Diary of a King

The day started like any other Thursday morning: alarm clock blaring, birds chirping, breeze at my window. I sit up in my bed, stretch like a grizzly awakening from a past winter’s slumber, and rest my feet on the cold tiles in my bedroom. As I make my way to the bathroom for that glorious morning pee, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

“Good morning handsome,” as I say to myself every morning, as part of my doctor-prescribed affirmations.

I’m actually not that handsome, more along the lines of ‘very good-looking’. Needless to say, I have the confidence of a GQ bachelor. I got that from my grandmother, God rest her soul. She used to tell me that I had the spirit of a king within me. “You’re crazy Grandmommy,” was my usual response. But she wasn’t crazy. My grandmother was wise. In fact, she was the wisest and most insightful person I’d ever met.

She raised me when my mom and dad passed away, and instilled such a confidence in me that I couldn’t shake, even if I wanted to. She’s the “doctor” that prescribed the affirmations I say every morning. Ha, she was many things for me — a doctor, a therapist, a mechanic and a best friend.

I can see her now, with her beautifully-aged face saying things like, “The world is yours for the taking, and when you’re ready, it will all be clear to you.” She told me that often. Or my favorite quote of all, “Women will throw themselves at your feet.” Ha! If only that were true, Grandmommy, if only. I really miss her, but I know she’s with my parents watching over me.

The tea kettle whistles and I start toward the kitchen, checking my phone messages. *DING DING* My phone buzzes with a calendar reminder that tomorrow’s my birthday. The big 2-5. I wonder what Gina has planned for me. Gina’s my girlfriend of three years. We connected instantly and have been inseparable ever since. Every year, she surprises me with the most elaborate gifts. Gina loves surprises! Last year, she got us court-side tickets to a Chicago Bulls game. At half time, the team came out and sang happy birthday, which got the entire arena involved. It was the best! She’s the best, hands down. I still don’t know how she pulled that off.

But this year, boy do I have a surprise for her; I’m going to propose this weekend and she has no idea. My grandmother left me this lovely emerald ring in the shape of an Egyptian Queen. Gina’s going to lose her mind when I put it on her finger.

*DING DING* It’s my phone again. This time, it’s my good friend Josh, in a tizzy as he always is. We’ve known each other since the 6th grade. His text read, “Danton’s asking for you, man. She needs those plans for the Richards account on her desk by the end of the day.”

“Tell her she’ll have them before lunch!” I reply, as I straighten my tie, pleased with today’s ensemble.

I’ve been at my architecture firm for the last four years. I started interning there with Josh during my junior year at Columbia. I’m on track for a raise and this account is going to solidify that, and maybe even a promotion. One last glance in the mirror . . . “Yeah, I’m the Man.” Grandmommy didn’t teach me that one, but I like it.

The air in the office is surprisingly light. The ever-looming heaviness of deadlines, budgets and “who burned the popcorn” seems to have lifted just slightly. My boss is even cheerful. She’s never cheerful, like, ever. I get to my office and there’s a folded note sitting atop my drafting table that reads, “When you’re ready.” I flip it over and there’s an address.

“What is this?” I ask myself aloud.

“Hey Josh, did you see anyone at my desk today?” Curious about the origin of this note.

“Danton was there looking for you earlier,” Josh replied from behind the glass wall of his office.

Well, I guess this little mystery will have to wait until after lunch. I finally finished the plans for the Richards account and handed them to Mrs. Danton after packing my briefcase. I took another look at that address and realized it was a place my grandmother used to take me — an old fire station that was converted into a library. She would let me slide down the pole, and I’d be in complete bliss. There were even old fire fighter hats that we could play with.

I arrive at the library and all of the feelings I had as a child came rushing back. I can literally smell my grandmother’s perfume. I can feel her hand clenching mine as we made our way down the street. I can hear all the sounds of those times and a tear escapes my eye. I enter the library and sit at her favorite table. It’s just like when I was a child. Nothing had changed, and I was pleased.

“Hello Mr. Palmer,” said a soft voice from behind the counter.

“Do you remember me?” the lady asked.

“Yes, I remember you; Miss Dorothy, right?” I asked nervously.

“You have a great memory, Mr. Palmer,” Dorothy exclaimed.

“It seems that everything about this place is coming back to me all of a sudden,” I stated.

“Your grandmother and I were really good friends. She actually left something for you in the event of her...” Dorothy says, drifting off into silence.

“I understand how you feel. I have those same feelings often. What exactly did she leave for me?” I was certain that I had inherited everything she owned, seeing as how I helped draft her will.

