Valentina
Maggie hurled the sledgehammer into the wall as hard as she could, releasing a cascade of dust and fragments that caused her to hack and choke. She tied a bandana over her mouth, determined to finish the job. Raising the hammer again, she struck the crumbling drywall, widening the hole to reveal the studs and sheets on the opposite side. Satisfied, she reached in and loosened a section held by only one nail, tossing it to the ground. When the dust settled, she peered more closely at the crossbeam in disbelief. Between the walls, three items were stored, a brown glass jug, a rusted teaspoon, and a faded Red Rose coffee tin from the early 1950s. She had heard stories about workers leaving their lunches in the walls, but this house had been built by her great-grandfather, so Maggie suspected it was no accident those treasures were secreted away.