Okay, so I hadn't been the luckiest person in the world so far today, and now ... well,
this?! I swear, I could almost hear the Gods of Fate laughing their heads off this very minute at my misfortune.
I slowly walked up to the tracks. The object was quite peculiar. I mean, it's not everyday you see a pebble with a tail lying in the middle of train track! I grabbed a small, flimsy stick and poked the tail. It twitched slightly and I let out a cry of fright.
Calm down, Jekk, I told myself.
It's just a rock ...
But there was this strange feeling I had deep down inside, a feeling that told me this was a bit more than "just a rock." Another whistle from the train sounded, closer this time, and I knew I couldn't leave this strange "rock" to its terrible demise. But I couldn't just ... pick it up. Could I? For all I knew, it could have been the beginning of an alien invasion! I walked around it, watching it with wary eyes. I was half expecting a giant creature to emerge from the pebble and demand, "Take me to your leader!"
Another whistle blew, closer. Maybe it was like ET? Maybe the rest of the pebbles with tails had gone off back to their homeland and left him alone. I knew I was just wasting time, but I was being cautious. What if this thing carried a terrible disease? With my luck, it probably did.
Suddenly, the train reached the bend. It was now less than 100 yards away. I didn't have time to think. All I really remember was running for my life. And, for some strange reason, the pebble was cradled in my arms. I let out a scream and dove off the track, barely escaping from the train that went roaring past ...
I stared at the passing train, a blur before my eyes. A strange movement in my arms brought my attention back to the pebble. Whatever it was, I had saved it. And the strange squeaks it was making made me feel as if it knew exactly what I'd done: Risked my life for it's safety.
I got up and headed home, the pebble held close to me, safe from harm. Beats me how I ever dodged that speeding bullet of a train. Maybe the Gods just decided to give me a break ...
