I was standing at the bus stop waiting for the bus. I like to observe the scenery and as a newbie writer, I look at the people around me, wondering about whether any of them could be a nice base for a character in my next story. It was only early afternoon and this street isn't particularly busy this time of the day normally.
It was a bit different today though, because a few workers were replacing one of the glass walls of the bus stop. Someone must have broken it a few days ago and the glass shards were lying on the pavement the past few days, up until now. How irresponsible, there are children commuting with these buses too, you know! Well, at least they're repairing it now.
What caught my attention was this one girl in the bus stop. Or to be more precise, her expression. She looked like a shy girl with glasses and shoulder length black hair. In a casual outfit with a bag. She's probably a university student like me and somewhere in the middle of her twenties. Normally not someone who would be standing out much if not for that expression of her face.
Those eyes were the eyes of a maiden in love. She looked at one of the workers who were fumbling with the new glass panel. He looked muscular and somewhat handsome, that's right. I wonder if she'll have the courage to talk him...
In this moment, I felt someone reaching into the pocket of my coat. I looked that way, and noticed a small kid. His hand was in my pocket. When I looked at him, he got embarrassed and ran away. A woman caught him and by the looks of it, scolded him, though I couldn't hear because of the music I was listening to. I checked my pocket, but there wasn't anything in it besides handkerchiefs to begin with so he couldn't steal anything anyway. Nothing was missing and when the mother walked to me with the kid to apologize, I told her that too. Nothing was missing so it's all right.
Then the bus arrived I was waiting for. And when I looked out the window, I noticed the glasses girl talking with the worker. Good luck, girl!
It was only at home I noticed what the kid actually did. Instead of stealing something, he put a pebble in my pocket. I didn't notice it earlier with the pocket full of handkerchiefs. Well, I fell for a prank I guess?
But then to my astonishment, the pebble spoke! I thought I was just imagining it but it spoke again.
- So you understand what I'm saying?! Finally! ...Because... most people do not. - Said the pebble when it realized I understand it.
I was still so astonished I couldn't say a word, so the pebble continued.
- Listen to me, I want to be useful for people. You have to help me! - Said the pebble.
- Useful for people...? - I asked.
- Let me tell you my story. - Said the pebble.
Still astonished, I left my coat and shoes at the halfway, then walked to my room with the pebble in hand. I put it on my desk and sat down to listen.
And the pebble started its tale.
"Far from here, there's a large mountain. You could say she's my mother.
One day, very, very long ago, miners came to mine stone from the mountain side. Among other stone blocks, they mined out a big piece of stone. Me. That's how I was born.
They used the stone to build a fort not too far away. A big piece of stone I used to be, I hoped for a bright future in that new fort. Be a true hero, saving the people in the need of protection.
But somehow, things went a different way.
They put me on the cart first. And then the cart slipped, and fell off the mountainside with me, into the river down below. I didn't break, but I'm stuck in the riverbed for good.
The miners checked on me later, but I was too far from the riverbank, so they gave up on me. All my siblings got to be the stones of the fort, proudly defending the people. Well respected stones, all of them but me. But I and I alone, I'm not. I just sat in the riverbed looking like a tiny island." - Said the pebble.
