The Secret Door at Work
The Secret Door at Work
When Emma discovers a mysterious door hidden behind the old filing cabinet at her office, she never imagines that opening it will lead to the most extraordinary adventure of her life. What lies beyond this secret entrance will change everything she thought she knew about her boring workplace.
Maya worked at a big airplane factory.
Maya worked at a big airplane factory.
She loved her job fixing the giant metal birds that flew people around the world.
She loved her job fixing the giant metal birds that flew people around the world.
Every day, she checked engines, wings, and wheels to make sure everything was perfect.
Every day, she checked engines, wings, and wheels to make sure everything was perfect.
One morning, Maya found something strange.
One morning, Maya found something strange.
A small door was open in the wall of her workshop.
A small door was open in the wall of her workshop.
She had walked past this wall every day for three years, but she had never seen this door before.
She had walked past this wall every day for three years, but she had never seen this door before.
"That's weird," Maya said to herself.
"That's weird," Maya said to herself.
She looked left and right.
She looked left and right.
No one was watching.
No one was watching.
She opened the door wider and stepped inside.
She opened the door wider and stepped inside.
The room was dark and dusty.
The room was dark and dusty.
Old boxes filled every corner.
Old boxes filled every corner.
Maya turned on her phone's flashlight.
Maya turned on her phone's flashlight.
The boxes had labels with dates from many years ago.
The boxes had labels with dates from many years ago.
She opened the first box and gasped.
She opened the first box and gasped.
Inside were airplane parts that looked broken and twisted.
Inside were airplane parts that looked broken and twisted.
There were also papers with red stamps that said "DO NOT USE" and "DANGEROUS."
There were also papers with red stamps that said "DO NOT USE" and "DANGEROUS."
Maya's heart beat faster.
Maya's heart beat faster.
Why were these parts hidden here?
Why were these parts hidden here?
She opened another box.
She opened another box.
More broken parts.
More broken parts.
More scary papers.
More scary papers.
One paper said, "Engine failed during test flight.
One paper said, "Engine failed during test flight.
Pilot almost died.
Pilot almost died.
Hide this report."
Hide this report."
Maya felt sick.
Maya felt sick.
She knew these parts were supposed to be thrown away safely.
She knew these parts were supposed to be thrown away safely.
Instead, someone had hidden them in this secret room.
Instead, someone had hidden them in this secret room.
The next day, Maya's boss, Mr. Johnson, called her to his office.
The next day, Maya's boss, Mr. Johnson, called her to his office.
He was a tall man with cold eyes and an expensive suit.
He was a tall man with cold eyes and an expensive suit.
"Maya, I heard you were looking around places you shouldn't," he said with a fake smile.
"Maya, I heard you were looking around places you shouldn't," he said with a fake smile.
"Sometimes curious cats get into trouble."
"Sometimes curious cats get into trouble."
Maya's hands shook, but she tried to look calm.
Maya's hands shook, but she tried to look calm.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"Good," Mr. Johnson said.
"Good," Mr. Johnson said.
"Keep it that way.
"Keep it that way.
Oh, and Maya?
Oh, and Maya?
That room you found?
That room you found?
It doesn't exist.
It doesn't exist.
Do you understand?"
Do you understand?"
Maya nodded, but inside she was angry.
Maya nodded, but inside she was angry.
People trusted their airplane company.
People trusted their airplane company.
Families got on planes thinking they were safe.
Families got on planes thinking they were safe.
But what if some planes had these dangerous hidden parts?
But what if some planes had these dangerous hidden parts?
That night, Maya couldn't sleep.
That night, Maya couldn't sleep.
She thought about her little sister who flew planes for work.
She thought about her little sister who flew planes for work.
She thought about her grandmother who visited family in other countries.
She thought about her grandmother who visited family in other countries.
She thought about all the innocent people in the sky.
She thought about all the innocent people in the sky.
Maya made a difficult choice.
Maya made a difficult choice.
She went back to the secret room with her phone camera.
She went back to the secret room with her phone camera.
She took pictures of everything - the broken parts, the scary reports, the papers that said "HIDE FROM GOVERNMENT."
She took pictures of everything - the broken parts, the scary reports, the papers that said "HIDE FROM GOVERNMENT."
Then Maya did something very brave.
Then Maya did something very brave.
She sent all the photos to a newspaper reporter who wrote stories about bad companies.
She sent all the photos to a newspaper reporter who wrote stories about bad companies.
She also sent them to the government office that checks airplane safety.
She also sent them to the government office that checks airplane safety.
Three weeks later, the story was on every TV channel and website.
Three weeks later, the story was on every TV channel and website.
"AIRPLANE COMPANY HIDES DANGEROUS PARTS" the headlines said.
"AIRPLANE COMPANY HIDES DANGEROUS PARTS" the headlines said.
Mr. Johnson was arrested.
Mr. Johnson was arrested.
The factory was closed for six months while investigators checked everything.
The factory was closed for six months while investigators checked everything.
Many workers lost their jobs, including Maya.
Many workers lost their jobs, including Maya.
But Maya felt proud.
But Maya felt proud.
She had protected thousands of people who would never know her name.
She had protected thousands of people who would never know her name.
Sometimes doing the right thing costs everything, but it's still right.
Sometimes doing the right thing costs everything, but it's still right.
Maya found a new job at a better company.
Maya found a new job at a better company.
And she never stopped checking for secret doors.
And she never stopped checking for secret doors.