Well, I'm In A Bind

[Seil]

So a family friend has gone off to warmer climes for a few weeks, and left me in charge of his house. The thing is, the key he's given me has disappeared. On Friday, I had the key, I made sure his pets had food and water, and I went home for a day or so - my brother and his family have come to visit - and I locked up the house and went home. That day, my dad wanted to make sure the place was still standing on Saturday, so he and I went back.

Now, everything was all right, I made sure that there was enough food and water for the cats, dad and I took out the garbage I had been using and put it in the car, everything was off, and I locked up. I know that everything was locked for a fact because I came back Sunday - forgetting the key - and everything was locked tight. The cats are alright, they have a kitty door, and I was able to get back into the house via window, but so far my parents are going nuts about this key.

I've retraced my steps, torn my room apart, shaken out all of my clothes - I've looked everywhere. Even the lost and found at the grocery store we stopped at on the way home. The key has disappeared.

I'm being paid a total of $200 to look after the house, which settles some of my bills. The homeowner is known for holding grudges - he's not spoken to my mum since she did something years ago, about something that she considered trivial. I'm worried about what's going to happen. He does have a friend who has his key - hopefully she still does - who I'm calling in the morning.

Getting a new key cut at Home Hardware isn't that expensive, and I plan to call the friend, get the key, lock the house, get a new key cut, hold on to the newer key and confess and apologize honestly once the homeowner gets back. I'm writing this in the hope that I don't have to do that and you guys have a better solution than my other option - hitchhiking to Cuba.

[Tev]

Really you're worried about this now? Just tell the friend that you need to borrow the key because your parents have the other one in the car or something, use it to check the house out, then spend the next few weeks looking for it. You really shouldn't start panicking until like two days before the guy is due home.

[krogothwolf]

Burn the house down and blame it on Jawas?

But honesty is the best policy. Lost keys happen from time to time, if the person freaks out over that then they are very strange people. Usually you give the person 2 keys incase something like that happens.

[Seil]

Figured it out and found the key - it was in my toiletries. I put it in there because the bag zip shut and I thought I would lose it if it wasn't...

Whatever happened to Blues' Brain Fart thread?

[Osterbaum]

I know that feeling. Total panic 'cause you lost something important that you kinda sorta need right NOW. Then finding said thing later in time, most often from somewhere obvious.

[Nikose Tyris]

See, I would have borrowed another key and just lied about it. Lying isn't difficult.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

See, I would have borrowed another key and just lied about it. Lying isn't difficult.

You are a fantastically handsome man.

Holy crap you are right. Lying is easy.

[Seil]

I don't lie, though. That's the thing. Also, if I had asked the friend for the key, she might tell the homeowner, which would screw me over twice as hard if I lied.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Blame it on the local minority. That always works.

[Amake]

The right thing to do would have been to immediately get the lock changed at any cost. Aren't you happy you managed to flail around in panic for a while instead and find the key?