns, she lays it on the table.

Claire lets out a small gasp and asks, "How... how did you find that?"

"My dear, as I've been trying to tell you, we've been planning this for years."

Claire grabs the box that she had hidden with meticulous care inside the dryer vent hose, and somehow Aunt Ruth had managed to find. Claire opens the box and is relieved to see the key. Taking the key out of the box and holding it up for Aunt Ruth to see, Claire asks, "Do you know what this key fits, Aunt Ruth?"

While the kitchen light reflects itself off the key, Aunt Ruth takes it from Claire's hand and says, "This key unlocks the secrets to everything, Claire. It's up to you to find out where the secrets are kept. You are the only one who knows."

"I'm... I'm the only one who knows! What do you mean? I don't know anything about this key, except that it was left on the front stoop. Stop playing games with me, Aunt Ruth!" Claire growls, as she snatches the key away from Aunt Ruth and waves it in front of her face.

Aunt Ruth lovingly takes both of Claire's hands into hers, and says, "Claire, you must remember where the secrets are. You were just a child, but you were shown where they were hidden. Think back, Claire, when you were six and at the beach with your parents. Do you remember that time, Claire?"

Claire looks at Aunt Ruth with a questionable gaze. She closes her eyes to try and remember what she can recall that's so important when she was six years old.

"Mom, Dad, and I were at the beach having so much fun." Claire begins to recall. "Daddy talked to someone on the phone and Mommy unpacked the picnic basket." Claire gets up from her chair and walks over to the kitchen counter to pour herself a cup of coffee. "I remember a black car parked next to ours and Daddy went over to talk to them."