“Do you know
Mike? He can help you out. He is the key master. If he can’t get the keys right, then no one
can.” My patience was
wearing thin. This was my THIRD (yes,
THIRD) visit to the hardware store to get a copy of my keys. By now, I knew the names of the three people
who had tried unsuccessfully to copy my persnickety keys. By now, they were tired of seeing my face
with the dangling keys on the key ring saying in defeat, “Sorry, it didn’t
work. They key goes in, but it doesn’t
turn. “ On to the fourth try,
I received my refund and headed across the street to this Master Key guy named
Mike. When I walked in, I felt like I
was pulled back in time to some other planet.
Plastered on every single wall, nook, cranny, and crevice were keys,
keys, and more keys. There were some
other sections of safes, key rings, key labels, and also doorknobs, and locks. On the countertop, there was a big basket of
chocolates and candies. I immediately
went for a cherry-flavored Starburst. A thin balding man
with a caterpillar moustache that lifted upwards into a smile greeted me. His pale blue eyes lightened up when I
presented the challenge, “Are you Mike?
Can you make a copy of my keys?
This is the fourth time. I heard
that if anyone can make a copy of my keys that it would be you.” “That is correct!!”
he boasted gleefully, took my keys before I could say anything else, put on
goggles, and traipsed happily to his vibrating key machine. Polished, shiny gold
keys that twinkled in the light were the final product. With a hammer, he engraved his name simply as
“Mike” into the keys. There was not a
single doubt in my mind that the keys would finally work. When I returned home, I gently put one key in
the mailbox and one in the doorknob.
Again, neither key worked. Yelling at the doorknob and mailbox, “What
the heck??” I immediately contacted Mike
who was completely baffled. “That is extremely odd. That can’t be right. Come back again.” On my fifth time and
in this visit Mike, I went for a Twix snack size bar while he examined my keys
in the utmost of scrutiny. He said, “Do
you know I made this mailbox key over 20 years ago? I used to work out of the Ossining
Hardware. I remember making this key.” In mid-chew with
caramel blanketing the roof of my mouth, I said incredulously, “Really?” “Yes. This will work. You will see.
And, if it doesn’t, I’ll come to your place for free to check on the
doorknobs and locks. We will find a way
to get it to work. The thing about keys
is you have to get them just right….you cannot force the key and they have to
just be the right exact fit.” Returning back home, I took a deep breath as I faced off with my mailbox and doorknob. I closed my eyes as I
stuck the keys in, expecting them to get stuck again. Imagine my shock when the keys finally
worked! I couldn’t believe it! I was absolutely elated! Fifth time was the charm! What seemed so simple
to do turned out much too complicated until it was the right person who got it
right for everything to work out. It
often takes many tries until it works out. It is always who you get. There
will be people that will give up on you and easily, and then there will be
people who will keep on going and trying and go the extra mile for you. It never comes easy. There are no shortcuts. It will often take many tries and
tribulations to get it just right and work how it needs to work out. You can never force anything or anyone as it
has to be just the right fit, timing, and circumstances. Even when it isn’t
working out, it is actually making its way to working out. When have you had to
keep on trying and depending on others to get it to work out? When did everything seem like it was falling
apart only to eventually and finally fall into place for you? Keep smilin’
until we meet again, Mary
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