WATERTOWN, New York – Two middle-aged siblings embarked on what they anticipated would be a somber task: sorting through the belongings of their recently deceased father, Allen Wilkins, a retired accountant known for his meticulous habits. What they uncovered, however, has sparked a bizarre family revelation.

John Wilkins, 52, a software engineer from Chicago, and his sister, Margaret Wilkins, 48, a schoolteacher from Boston, arrived at their childhood home last weekend to clear out the estate. As they rifled through drawers, cabinets, and the cavernous garage, they stumbled upon an astonishing collection: thousands of Allen wrenches, those ubiquitous L-shaped hex keys bundled with flat-pack furniture, bicycles, and assorted gadgets.

“We started in the kitchen junk drawer and found a handful,” John recounted in an exclusive interview. “By the time we hit the garage, it was like excavating a pharaoh’s tomb. There must be over 5,000 of these things, sorted by size in labeled jars. Over 90 years, dad never threw one away. Ever.” Margaret added, “He’d buy a bookshelf, assemble it, and squirrel away the wrench like it was gold bullion. We found ones from the ’70s, rusted but pristine. It’s as if he foresaw a global hex key shortage.”

The siblings estimate the collection’s street value at a mere $50, but its sentimental worth is priceless. “We’re donating most to a local makerspace,” John said. “Though we’re keeping a few. You never know when you’ll need to tighten a wobbly legacy.”

As America grapples with excess, the Wilkins discovery serves as a wry reminder: sometimes, the keys to inheritance are quite literal, and hexagonal.