the rough rock bounced around

one of many living in the river bed

bumping and grinding

rolling and tumbling for centuries

transformed into a smooth pebble

chatting constantly with the other pebbles

he dreamed about adventures

exploring life outside the river

his friends told him to be careful

maneuvering himself to the shallows

hoping to leave the water

he saw people collecting pebbles

please pick me he whispered

one day he was picked up

taken away as a trophy

gently caressed and loved

at first he was very happy

until he was discarded in a drawer

laying abandoned in the dark

the pebble was sad

he stayed there for many years

until a boy discovered him

he took the pebble everywhere he went

sleeping under his pillow

on his desk at school

but the pebble was still sad

he missed being with all the other pebbles

the boy sensed that the pebble was unhappy

he took the pebble down to the river bank

asking if he wanted to go home

feeling the pebble glowing warm in his hands

the boy knew what he had to do

he tossed the pebble in the river

bumping and grinding again

trying to stay deep in the river

the pebble was happy again

better to be in a crowd of friends 

than a lonely trophy pebble