*~key~*
room for rent
that's what the sign read
the one in the window
the one in issie's hand
five flights of stairs to the room for rent
closer to the stars
the boy described
as they climbed
up up
to the top of the leaning building
everything seemed to be sliding
to the left
lately
the stairs creaked in a rather calypso-sounding rhythm
as they stepped on them
issie tried to shift the weight
of her feet
to hear the changes
rat tat crick
she was writing words
in her head
to the stair-sounds
the boy peered over his shoulder at issie
with an
ever-so-slight-if-you-blink-you-will-miss-it-grin
the stairs sing
he murmured
issie hurried her pace a bit
to get a better glimpse
of that smile
she tried to think of something to say
a witty remark
a joke
a provocative question
issie came up with nothing
nothing but the words
to the stair-song
the city library is down the street
the boy informed
issie looked up at him
strained to picture the books
he would read
chaucer dickens hemingway dr. seuss
when they reached the door
he handed issie a tiny round box
they walked in the door
issie felt her breath disappear
all around the room were colours
blues reds
purples greens
all bouncing off the walls
as if projected from glass
there was music that poured
from the walls
the tune haunting
familiar to issie
the song from the stairs
the one in her head
issie walked inside
stood in the center of the room
taking it all in
warmth surrounded her
embraced her
everything inside her calmed
issie breathed in slowly
she felt a rush of
every-good-feeling-a-single-person-could-feel feeling
it was as if her every inner wishing
had lept out of her
materialized suddenly
issie turned around to question the boy
she was alone
alone in a room of light and music
issie looked down at her hand
the box
what was in the box
issie opened the lid carefully
looked inside
it was a key
a shiny silver key
issie held it up and stared
words
they were etched into the silver
small words
almost unreadable
issie squinted and strained
yes
the word yes
yes
issie understood
yes
the key