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The man woke up to a child standing over him. It was a long road, and there were many people on it, but travel was so slow that seeing another person was rare. The boy looked like he was alone. Parched and disoriented, he sat up. “What are you doing here, boy?” he asked. The boy didn’t move. “Shoo!” He waved his arms, But the boy didn't flinch. The man stood, spacing himself several feet from the dirty child. He began to walk away. The boy offered his arm. “Do you need help?” he asked. “Of course not,” the man said. “I know my way down this road. Why would I need help from you, kid?” “Well,” the boy said, his words measured, “I thought you might have trouble seeing. Even if you know the road, you might fall or get turned around.” “I can see well, thank you.” The traveler said. “But you can’t, can you?” “Of course I can. Why would I not?” “Well, I thought since you lost your eye…” “I have my eyes." “You’re missing one now," the boy said. The man felt his face. “I have them, see?” “You felt the wrong eye,” said the child. “I felt both of them, boy.” “A crow pecked it out.” The boy pulled an eye from his coat pocket and held it out. It seemed it was his. “Where did you get that? That eye isn’t mine!” “I’m sure it’s yours,” said the boy. “I took it from the crow, who took it from you.” “That thing isn’t mine.” “I’m sure it is.” “You have a lot of nerve to do this to someone so much older than you." “But you’re wrong, sir," the boy said. “I’m not wrong.” “Yes, you are." “Shut that mouth, boy, before someone shuts it for you." “I’m helping you, sir.” “Stop it, boy!” “Stop what, telling you that your eye is missing? I have it here, see," said the boy. “You're pretending!” “It's yours.” “It’s not.” “I can prove it.” “Go ahead, devil boy! Go ahead and prove it!” The boy pulled a needle from his other pocket. “Poke it.” “And hurt myself?” “It won’t hurt.” “But will, because my eye is here!" argued the traveler. “Are you afraid to? You must be in shock.” “Of course not!” “Don’t you think I would see better than you if you were disfigured?” asked the boy. “I wouldn’t see much of anything from that eye, would I?” “You need to get help. Surely you're brave enough to see for yourself.” “You don't know anything about how brave I am," said the traveler. “You’re too afraid to prove I’m right.” “But you’re not!” “I am. I’ll prove it, coward.” “Fine!” In a rage, he jabbed the needle into his eye. He screamed and doubled over. He stayed on the ground. The boy laughed and put the eye back into his pocket, with the others. Then he found a new spot on the road to look for sleeping people.
