Secrets are the Best Currency

Lillian Gates has a secret.

The thing about secrets is that once more than one person knows, you can’t control where that secret goes. Secrets are unwieldy, slimy creatures. They slip out of your mouth unless you have an iron nail stuck to the end of their tails. Hold the nail snug under your tongue – it’s the best way to keep a secret close, but not let it escape.

All of this to say, you know Lillian Gates’ secret. And she knows you know.

What she doesn’t know is that secrets are as good a currency as memories. Sometimes even better.

Lillian Gates works at the library at a computer with two screens, one for books people are borrowing and the other for books more likely to borrow people.

Lillian Gates is not a witch. Not at all, merely curious, she tells you. But still, she’s scared. Most good secrets inspire fear.

So she gives you extra time to return your books when they’re overdue, and asks you every so often if you’ve told anyone.

Of course you have. But you tell her, no.

Secrets are as good a currency as memories, after all.

Those who know will keep quiet.