The Unlocked Secret

Howie watched his daughter riding from a nearby bench. He was shivering with the cold, but Terri was enjoying his gift too much for him to stop her. The joy on her face was enough to keep him going. Howie also knew Terri was a very determined girl, even at six years old. She was small for her age, but very strong and strong-willed. When she walked across a room, it was obvious she intended to reach her destination.

Howie was the source of these character traits. He was a powerful and highly successful businessman, with a stern face and a proud bearing. His dark good looks turned heads, but there was an aura about him that commanded respect. He had three weaknesses: his daughter, drink, and women. The last two had cost him his marriage.

He glanced at his watch and sighed. "I’m sorry, honey", he called, "but we’ve got to go. Your mother will worry." Sylvia was indeed worried. Every time Howie took Terri for the day she fretted over who her daughter may be with and what she was being allowed to do. Syl knew Terri was too young to understand all the reasons for the divorce, and she couldn’t deny Howie his visitation rights. She was never more relieved than when Terri flew through the front door and into her arms.

Different from Howie in every way, Syl was a small woman with an effervescent personality. Like Terri, her hair was a shiny brown and she had a dazzling smile. She was a loving and caring mother, and, unlike Howie, very easy to get close to.

Since the separation three years ago, Syl and Terri had lived in a small, two-bedroom she shared with Terri. But she didn’t always sleep there, although the room held a double bed. Scared of being a woman alone with a child in the middle of Boston, she would often move the furniture against the front door and sleep on the living room sofa. This relaxed her enough to get a good night’s sleep.

Syl’s worst anxieties arose every other Saturday morning when Howie had his time with Terri. He often took her places inappropriate for a child, such as the local taverns he often frequented. In addition to these "adventures", Howie’s family disturbed Syl, and she was concerned about Terri being exposed to many of its members.

Howie’s mother, Madelaine, was a very sweet woman on the surface. She was white-haired and wrinkled, with a warm smile and limp. After Syl got to know her, she realized Madelaine rarely smiled. A bitterness was just beneath her honeyed facade. She had raised six children by herself, and resented the responsibility she had been burdened with most of her adult life.

But, it wasn’t over yet. Howie’s youngest sister, Gina, lived with Madelaine, along with her own two children, Kyle and Tina.

There was an unspoken agreement between Madelaine and Gina, that no one else in the family had ever understood. Gina was devoted to Kyle, and wanted to raise him her own way. But she had no use for Tina, and Tina was Madelaine’s to raise. Perhaps Tina reminded her of her failed marriage. Syl, loved Terri more than

anything and could not fathom a mother rejecting her own child. It was not a picture Syl wanted to project to Terri as anywhere near normal.

Gina also distressed Syl in other ways. She had started watching "Dark Shadows" on television, and had gotten very involved with the character Angelique, . Gina was mesmerized by this, and began practicing spells. Some members of the family believed the spells actually worked.

There were other segments of the Roth family Syle didn’t mind as much. Jerome, the oldest brother, and his wife Delores, were loving and kind to Terri. They often spent their weekends watching sports on television, which Syl considered healthy for Terri. Fred, who owned a motel with Howie, and his wife Ruth, were fun-loving, and good parents to their two children. George, the middle brother, was married to Syl’s sister, Catrina. George was in the military, and they were often out of the country, or living in another state. Terri hardly knew them, but Syl trusted them more than anyone else in the family, because of Catrina.

Then there was Martha. Syl’s heart pounded at the idea of Terri being near Martha. For Martha held the deepest, darkest secret the family had, and the thought that she would ever tell Terri was paralyzing.

This morning had been a typical Saturday. Syl never could decide if she enjoyed the peace and quiet of Terri’s absence, or if it just made her feel more alone. Terri knew only that it made her mother grumpy.

Terri awoke early, excited at the prospect of seeing her father. She looked over at Syl, who was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling. "Mummy, why are you sad?" Syl looked into her daughter’s large, soft brown eyes. "I’m just going to miss you." Terri rolled over and hugged Syl as tight as she could. Soon they were hugging and kissing and giggling like two young children.

Then there was a knock at the door. Terri’s eyes glowed with anticipation. Syl’s face moved into a frown as she opened the door. Terri ran past her mother and into her father’s open arms.

Releasing Howie, Terri turned to get her things. Syl began her biweekly lecture. "Now, Howie, don’t take her to any bars this time, all right? She’s far too young, and don’t forget, she wants to ride her new bike."

Howie listened impatiently. "All right, Syl, all right. Terri, are you ready to go? Terri appeared at his side, and they were on their way.

The first stop was a bar Howie was considering purchasing. The owner wanted to retire soon, and when ever Howie stopped in the place was full of customers.

While Howie was talking business and drinking, Terri took a handful of her father’s quarters and played the juke box. As she listened to the music, her eyes wandered to a number of round, slender brass poles. To an adult they would appear to be only a part of the building’s foundation, but in Terri’s young mind they were firemen’s poles, just like she had seen at the local fire department.

Once the thought was in her head, she climbed the closest pole she came to. She was very coordinated, and she went up with ease, sliding down again and again.

Eventually she became bored with sliding, and with the comments of the women who constantly hovered around Howie. They complimented her seeing this as the way to Howie’s heart, or at least his wallet. Terri was disgusted, as no one was good enough for her father except Syl. She didn’t want to be nice to any other woman.

Standing next to the table, she was about to tell off the blond sitting with Howie when her father reached out and grabbed her arm. "Wouldn’t you like to go behind the bar and help Jake?" Jake looked up at the sound of his name. Howie nodded and winked at him. Jake picked up his cue. "Yeah, Terri, why don’t you come back and help me pour some beer? I’m getting too busy to do it all by myself." Terri was fascinated with the idea, and ran over to Jake. Howie breathed a sigh of relief, and turned back to the blond. "Why did you send her away? She’s adorable. I wanted to talk to her. She seems like such a bright little girl."