The Treasure in My Pocket

When I was a kid, I was walking home with a friend one afternoon when a flash on the sidewalk caught my eye. It was a small, smooth stone with a thin white line running through the middle. It was extraordinary.

My friend was certain it was quartz but I thought for sure it was much more rare. Neither of us had any idea.

I carried it home in my pocket and placed it on a little shelf beside my bed.

And that's the wonder of childhood. Before we knew what things were worth, we knew when we'd found something special.