One day, on the way to school, Joe finds a key in the long grass. It's a large, heavy key. Joe thinks a giant might have dropped it. His friend Irrum thinks it might be magic. But Akash says the key is no good because it doesn't open anything. He laughs at Joe and makes the others laugh too - except Irrum, who says that Joe should try the key in the lonely gate. And when he does, Joe finds it opens up a new world.