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computer, and I showed everyone.
    â€œSee? There are plenty of things you can do when someone gets forgetful—it’s only a matter of trying.”
    â€œOh, Cosmo, my love,” was the completely useless thing that Granny Deedee said then. And she came over to me with her arms stretched out like a zombie, and then she gave me a hug, which was something I was not particularly in the mood for. She held me by my shoulders very gently and she said, “Darling, there are thousands of things in this world that we’ll never be able to understand or control. There are things you have to accept, things you have to believe are happening for a reason, even if it’s not something anyone can explain.”
    She loved saying things like that, about us not being able to understand things. And then she was all like, “Look, I know this has all been very difficult for you.” She went on with the exact same kinds of things that Uncle Ted had said earlier, about “learning to accept” and “coming to terms” and “the natural order of things.”
    â€œComing to terms” with something is another way of saying “giving up.” I wasn’t going to do that. I would never do that. And besides, action number four of the Memory Cure website said:
    Negative thoughts are the enemies of brain health. Adopt a positive mental attitude at all times.
    When I finally did go in to say good-bye, Granddad was lying on his side with both hands pressed together under his cheek.
    His eyes were closed and he was snoring a little bit. I put my hand on his head.
    â€œGranddad. Granddad. I’m really sorry, but I have to go. They think it’s better if I stay with Uncle Ted for a while.”
    And it might sound a bit pathetic, but I kind of kept patting his head and I kept on not wanting to leave him. I didn’t think he was going to wake up.
    But then his eyes opened. He grabbed my hand very tightly and he looked at me, alert and bright and focused, and he whispered:
    â€œCosmo. It’s you!”
    I wanted to run out to them all. I wanted to shout, “SEE? See, everyone. He knows who I am. My system is working. He hasn’t forgotten me.”
    I told him that I didn’t want to leave, that I had planned to stay here with him and Gran.
    My granddad used to say that the best way to make the gods laugh was to tell them your plans. He reminded me about that in his room that day, and then he chuckled away and I was sure then that he was going to get back to being his old self completely. But there wasn’t time to go and explain it to anyone, because then he was saying something else:
    â€œListen to me, Cosmo. You must listen to me very, very carefully. There’s something I have to tell you. Something important. I’m only going to say it once.
    â€œHere’s the thing: I know my mind is failing. And I know you’ve been doing your best, but there’s only one thing that can help me now.”
    â€œWhat is it, Granddad?” I asked, my voice trembling a little bit.
    â€œIt’s a key, Cosmo. It’s going to help you find the answer to everything, and I’m going to give it to you. You’re the only person I could possibly trust with it. You must promise to use it carefully. It’s a key to the gates.”
    â€œWhat gates?”
    â€œThe south gates.”
    â€œThe south gates of what?”
    â€œOf the Abbey.”
    â€œWhat abbey?”
    â€œBlackbrick Abbey, of course.”
    He reached his brown twisted hand over to a small box that had always, as far as I could remember, sat on his bedside table. He fumbled and scrabbled around a bit before he opened the box and took something out.
    â€œHere,” he said, holding up this small, gray, dented thing. It took a good bit of looking carefully at it before I realized it must’ve been the key he’d been talking about.
    â€œOpen the gates with it. Make sure you lock