The Rock Collector | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Rock Collector | Previous Challenge Entry
By Yasmine Renteria
04/21/09
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The little rock sits alone on a cold, sandy beach. It is a jagged rock with many rough edges. Nearby, the ocean roars with great strength. The cries of seagulls are barely audible amidst the drowning sounds of the crashing waves. A lonely cloud streaks the sky with orange and red, as the sun prepares for slumber. The stinging cold wind slams into the lonely, jagged rock. It gently rolls from its place in the soft sand, closer to the grasp of the pounding waves.
A man sits alone on the cold, sandy beach. He is a tired man, the strains of life evident on his face. The man’s sad eyes are fixed on the jagged, lonely, little rock. A figure of a man in the far distance catches his eye. He thought it strange that anyone else would be on the beach on such a dismally cold evening. Perhaps, he too is in a dismal state of mind, he pondered. As the figure of the man came nearer, the tired man soon concluded that this was not so. This man’s walk was sure and steadfast. It seemed as though he had a purpose in his heart and knew exactly how to accomplish it. Every few steps, this man carefully examined the sandy beach and gathered a couple of rocks. The tired man assumed he was probably collecting the finest and smoothest of stones to decorate something. Then the tired man witnessed something odd, the man who was so carefully collecting rocks, was throwing them into the ocean. This seemed a bit strange to the tired man and he wondered why he was doing this. The tired man was lost in his thoughts, when he noticed that the rock collector was standing right before him. In his hand was the tiny, jagged, little rock that had kept the tired man’s gaze earlier in the evening.
“Good evening, sir!” said the collector with cheer.
The tired man struggled to reply, “Oh, oh, yes, good evening.”
“What are you doing all by yourself on this cold evening?” asked the rock collector.
“I suppose I could ask you the same question” the tired man replied.
The rock collector smiled easily, “I suppose you could”.
“What do you want with those tiny, jagged rocks?” asked the tired man with curiosity.
“Oh, I never tire of looking for rocks that have rough edges and look like they need a good polishing” the rock collector answered with confidence.
The tired man looked perplexed. “If you value those rocks so much, why are you throwing them into the ocean?”
The rock collector gave a slight chuckle, “Ahh, because that is the best way to polish a stone such as this. The great force of the waves will pound the rock onto the ocean floor, smoothing the rough edges over time.”
The tired man was even more perplexed at the collector’s response, “If its smooth stones that you want, why not just look for stones that have already been weathered?”
The rock collector gave a bigger chuckle, “Those stones have already been changed. I’m looking for the stones that need their edges smoothed over.”
The tired man’s curiosity was not yet quenched, “Why do you do this?”
At this question the rock collector gave a soft smile, “When the rocks change into smooth stones, they have a different form. They are no longer rough to the touch and feel more pleasant in the hand. I prefer to leave the smooth stones on the beach so that everyone can enjoy them.”
The tired man was in awe, “I’ve never heard of anyone caring so much about rocks on a beach.”
The rock collector gave a content sigh, “Yeah, well, sometimes it’s the little things we do that make all the difference. It’s not how you begin in life; it’s how you end it.”
The tired man pondered that and looked out at the ocean. A cool blast of ocean air filled his nostrils and lungs; suddenly he had clarity of mind. He turned to speak to the rock collector, but he was no longer in front of him. The collector had continued on his journey, carefully examining the sandy beach. The tired man rose from his place on the cold, sandy beach and walked towards his car with new determination. He was ready to change into a new man. The tired man understood it’s not how you begin in life it's how you end it.

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