Secrets

It's no secret that I save everything written letters, receipts...everything. "It's important!" Might be. Rereading letters brings people back into active memories. Receipts entitle one to a refund. Things like that. I keep all safe. Secret. Why? None of your beeswax.

'The secret to love' is no secret; the phrase tells us a common characteristic will be discussed. 'The secret ingredient' is also no secret; the cliché lets us know the importance of a specific ingredient. 'Can you keep a secret?' Aye, that's the rub. Relationships hang on this not-uncommon question which is quite different from the other examples.

"Keeping a secret" means keeping information hidden from others. The person asking fears loss of status or stature, reputation or regard if the secret becomes openly known.

Example. Years back, I was talking with a favorite aunt about a recent topic in our letters. She made an offhand remark about tossing old letters. "Oh, no," I countered. "I keep them all!" She quickly stated, "You can't do that. If something happened to you and others read these letters, people would be hurt." I promised to destroy the packet of letters and did so.

However, the conversation stuck in my head, and this anthology titled "Secrets" has brought it back to the fore.

Clearly, what is secret to one is not secret to another. Context rules.

As you read through these stories and essays, you will face many examples of secrets and the secrecy in which they are revealed. You may say, "No big deal." That's you. Consider the shoes you are walking in and ask: who is that person protecting; what is at stake; what could be lost, and what could be gained?

I could save you some time and tell you right now. But I won't. It's a secret.