You gotta get a good rock. A big one. But not huge. Come down the hill to the end of our grass. There. An “X” marks the spot — we’ve got lotsa rocks around it. It’s not an “X” really, but mommy says the place is “precious,” so it’s kinda like treasure. So you grab one rock. It’s smooth, fits in your hand, and it’s not too heavy.

We need paint. Come up the hill to my house. Shh! Mommy’s being quiet in her chair. We can get some nail polish off the dresser in her room. It’s a kind of paint. Mommy won’t mind. She doesn’t see me when it’s her quiet time. Look, here’s a good red one beside the picture frame. The photo’s kinda old. My hair’s longer now — see? The baby’s in the picture too, but we don’t say his name now. We need some black to go with this red — let’s use a marker.

We can find a marker in the baby’s room. It’s beside mine, but it’s got boxes packed with stuff. Mommy says they’re “reminders,” but not the good kind like a picture. I asked her ‘cause she was crying in here before. That’s when I saw the marker — here! It’s the stinky kind that stays on. Don’t put it near your clothes.

Come outside. We’ll colour our rock on the front step. Sit down. What’s yours gonna be? I’m making a ladybug. Mom used to call our car “Bug.” It was in our driveway, there. Not now. You can’t see it. We have a different car now. This one’s not as round. And there’s no more baby seat. I know ‘cause I hafta stay in the back by myself. Mommy says no more riding in front. I can’t go there. Not even to play.

We can’t play with our pet rock yet. Hafta let ‘em dry. Put yours here on the walkway; not the driveway. It’s “steep,” and stuff rolls down it. That’s why I don’t get the front anymore. There’s a button in the middle. I pushed it before. But that’s when Mommy was in the house and me and the baby were waiting in the car. The button made the car roll. And the truck made the car spin. And the baby didn’t cry.

That’s where we have the rocks. The “precious” spot. See? Down there. My ladybug’s almost dry. Whatcha gonna name yours? Mine’s Cole, ‘cause then I can say it. The name, I mean. For my pet rock. Then I can remember. Always. 

– Pauline Shen