The Wishing Stone

(illustration by Wang Zhi Jun, Junior grade 1, class1)

The year was 2162. I had just celebrated my 150^th birthday. Though I was 150, my face was still young and without wrinkles. I stood 1.75 meters tall, and I had a cheerful personality.

At noon the day after my 150th birthday, I had just arrived at my grandson's doorway when I discovered something resembling a large jade stone. As soon as my hand touched it, it disappeared into thin air, throwing me into a state of confusion. Suddenly, a piece of paper floated down. I caught it and read it. It said: "This stone is granted by the Jade Emperor's wife. It can make certain wishes come true." I had just finished reading the paper when something the size of a grain of rice fell into my palm. It was the same as what I had just seen but only several hundred times smaller.

I was happy and worried at the same time. I thought, "Oh! Such a precious thing for me to encounter today, how lucky I am, how lucky I am!" But this object was too small. If I lost it, I'd be in trouble. Where should I put it? Put it in my pocket¡K no. My pocket was too large for such a small rice grain-sized stone. It'd be easy to lose it amongst other things. Where to put it? Where to put it? Where on earth to put it? While I was thinking hard, a bird flew above my head with a worm in its mouth. This bird was an inspiration. I would put the stone in the gap between my teeth. This way, even if I accidentally swallow it during a meal, it wouldn't matter. After thinking about it, I immediately put it between my teeth. It was as if the stone was covered with superglue, it stuck so firmly between my teeth.

I thought, "Just now the paper said the stone could make certain wishes come true, then let me try it out." I closed my eyes and thought to myself, "I wish for a lot of money to donate to the Hope Project (a scholarship program for needy children in China)." I made my wish, and when I opened my eyes, I couldn't help giving a shout. In front of me was a large open bag with stacks and stacks of 100 yuan bills. I immediately went to the post office to send the money to the Hope Project. Then, I felt the stone become smaller.

I closed my eyes again and made a wish. "Let there be no handicapped people in this place." According to my following one-month investigation, there really weren't any more handicapped people in this place. I felt the stone become smaller again.

Once more, I made a wish. "I want to take over the world." Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my teeth. When my hands felt my face, I discovered that cheek that held the object had swollen greatly, like I was holding half an apple in my cheek.

This stone remained in my mouth day after day, year after year, and I came to understand it. I called it my wishing stone, and I know the stone can only grant good, kind-hearted wishes. If you make dishonest wishes, you will be punished.

Living with the wishing stone, I understand full well the meaning of the proverb, "What goes around comes around."