I feel the clunk of something heavy hitting one wall of the box. I feel it vibrate slightly in my hand.The clasp is really a series of four wood pegs, each bigger around than my finger. I push them in one at a time, and when I push the fourth, it causes the first three to slide back out flush with the box. I push the first three in again, but the lid won’t open. I reset them. Try the first two. Reset. The first and third. Reset. The middle two. Reset. Just the first. Reset. Just the second. And the lid pops open.The thing inside shifts again. And then I hear someone say:“Jesus Christ on a popsicle stick, took your goddamn time.”There is a rock inside the box.I look at the rock.I feel like the rock is looking at me.The rock shifts position ever so slightly.“What?” it asks.“Hello?” I say.“Yeah, hello, what the hell took you so long? I was dying in here.”“You’re . . . a rock,” I tell the rock.“The fuck I am.”I set the box back on the bench and rest on my heels, peering at the little thing.
What do You think about Beacon 23: Part Two: Pet Rocks?
