With a twist of fate.

"Stchriiiiiip"

"NO !!!!" I let escape in shock.

The front of my t-shirt got stuck in sap and on a few rusted nail while i was bending to get in the hatch. The t-shirt was an old cheap white t-shirt i only used to sleep in, the seams gave up leaving the entire front panel stuck on the tree.

I was left wearing a sort of cloak made of the back, sleeves and collar of my shirt , my entire front is exposed and the back is so short that any quick move or gust of wind will show my ass.

"Laurie! What happened ? Are you hurt?" Asked my mom in a worried tone.

"No mum , i just ripped my shirt on the hatch." I replied in shame knowing she was right to warn me.

"I told you so " she replied "Just find the key, get down and we both will get changed inside the house"

I look around in the tree house my mind teeming with memories of days and nights spent having fun in there with Lisa. I finally spot the old Campbell Soup tin can on the shelf near the window

I pick it up, but find it strangely heavy, looking inside I see it is filled with rain water that turned the various letters , notes and drawings stored in it into a mulched pasted drowned in brown juice.

I spill the whole can on the ground and search in the gross paste for the key until I feel a small hard object under my fingertips.