Jeremy's Dad (Steve) Comes Home and Uses the Rock

Jeremy did as his mom (Elizabeth) told him. He put the box on the kitchen table, then headed back to the family room couch for more lazy TV-watching. Feeling bored, Tina joined her brother in front of the TV.

Moments later, Elizabeth finished up unloading and refilling the dishwasher, then turned her attention to the package that her son had placed on the kitchen table. She was about to pick it up and examine it more closely, but before she could, her cellphone rang. She grabbed it, saw that it was work-related, then answered the call. For more privacy, she headed into the living room, away from the loud sounds coming from the TV.

A few minutes later, while Elizabeth was still on her phone, the front door opened and in walked the father of the family - Steve. Exhausted from a day's work at the office, he headed into the kitchen for a cold drink. And that's when he noticed the package on the table. Picking it up, he momentarily wondered why there were no markings on it, then shrugged and opened it.

Inside, he found the rock and the note that was with it.

Was this a joke? A magic wishing rock? Who would believe something like that?

Part of him thought it might have been a ridiculous prank, but another part of him had to wonder. What if it was for real? He looked down at the rock, which he had already taken out of the box. All he needed to say was "I wish", followed by what he wanted, and it would come true ... according to the note.

He took a deep breath, silently hoping that it would work, then said "I wish ..."