Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. Can it be? It can’t be. (Click title for first part, Trapped…?)
I release the hook to the trap door and let it slam hard on the fingers of the person who’d been knocking below my feet on the secret door.
“Ow!” the deep voice growled. “Karen, open the door!”
I stand on the half of the oriental rug that is folded near the newly found trap door. All those years of living in this house, first as a child and then returning over a year ago after my mom passed, I’d always considered this cozy abode a haven, a place to escape the chaos of the outside world. As a children’s book author, I made up fantastical stories for the young, who allowed their imaginations to roam in undiscovered lands.
But now, I’ve just discovered that there’s more to this home than a refuge and a writing retreat. Could I even stay here when ….?
“Karen! Open up! I never knew about this tunnel between our homes until 30 minutes ago. I swear! But you’ll never guess why it’s here.”
Should I trust my neighbor Bill? He certainly seemed like a nice guy. In the past year since mom died and I returned, he’s shoveled the driveway, introduced me to his sister who’s become a friend, and taken me out to dinner – twice. A spark developed, but I’m a loner and have been tamping down the temptation for ignition.
Maybe I should call 911. Or, maybe I should believe in my instincts and listen to the sweet thumping of my heart.
I pull on the hook and open the trap door.
Bill’s relieved face adds a smile as he pulls himself up onto the hallway’s wood floor. “Underground,” he pants.
“What?”
“Our homes were part of the underground railroad! I knew that escaped slaves had been hidden in the town’s neighborhoods, but never suspected they were built under our homes!”
Bill jumps up, rather sprightly for a 50-year-old, and I step back, exclaiming, “You’ve known for days though! Why’d you knock and keep me in the dark?”
Bill shakes his head. “Not me.” Then he shouts down into the darkness below the trap door. “Joey!”
An impish 10-year-old face appears at the opening of the floor. “Sorry Ms. Cavanaugh,” he says, not looking the slightest bit sorry. “My brother and I found a trap door in our house two days ago, and we followed it to Bill’s cellar, and then your mom’s – er, your – house. We knocked, not to scare you, but, ummm, to see if it would open.”
I plop down on the floor next to Bill. “We’ve got history underneath us!” I exclaim. And with a leap of my heart, I turn to Bill and hug him tightly.
Ignition activated.
(The end. But not for Karen and Bill.)
Thank you to all who commented in the first half of Trapped? Such fabulous, original and unique guesses! I planned on using some of the ideas when I wrote the ending to the story, but instead, Karen and Bill (and Joey) whispered the ending of the trap door mystery as my pen moved. I was hoping for a genie or gnome, a bank robber mom, an evil Bill, or even Karen’s deepest darkest secrets knocking to get out (thanks to bloggers like Nicki (Behind the Story), Marcia (The Write Stuff); Diana (Myths of the Mirror), Linda (Articulation) and so many more. But, the winner of a copy of my book, Flashes of Life, goes to Bernadette of New Classic Recipe for her supposition that the knocking was Karen’s “mother’s old alarm clock set to go off every day with a note reminding Karen to enjoy every minute of the brief time we spend on earth.” May we all hear that knocking in the trap door of our minds!
A super ending! I love it. Bernadette deserved to win the book as her suggestion was excellent. All the best to Karen, Bill and Joey. And of course to the brilliant author. xo
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Yay! I’m so glad you like the ending. I’m never quite sure how it’s going to happen but it always does, thank goodness. 😅
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I love your ending. So funny and sweet. Thank you for the shout out and I will enjoy every page of your book.❤️
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Congrats Bernadette! I’ll leave my e-mail address in a comment on your blog, and if you e-mail me with your address, I’ll send the softback copy. 🙂
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Now that is a more than satisfying ending! Love that there is history (and a potential new future) in this!
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I had not planned on that ending, but Joey didn’t give me a choice. I guess in the back of my mind was the fact that in our New England towns there are a number of hidden spots in the older homes for escaped slaves. Exciting to see on house tours!
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I love that – when our characters makes our decisions for us!
Was wonderful.
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the first part of Trapped? I missed Pam but have now read it! A delightful second part … may the adventures continue!
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Thank you so much for going back and reading part one and then part two! I like to be just as surprised as the readers with how the ending develops. Many thanks for your comment! 🙏💙
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Well that was fun, Pam. For a minute there, I expected a children’s book character or muse to be waiting to tell her a story, but your ending actually made sense! That would make a great children’s book, wouldn’t it? Love these challenges. 😀 Happy Writing!
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As you may know, here in southern New England several of the homes include secret spaces that were built for escaped slaves. I guess that knowledge came out from the secret spaces in my mind as I wrote the ending! 😳 Yes it would be a great children’s book. It just so happens that yesterday my nine-year-old grandson was here all day and he insisted I start writing my third children’s book with him. But no hidden trap doors in the next one. 🙃
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🙂 How sweet, Pam. Perhaps he will co-author. Lol
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May we all hear that knocking in the trap door of our minds!
Now THAT is a blessing like none other. I wondered how this story would end, but I never saw this coming… nor did Karen.
