It happened yesterday, or it could have happened tomorrow, that there was a girl who was clever and wise. She was a strange sort of girl whose words didn't make sense most of the time. Until, of course, after it happened. But by that point, most people had left her, either frustrated or very confused. This also meant, she felt lonely and misunderstood frequently.
This girl had unusual hobbies and interests. One of those interests was the paranormal. She read stories and watched videos of all types of paranormal activities. But unlike most people with the same interest, this girl also read myths and legends about paranormal activities. She believed that, maybe, some little point of knowledge could be gleaned from the ancient world.
One night, while watching her favorite show, she saw a story about a miner. He had built his rickety mining shack over his cave. That miner spent a lifetime tunneling and digging out silver, or at least that was what the people said. But then, one day, he disappeared. some people say that he was robbed and murdered, then buried in his mine shaft. Some people said, he was caught in a cave in, down the shaft. People did not go looking in the shaft. It was not stable and they feared for their safety. They did try to look for clues to his disappearance in the shack. But they found nothing.
Shortly after his disappearance, people said that they could hear funny noises from the shack. If one stood at the entrance to his mine shaft, one could hear the echoes of a pick hitting the stone. Footsteps and mumbling could heard. Some even said they could see a ghostly figure, from time to time.
The investigators on the show took their equipment to investigate. Their recorders picked up a voice, but we could not understand the words. Then, the most amazing thing happened. A little man was seen on their video equipment. The little man danced a little, then he disappeared.
The girl, watching the show, was amazed. But something inside her kept the memory clear. Why such a little man? The memory never left her. It kept playing in her mind for a very long time.
One day, she could take no more. She took equipment and journeyed to the location. She set it all up and waited. Soon, there came a voice over the talking box. She could not understand the words. So, she made a statement. "You are not human." There was no answer. She made another statement. "You are not evil."
"Not evil," said the box.
"As I expected," she said. "A creature that is helpful is rarely evil. He saved you but he also trapped you by mistake."
The box did not answer.
"I am sorry you lost your friend. But you want to return home," said the girl.
"Yes," said the box.
"But if you leave this place, you might get caught in the sunlight," she said.
"Safety," said the box.
"I know you are afraid of boxes, too. But a box would be safe. I could take the box to a door. Where can I find a door?"
"Trap," said the box.
"No, I assure you that I will not trap you or keep you in the box forever. I will keep you in the box until I get you to the door. Then, I will open the box, in the dark, during the dark moon. I will let you pass into the shadows to return home."
"Why?" asked the box.
"Because I know and understand that this place is safe but it is also a prison. Good people should not be doomed in prison forever because others cannot hear them cry for help." There was no answer from the talking box.
So, the girl pulled out an empty box. It was a plain box, no bigger than her hand. "Here is the box I am talking about. I am offering, not commanding. If you want to go, I will take you." The girl opened the small empty box.
"The Great River scarred the land," said the talking box.
"I will take you to Grand Canyon," said the girl.
"Eyes closed," said the talking box.
The girl closed her eyes. She heard the box snap shut, all by itself. She packed up her equipment. She took the box to the Grand Canyon.
It was a dark, moonless night. She stood at the bottom of the canyon, near the river. She closed her eyes and opened the box. She felt a great wind come upon her. She heard voices on the wind. She heard laughing and deep singing. When the wind died down, she felt herself become warm and a voice whispered thanks. She opened her eyes and looked down at the box. Inside, was a stone.
"Oh no!" she cried out. "What did I do wrong? Motsignir! Forgive me, I tried to help."
She was surprised to hear little feet running away and laughing. That is when she knew that the stone was not the dwarf. It was a gift from the dwarf. "Thank goodness!" she said, out loud. She picked up the stone to look at it. It was not valuable. It was not semi-precious. It was simple piece of granite with rosy speckles. She took it home with her and carried it all her life. When she thought no cared, when she thought no one understood, when she felt alone, the girl would take out the stone and remember that goodness and wisdom are understood by only the beings who need it the most.
