It was time to clean out the attic.

 Yay..?



 I reached up to pull down the ladder and nervously climbed up, pulling myself into the attic.

 The attic was dark and creepy, I hated this place. 

  I reached down and picked up a box of old clothes then very carefully went back down the ladder.

 After a few trips, I noticed an envelope in a box of old toys.

 I set the box down then crouched and plucked the envelope out of it, it was addressed to my mother. My heart stopped, I felt like it was important. 

 I opened it and pulled out the letter inside of it

 After I unfolded it my eyes darted across the paper.







 Dear Emma,





 I hope you are doing well, but I have a message. I feel as though I’m close to death, I need you to know that your child will be the one who shows you this letter, who finds what I have hidden.

 Ten steps toward the house from the tree in the backyard and three feet down, I know you will like what you find there.

-Sincerely, your mother, Jessie

 I lowered the paper, confused.

 The letter must have been mailed; if so, then how did it make it to the attic of my house?

 The house used to belong to my mother, but she had given it to me when I turned eighteen. 

 I knew I had to keep cleaning the attic, but curiosity overcame me and I abandoned the letter and the boxes, grabbed a shovel from my garage and headed out to the backyard.

 A huge tree was in around the middle of my backyard. 

 I put my back to the bark of the tree, facing the back of my house.

 “One,”

 “Two,”

 “Three,”

 “Four,”

 “Five,”

 “Six,”

 “Seven,”

 “Eight,”

 “Nine,”

 “Ten!”

 I stopped and started digging.

 After awhile, my shovel hit something.

 Crouching down, I swept away the rest of the dirt covering the top of a trunk.

 My heart pounding, I opened it to see actual. Solid. Gold. Coins.

 I reached over and pinched my arm, I was awake.

 Sudden ideas flooded my mind.

 I could use this to help orphans and homeless people.

 I could finally buy that expensive car I’ve been wanting.

 I could- no- I should split this with my mother, the letter was addressed to her. 

 Smiling, I pulled out my phone and called her.