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That is a wonderful blessing isn’t it! If we just are reminded with a little knock each day to enjoy every moment of our time here on earth. 💚
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This is a GREAT ending (new beginning?) to the story. The Underground Railroad, who would have thunk? This is one of my favorite stories you’ve ever written. xoxoxo
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Wow! Thank you Kathy. I forgot that I knew (!!) that there are a number of secret spaces in the towns around here in New England that were built for escaped slaves. I’m so glad it came up as I wrote about Joey Bill and Karen. Xo
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I’m happy and relieved at how the mystery turned out! May their hearts go pitter-patter for many years. There were some fun guesses from the community. Thanks Pam!
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I love the guesses from the blogging community and they were much more unique than mine. But then again, there really are secret trap doors to underground tunnels and spaces for escaped slaves in my neighborhood here. Pretty cool!
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Wow. The tunnels sound fun Pam. Have you explored any of them?
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I’ve explored the houses, but most of the secret places are boarded up now – safety reasons. :-0
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I love where your creative mind takes you, Pam! Loved this! xo
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Many many thanks for always supporting wherever my creative mind takes me and my readers! Xo
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I’m sure your mother knew about that tunnel! Your creative mind found it without her help. Bonus: Bill and Joey!
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😀 Thanks Jeanette!
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Of course, I love this ending with its history and touch of romance, too. Fabulous, Pam!
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Yay! Thank you thank you. I found out that in the deep corners of my mind was the knowledge that there are a lot of secret tunnels and places for escaped slaves here in southern New England homes. I’m so glad Joey reminded me! 😁
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You’re welcome!😊 I was wondering if it was based on any place you knew.
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Hi Pam, So good to get this, as I’ve been thinking of you in these times that have gotten even stranger with the horrors in Ukraine…. Best wishes, Debbie
Sent from my iPhone
>
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So glad you’re still getting my blog posts and still reading them. 🤓 Cheers to you Debbie.
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This is awesome! I was afraid for Karen at first, but that Bill is a good guy and Joey is up for the adventure of it all. I love the historical aspect of your story, too, Pam. It would thrill me to discover my house was part of the Underground Railroad. Alas, we are built on a slab. 😦
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Oh dear. Slab would not do. But there are a lot of old wooden Victorian homes around this area that did have secret spaces for escaped slaves. Great part of history! So glad Joey discovered them again! 😀
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How intriguing! They had to be somewhere…
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Yes! A lot of homes like that actually around this area of southern New England. I’m glad Joey reminded me of them!
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A great ending. Thanks, Pamela.
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Thanks John! 😎
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Very good Pam, very well delivered.
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Thank you Roy! That means a lot. 😁
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I love the budding romance, and that the kids discovered the underground railroad! Great surprise! Xo
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I was as surprised as you when I wrote it. But then I remembered that there are many homes like that in this area. A lot of people in New England wanted to rescue the escaping slaves. Great history!
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Somehow I missed the first part of this story, but now I’m all caught up. I love it!! I’m so happy for Karen and Bill and Joey and his brother! What a find. ❤
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Thank you thank you for reading part one as well as part two. I am in the middle of your Cape May mystery and enjoying every page. Learning a lot too!
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Well, I didn’t see that coming. History and romance buried in a tunnel, one that connects past, present, and possibly future.
You are amazing, Pam. Thanks for this! I wonder if a Part 3 is in the works. 😀
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Who knew I could find romance in a trap door? I’m a true romantic so I guess I can find it anywhere. 🙂 Thanks so much Marian. No part 3 – I’m tunneled out. Hmmm, what’s up next? My muse will tell me, hopefully. xo
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A satisfying resolution with a hint of mystery about the future. I remembered enjoying Part 1 of this story two weeks ago. Could anything be more exciting than discovering a piece of history below your house?
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Thanks Pete. So much of history is still covered up, literally and figuratively. The older I get, the more enthralled I am with history. After all, at some point, the way we live will be “history” as well. Thus, I have dozens of photo albums. Ha! 🙂
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This is a great ending!
I don’t know how wide the tunnel was, but it’s a good thing your character opened the door. A grown man might have had a hard time turning around in there and going back.
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Good point Nicki! That would have been another type of story if Bill got “stuck” and no one let him out! ;-0 🙂
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Brilliant ending! And I love Bernadette’s guess as well. It’s a great reminder to us all!
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I know, Bernadette’s response was so poetic and spiritual. I loved it and am going to try and keep it in mind every day. xo
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I love how this turned out! Not a scary ending, but one that is brings everyone together. Beautifully done, Pam 🙂
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Thank you, Mabel! I truly did not know the ending. I was so glad when Bill turned out to be a “good guy” and Joey discovered the secrets underneath their homes. Here’s to history unfolding. xo
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How fun that would be to find trap doors in our houses. Growing up we had a big hole in our cellar with a huge piece of wood covering it. My mother used to tell us it was a hole that went to China. We believed her and never took the cover off by ourselves. Your story brought up that scary memory from long ago.
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Smiling at your memories, Cheryl. “A hole to China …” Ha! And as children, the things we believed! Here’s to taking the covers off of secret places…. ❤
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I loved this!
