Staying Indoors: Key to History

By Denise DeVries

Staying Indoors is a bonus book that introduces the "Key to History" series, a companion to "Hull Crossing Chronicles." In Staying Indoors, four cousins, ages 10-14, return to their Aunt Lila's house in Hull Crossing, Virginia, expecting to continue their adventures of the previous summer. Instead, their spring break, in March 2020, brings far more than expected, including a guest from 1919.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Denise DeVries
• Release date: Feb 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393572275

Denise DeVries

Denise DeVries is a translator and blogger who lives with her husband, artist Alvaro Ibañez in Virginia, where they are developing a retreat center for the arts. Both of her fictional series, "Hull Crossing Chronicles" and "Key to History" are inspired by the history and rural setting of Virginia's Northern Neck.

Book preview

Chapter One

My cousin Ginger and I stood on Aunt Lila’s front porch waving as the two cars drove away. Ginger’s parents were heading back to Florida and mine were on their way to our home in Arlington, Virginia. The screen door slammed behind us.

Well, Olivia, least your brother stayed until they got in the car, Ginger said. Mine couldn’t wait to unpack. She pushed her short hair off her face. She had dyed it red last summer, but now it was back to the brown that matched her eyes.

Can you blame him? I asked. Let’s go! As we went inside, I continued. I’ll miss my parents, but remember how much fun we had when we were here before?

That’s true. I was worried we wouldn’t be able come for spring break because of the virus.

Me too. Mom was worried about Aunt Lila because of her age.

How old is she? Ginger asked.

At least seventy.

I forgot, whose Aunt is she?

She’s our grandmother’s cousin, but they call her Aunt Lila out of respect.

Aunt Lila told my mom this is the safest place to be in a pandemic, and we can stay as long as we need to.

Let’s go see if she needs help with the breakfast dishes, I said.

Aunt Lila was wiping the counter with her own graceful rhythm. The light lavender fabric of her tunic and pants flowed with her movements. From behind, only her shiny cap of silver hair showed her age.

Everything you do looks like a dance, I said.

Aunt Lila turned and smiled. Thank you. She had been a dancer and painter in Europe and had only returned to Virginia last year.

Ginger asked, Do you need any help?

I just finished, thanks, Aunt Lila. I heard Jake running upstairs earlier, and then Aiden followed a little later. Why don’t you two get unpacked too?

All right, I said. I hugged Aunt Lila around her slender waist. Thank you for inviting us again.

We couldn’t wait to come back! Ginger said.

On our first visit, Aunt Lila had given me an old skeleton key that opened doors to all kinds of adventures. Since we had agreed not to use it unless all four of us were together, meeting in Hull Crossing meant we could use the key again.

Where are Pumpkin and Pie? Ginger asked. Aunt Lila had gotten two female kittens last summer. Pumpkin was orange and Pie was a tabby.

They always hide when people come in, Aunt Lila said. After they get used to hearing your voices, they’ll come back out.

I can’t wait to see them, I said. They must have gotten big.

They’re considered full grown now. Pie still gets into everything, but Pumpkin usually just looks around for the sunniest spot and naps. She gets annoyed when Pie tries to get her to play.

Is that normal? Ginger asked.

They were both fine at their annual checkup. They just have different personalities.

Like you and Jake, I said. Or me and Aiden.

Ginger nod

By the time we had all finished unpacking and gathered in the kitchen, a gusty wind had come up. It looks like you’ll need to stay inside, Aunt Lila told us. She pointed out the window. See those clouds? We’re about to get some rain.

My brother Aiden said, I’m worried about using that key now. His brows drew together over his bright blue eyes. I wish I had blue eyes too, or brown ones like Jake and Ginger, but mine are just sort of khaki like my hair.

Jake asked, Why shouldn’t we go?

What if we take this virus to the past? We could change history!

Ginger said, If none of us have been exposed, we can’t take it with us. Right, Aunt Lila?

Aunt Lila’s gray eyes crinkled with her smile. It’s very responsible of you to think of it. Were you careful with hygiene while you were traveling?

We all nodded.

I think it will be fine. But you won’t be able to leave the house until this storm is over.

Is it all right if we explore the attic again? Ginger asked.

Yes, that’s fine, Aunt Lila said. After you left in August, I didn’t make much progress up there. Let me know if you see anything interesting.

I brought my own flashlight, Jake said. He ran off to get it.

I held up my wrist. I still have that watch you gave me. What time should we be back? I had learned that the key transported us to the same day and hour in a different year, and time flowed at the same rate.

Let’s say 1:30, Aunt Lila said.

Come on, you two, Aiden said. Let’s get going.

Enjoy yourselves, Aunt Lila said. I’ll be in my studio if you need me. She had a suite on the ground floor with a studio for her art and dancing. The bedroom was small, but it had its own bathroom.

Ginger and I went upstairs, past our bedrooms, to the end of the hall where Aiden was lowering the attic steps from the ceiling. He was the first one to enter the attic. I’ll turn on the light at the top of the steps, he offered. He pulled out his phone and said, I’m going to go into that dark corner I noticed last summer. This should give me good light.

Ginger and I followed him up. Is it ok that we’re not waiting for Jake? I asked.

He never waits, Ginger said. She went over to a big trunk. Last time we couldn’t open this because there were boxes on top of it. Let’s see what’s in here.

A moment later, Jake came up the attic steps. Where’s Aiden? Aunt Lila gave me another flashlight. A single swinging bulb cast flickering light over the attic, leaving large sections in shadow.

Aiden’s voice came from somewhere in the dark. Hey, guys! I found a secret passage! Come back here!

Jake aimed his flashlight in the direction of Aiden’s voice. Where are you? All I see are boxes.

Go left and come around the last stack of crates. They make a kind of wall. If you look to the right, you should be able to see my light.

Ginger took off the gigantic purple hat she was wearing. I don’t think I can get around very well with this on. Come on, Cuz, let’s go see that secret passage, she said.

I removed a hoop skirt and laid it on top of the pile of clothes where I’d found it. "Too bad we didn’t find this last summer. We could have used these. I closed the chest.

Ginger said, "We’d better