The Stolen Truck
Lisa had always been the family's anchor, the one who made every house a home. When they moved to Portland for her new teaching job, she was determined to create a fresh start. But when their moving truck was stolen, her carefully planned transition crumbled. In the chaos, the Chen family next door not only offered their guest house but helped track down the truck. As Lisa settled into their new home, she discovered a secret room behind the bookshelf, filled with letters from the 1940s. The letters, written by the previous owner Edith to her sister during the war, told a story of love, loss, and hope that resonated deeply with Lisa. As a history teacher, she became obsessed with finding Edith's descendants, spending months on research that led her to Edith's granddaughter, a famous author living just three blocks away. When the granddaughter arrived at their housewarming party with the other half of the correspondence, Lisa realized that home isn't just a place - it's the stories that connect us across time. The letters, now complete, became the first exhibit in the community history project she started at her new school, turning her personal journey into a way to connect her new community.