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Yay! So glad you enjoyed the ending of the trap door story. 🙂
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You are welcome! 🙂
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Good ending . . . and beginning!
One door closes . . . and a trap door opens!
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You got it, Nancy. Good endings always include good beginnings …. at the end. 🙂 ❤
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What a perfect ending to a perfect beginning!!! I LOVED it!
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Thank you thank you, Marlene. So glad you enjoyed my little “trap” of a story. 🙂 xo to you
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Fantastic story with a great surprise. I’m glad it wasn’t Chuckie!
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haha. No Chuckie involved in this mystery. Thank goodness! 🙂
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Although it wasn’t the ending I was expecting, I loved it!
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Thank you, Ann., I know! It wasn’t the ending I expected either. I really wanted to include a genie in there. But the characters led the way, and how cool to discover part of the Underground Railroad. It’s a part of history that’s rarely seen except here in the northeast of America. ❤
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That’s a very sweet ending! I like that your stories whisper their endings to you. I also do not object to it not being a scary ending. Look forward to the next!
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Oh, I so appreciate your comment and how you chose your words. I’m not a “scary story” reader either. And yes, that’s exactly how it is; the characters whisper in my writing ear. Thanks SO much for reading. ❤
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Oh love it Pam…. Much better than finding a rat or mouse Lol… and I feel the story may well not end there LOL… Romancing the Tunnel… lol… instead of Romancing the Stone.. 🙂
Great Story… ❤
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Oh! I wish I had thought of that title, Sue. YES, “Romancing the Tunnel” is perfect 🙂 Many thanks. xo
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👍😄💕
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I love the ending! It was quite unexpected. Marvellous post 🧡
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Many thanks. Sometimes unexpected endings (that lead to beginnings) are sweeter than what we THINK we want. 🙂
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Yes they are! Have a lovely week.
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Wow! This would make a *great* TV episode… in some sort of series?!
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Wouldn’t it though? “The Tunnel Watchers,” or some such thing. 🙂 Many thanks for enjoying.
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Unseen but very real forces helped to bring your tale to its excellent conclusion. I salute you and those forces!
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I believe in these “forces” in real life, as well as when I put pen to paper. It’s rather startingly wonderful. MANY thanks for your comment, and for reading.
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I love the ending, Pam. What adventures can be had in those tunnels, and what stories they will tell of days past.
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So true, Norah. I’ve visited some when I’ve taken house tours, like at the Orchard House, which is where Louisa May Alcott (Little Women) lived and wrote her book.
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Wow! That would have been very special to visit there, Pam.
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Awwww …. I love Bernadette’s answer. I’d give her the book, too!
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Great minds think alike. 🙂 ❤
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Clever ending Pam. You always come up with intriguiging follow up endings. Loved the underground railroad idea. ❤
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Thank you thank you. I started writing the sequel thinking of gnomes, but Joey got inside my head and showed me the Underground Railroad. I love it when that happens. 🙂
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Wow! Such an interesting article and I enjoyed your writing. Thank you for sharing 😊
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So glad you enjoyed. Many thanks for your comment.
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You’re welcome 🙏
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Loved the ending! And what a brilliant discovery to make. 😀
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Thanks so much! Yes, I love discoveries like these that have real-life possibilities. There still are lots of Underground Railroads (tunnels/secret spots) in some of the U.S. northeast older homes, although most have been closed off for safety reasons. ❤
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A piece of history. 🙂
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This is a super fun story with a lovely ending, Pam. Brilliant! You never know how helpful the underground railroad tunnel is until we need it. I was amazed so many Ukrainians hid in the WWII bomb shelters underground.
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Nice way to make connections with our US history, my fictional story, and present-day horrors, Miriam. Yes, thank goodness for those WWII bomb shelters. May Ukrainians find a way to stay save, survive, and live to rebuild their country.
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It was sad to hear some old folks survived WWII, only died at this Ukraine war.
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Great way to end the story. I like your version much better than mine. Although I was thinking the kitty had some way of getting into the basement she was unaware of. 😉
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Thank goodness all kitties are safe in Karen’s neighborhood. Well, unless they find the underground railroad! ;-0 🙂
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Really enjoyed that the tunnel was for the Underground Railroad!
Also – the closing reminder is something we all need to hear again and again
“to enjoy every minute of the brief time we spend on earth.””
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I know! Bernadette’s reminder was a wonder and a special reminder. ❤
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🙂
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Also – not sure if you heard that “a Karen” is a type of person these days – and so it was nice to read that name with a nice Karen
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Oh, I forgot about that. A couple of weeks ago my daughter called a company (that charged her twice) so she complained, and her teenage daughter told her mom that she was “a Karen.” Eye roll. I feel badly for all the Karens out there.
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Yeah – me too
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It’s great to read this ending, Pam. Congratulations to Bernadette.
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Thanks, Robbie!
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❤️❤️
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Dear Pam,
you are so gifted. your writing is engaging, riveting, playful and fun. I love it!
You truly build your characters to entertain through and through all the way to the end. Bravo! 👏👏💖
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Awww, thanks Cindy. You just made this writer glow. xoxo
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A very unexpected and satisfying ending Pam!
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