Meanwhile, back across town Jon's would-be little sister Zoe sits in what would have been Jon's room if he still existed. Now the room is decorated with Zoe's black curtains, black candles and the walls are covered in posters for Evanescence, The Smiths and even the Cure. She sits at her desk, her tarot cards and dusty wiccan bibles momentarily shoved aside for a glossy Algebra textbook. Black Flag is blaring from her CD player as she studies. She stares blankly at the notebook page, her eyes rimmed with heavy black makeup. Black fingernailed hands gently tap a gently chewed no. 2 pencil on the desk.
"...and X=2" she says aloud.
Zoe scribbles the answer in to the thirtieth Algebra question, successfully completing her homework. Zoe sets the notebook page inside the textbook and tosses the textbook aside.
Zoe leaves her room, locking it behind her. Her mother, Joan is downstairs in the living room reading some paperback book. Joan hears Zoe leave her room and sets the book aside. She runs her hand over her stomach. Even though she is in her second pregnancy, now in her seventh month, she will never be comfortable with such a rapid change in her body. Zoe bounds down the stairs, and into the living room. She does so surprisingly nimbly for someone wearing such huge black pants with all those buckles, Joan thinks. But Zoe is a bright girl, and as long as she keeps her grades up she can wear whatever, she'll grow out of it.
"Finished with your homework?" Zoe's Mom asks.
"I sure am, what is the surprise you said you had?"
Zoe's mind had been turning over the possibilities since her mom had told her about the surprise. Being an only child, sometimes her mom surprised her with something from her Amazon wish list. She reminded herself that probably wouldn't happen as much once the new baby arrived.
"Well, it's been almost a half a year since your grandfather passed away."
"He dissappeared Mom, he might not be dead."
Joan sighed at her daughter's optimism.
"That's nice to say honey, but my father's profession wasn't the safest in the world and we have to assume the worst. Regardless, some of his possessions were shipped back to us and they arrived today. Including this small box that was addressed to you."
Joan handed Zoe the small shipping box. She thanked her mother and took it back to her room, slowly turning the box over in her hands. She locked the door on returning to her room. She sat cross legged on her bed and opened the box, the first item in it was a letter addressed to her:
--
Dear Zoe,
If you are reading this, it means I have passed on. Do not mourn my leaving; although we shall no longer be able to spend time together, be happy knowing that where I am now is just a new start and a different perspective than before and that I shall just look at it as my next great adventure.
The stone you find in this box is my legacy to you. Treat it with care, it does not look much, but has immense power. I have entrusted it to you, as my only granddaughter and friend, to be its keeper and guardian now that I am gone.
I found the stone on my latest expedition to South America and I believe it to be of Incan origin. How it works, or where it came from beyond that, I have no idea. All I can tell you is how it works and trust you to use it wisely.
Bear with me on this next bit; I know it sounds fantastic, but trust me when I tell you that I am telling the truth. All I say is real and it will not take much experimentation for you to prove it.
While holding the stone against your flesh (I recommend just holding it in your hand as the simplest approach), simply use the words 'I wish' followed by whatever it is you want the stone to do. There is no limit to the number of times you can do this, as far as I can divine, but beware for the words of a wish can be reinterpreted but not changed once the breath is over. The stone has great power, but is not unlimited. Changes made will be as if it has always been so, apart from for those within earshot of the wish or out of the range of influence of the stone. This range I estimate at several miles, but I fear I have not been able to determine an exact figure.
I must go now. Use the gift I have given you wisely, and think of me often.
Your friend, always,
Grandpa.
"A wishing rock? What the..." Zoe trailed off as she took the rock in question out of the box. It looked like a handful of smooth stone, grey and a little pourous, with very faint indentions in it. As if ancient writing carved in it had been long since worn away. If her Dungeons and Dragons games with her ex-boyfriend Derek had taught her anything: Yes this could be a magical artifact.
Zoe set the rock in front of her on the bed and stared at it for a long while. She often thought about what she would do if she had three wishes, now she had infinite wishes! Where would she begin?
