The Wishing Stone

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Jacob shuffled along the rocky beach, the waves lapping gently at his feet. It was early and the morning mist still clung to the shore. He often came here to walk and clear his head.

Stooping down, Jacob picked up a smooth gray stone and turned it over in his hands. It was oval shaped with a unique white pattern that almost looked like a star. He smiled to himself, thinking it was perfectly shaped for skipping across the water.

Rearing his arm back, Jacob prepared to throw the stone. But something made him pause. The markings on the stone seemed to glow for just a moment. He looked closer. They definitely formed a star shape. Strange.

Shrugging, Jacob flicked his wrist to skip the stone. But instead of flying from his hand, it just plopped into the water with a disappointing plunk.

"Hey!" Jacob cried, surprised. The rock had slipped right through his fingers when it should have sailed gracefully. Bewildered, he reached into the surf to retrieve it.

As soon as Jacob's hand grasped the stone again, he heard a faint whisper. "Do not throw me." He nearly dropped it in shock. The voice seemed to come from the stone itself!

Peering down, Jacob realized the star pattern was glimmering subtly. Curiosity compelled him to rub it with his thumb. The stone grew warm and the voice spoke again. "I am the Wishing Stone. Grant me your desire and I will make it come true."

Jacob's jaw dropped. The magical stone had spoken! Feeling utterly absurd yet intrigued, Jacob decided to make a wish. Closing his eyes he thought, I wish I could skip this rock across the entire ocean! He flung the stone with all his might.

When Jacob opened his eyes, the rock was gone. Only expanding ripples showed where it had sunk beneath the surface. The wish obviously didn't work.

Dejected, Jacob trudged back home for breakfast. Later that day, he returned to the beach to walk off his disappointment. Right away, a glint in the sand caught his eye. It was the Wishing Stone!

Snatching it up excitedly, Jacob made another silent wish before throwing the stone. I wish I could skip this rock to the horizon! The stone zipped spectacularly across the water, dwindling into the far distance until Jacob couldn't see it anymore. His wish had come true!

Over the next few weeks, Jacob made wish after wish on the magic stone. His school bullies stopped hassling him. He aced his finals. He even got super strength when he wished for it. But Jacob noticed each wish was a little harder to voice, and the stone grew heavier in his palm.

One day, Jacob arrived to find the Wishing Stone half-buried in the sand. When he freed it, the voice croaked weakly. "No more wishes. I am spent." Jacob realized his greed had drained the stone's power. If he made another wish, the magic would die.

Sadly, Jacob walked to the shore's edge. He whispered "Thank you," then drew back his arm and skipped the Wishing Stone out over the glittering sea. He watched until it faded from view for the last time. Though he would miss the magic, at least he had set the stone free.