“She made preparations for your coming of age and I made a promise to make sure you received this,” Dorothy said, as she placed a shoe box-sized metal container on the table. “The contents of this box are for your eyes only, Mr. Palmer.”

“How do I even open this thing?” I think to myself. Fiddling with the handles, I try desperately to unlock it, but to no avail.

“What’s this on the front of it?” inquiring of the darling Dorothy.

“Well, since I don’t see a key hole, I suppose that’s how you open it,” Dorothy adds. There was an indentation etched inside of a circle holding the locked latch in place.

“I’ve seen this shape somewhere before,” I spout. “Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help. I’m going to get this home to see if that shape comes back to me.” Dorothy looks on as I scoop up the box and make my exit.

“Remember, it’s for your eyes only,” Dorothy shouts, waving as I exit the library.

The whole car ride home I couldn’t manage to free my eyes from the entrancing nature of this box. What mysteries could lie in wait after all these years? I place my briefcase on the dinner table and dart toward my bedroom to find that missing piece. “Where have I seen that shape before?” I thought to myself as I scratch my head in bewilderment. *DING DING* my phone goes off. It’s Gina asking about my birthday dinner tomorrow.

“Let’s go to that Ethiopian place you love, downtown,” I respond.

If she had her way, she would eat there every night; and that’s where I’m going to propose to her. She’s going to flip when she sees the ring.

“THAT’S IT!” I shout in triumph. “It’s the ring. That’s the shape I had seen before.”

Vaulting over the bed in sheer excitement, I open my nightstand. The red box, holding the key to this mystery, sat atop my favorite book. Without hesitation, I open it and sure enough, it matches that indentation exactly.

“Here goes nothing,” I whispered nervously.

With a turn of my wrist, the latch opens. The squeaky hinges on the container gave me chills. The contents of the box are few: a little black book, a key, and a letter. I thumbed through the black book as if I knew what I was looking for.

I grabbed the letter and read it to myself: “My dear handsome grandson, if you’re reading this, it means that I have passed on. You have a task ahead of you that I know you’re prepared for. Your whole life has been leading to this moment. Once you have found your Queen, and have placed the ring, two will become one. Take the key and the little black book and go to the bank written on the back of this letter. There, you will find a safety deposit box with your next set of instructions.” I sink into my bed as if my body weighs a ton.

“What does all of this mean?” I ask myself as I drift into the best sleep I’d gotten in a while.

I arose the next morning with a newfound feeling of excitement.

“Good morning handsome,” I said to myself while wiping the shower’s condensation from the mirror.

I get dressed in my favorite blue suit and my birthday tie and head to the bank. There’s no time to waste. I’m greeted by the bank manager after asking for access to the safety deposit boxes.

“Hello Mr. Palmer, I’ve been expecting you,” said the tall, slender gentleman.

I follow him to a room of boxes, filled with what I could only imagine are priceless riches.

“Here is your box, Mr. Palmer,” the manager says, while using his key to unlock the first lock.

He exits the room and I quickly shove my key into the tumbler. I felt like Indiana Jones unlocking a vault and finding hidden treasure. There’s a blue jewelry box on top of a stack of maps. I open the box to reveal a second emerald ring in the shape of another figure, similar to Gina’s. There’s an engraving on the inside that reads “When you’re ready.”

“Her note said to place the ring. Did she mean this ring or the ring I had before? I’m so confused.”

I sat it aside and slowly removed the other items: 5 maps, another letter and what looks like $20,000 in cash. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tearing open the envelope, I begin to read my grandmother’s words.

“You have made it to the beginning of the most important task of your life. The ring inside this box is yours, and shall be worn upon completion of this letter. The ring I left for you in my will, shall be placed on the finger of your Queen. Go to the location marked on the map, and there you will find your true self. The world is now yours for the taking. Once you place the ring on your finger, it will all be clear to you. I love you, my dear grandson.”

Wow! This is unreal. While examining the ring, it pulses and sends a shock throughout my body, and I recoil immediately.

“What is this thing?” Every bit of logic and reason escapes me.

Finally mustering up the courage, I slide the heirloom onto my finger. What happens next is something from a fairy tale. It’s like my spirit left my body and traveled to a distant land. I was dressed like an Egyptian Pharaoh and Gina was next to me wearing a gold crown and mulberry silk robes. We sat on golden thrones and there were people bowing at our feet. I look to my right and I see . . . ”Grandmommy!” I shout. I’m jolted back to reality by the bank manager.

“Mr. Palmer, are you ok?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” I respond. Gathering all the items and placing them in my briefcase, I quickly dial Gina’s number. “Hey babe, stop whatever you’re doing and meet me at the Ethiopian spot. Boy, do I have a surprise for you.”