Crystal Clear

Roger spent his early years living on a small farm five miles from his closest neighbor. Until age six his only companions were his parents, a chicken coup full of hens, and a few milk cows. This may seem like a lonely existence for a young boy, but to Roger, every day was an adventure. He would rise early in the morning with his father and take care of his assigned chores: gathering eggs, feeding the hens, taking out the trash and whatever odd jobs his parents would assign. Once the work was done his mother would work with him on his ABC’s and writing his name. All this took up the hours before lunch. After lunch, it was Roger time.

Roger time was when he was free to explore the pastures and woods that surrounded his house. One day, while pretending he was a giant, Roger picked up a rather large stone, by six year old standards, raised it over his head, and with all his strength sent it crashing down on a large boulder. Much to Roger’s amazement his projectile split in half revealing a multi-colored irregular interior. He scooped up his treasure and ran home as fast as his six-year-old legs would carry him, so he could share his find with his parents.

It was almost supper time when Roger came bursting into the kitchen with his discovery. At first his mother was annoyed that he had brought a rock into her kitchen while she was preparing supper, but one look at her son’s beaming face and she had to smile. Roger’s father entered the kitchen, having just washed for supper, and asked what the commotion was all about. The boy held up both halves of the divided stone for his father to inspect.

“This is called a geode,” his Dad explained. “They are formed by volcanoes, and the colorful shards are crystals and fragments of gem stones. Sometimes when you shine a light through the stones, shapes and patterns will form on the wall making the crystals appear to come to life.”

That explanation sent Roger racing to find a flashlight so he could watch crystals come to life.

Time passed and the treasures of a six-year-old evolved into the detritus of a teen’s room, and eventually one of many items taking up residence in a storage container in the parents’ attic, all but forgotten. Roger has evolved as well, becoming a well respected geophysicist. After his parents passing Roger returned to the farm to remove and discard items so the new owners could move in. As he was sorting through the attic he came across a box marked Roger’s Treasures. He opened the box and found a football letter sweater, several honor roll certificates, various model cars and two halves of a rock.

Most of the items in the house were either sold at a yard sale, donated to charity, or sent to the landfill. The geode came home with Roger. It was cleaned, polished and placed in a position of honor on his desk. After all, if it wasn’t for that rock, Roger might never have chosen the career that has brought him so much acclaim and satisfaction.