Kevin walked to the end of the driveway to get the mail from the mailbox. The summer sun was high in the almost clear blue sky as he trudged along. Being nine years old, he should be excited for the months of freedom summer vacation offered. But he had little to look forward to. Not very popular with his fellow classmates for how quiet and shy he was. So there were no plans for summer adventures with friends, as he had none. His father was always working or away from home on business trips. And his mother had little to do with him either, even though she was in the same house as him. As if both were prisoners of a dysfunctional home.
It was early and his mother was somewhere inside finishing her morning coffee and going about cleaning up around the house. Kevin reached the end of the driveway and saw that in fact the mailbox had in fact had something in it. Opening it he saw a few letters of junk mail.... and a small package. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Had it arrived already? A few days earlier he saw an ad posted on the grocery store bulletin board. It said "Mail a dollar NOW for an instant pet! Not a gimmick! Make all your lonely dreams come true!". He had no idea what kind of pet it referred to. Let alone one that could be mailed for a dollar.
He took the small package and held it in his hand. He brought it up to his ear, listening for some sort of sounds. Nothing. Looking at the small package all it had was his name and address. No return address listed anywhere. Fearful that whatever was sent may have died in transit, he started to tear it open. Inside was a small odd looking device. Completely perplexed now he took out the small contraption. It was a simple small square with a big red button on it. Walking back to the house he searched the package for instructions, but found nothing but the small device. On the button was what looked like a thumb print pattern. He lightly placed his thumb on the pattern and the button glowed. He instantly removed his thumb in shock. The glow disappeared. He saw his mother walk by from the living room. She didn't even give him a glance as she was going about her chores as she then entered his bedroom to collect laundry. Kevin looked back at the button and this time he pressed it. The device vibrated in his hand and made a click sound and then the glow and vibration ceased. What was that all about? It didn't even seem to do anything.
"What a waste..." Kevin said. At least it only cost him a dollar. A dollar to realize his dreams cost a little more than that. He walked into his bedroom, expecting to see his mother rummaging through his closet for clothes to wash. But she was no where to be seen. Had she left while he was fiddling with that piece of junk device? He was about to turn and look out his bedroom doorway... when he noticed an item of his clothes on the floor... seemed to be moving....
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