Stories

It was the "between times"—that period after my first four years in the Army and after the divorce. It was a lean year with no money, a constant struggle to make ends meet, and a job at Motion Industries that I absolutely hated. Moving back in with my parents only added to the feeling that I was a complete failure.

Then, I met Kady.

From the very first day we met, we were together every single day. However, we had precious little time alone, usually spending our evenings with friends. One particular day was going to be different; she and I planned to meet at my parents' house in Huffman one evening after work. In case she arrived before I did, she would need my key. I told her I would hide it outside for her. Because Huffman was already in decline, I didn’t want to use an obvious spot like under the doormat.

I scouted the front and back of the house, but there wasn't a decent hiding spot. I checked the garage for inspiration, looking for something she would spot easily. That’s when I noticed my brother’s basket of old tennis balls in the corner. I’ll hide it under a tennis ball.

I set the basket by the front door to block my path so I wouldn’t forget it on my way out the next morning. I called Kady and told her, "The key will be under the tennis ball in the front yard." When she arrived, she didn't find a single ball waiting for her, but forty of them scattered across the front yard.

She searched until she finally found the key, and to her credit, she was still there when I got home.