The Significant Grain By Rebecca Ladd

I am significant! cried the Grain of Sand, across the vast barren desert. The land had not always been this way. Thousands of years of harsh weather and burning sun eroded and scorched the terrain. Once mighty stones had been crushed and became granules, many of whom piled over the Grain. Suddenly the other granules above it were shoved down upon the Grain, splitting ways into an odd bean shape. Finally able to glimpse between its brethren, the Grain saw a massive beast walking away. Im important! it yelled to the bipedal being. When no answer came, the Grain waited for its turn for the wind to move it to the top of the dune. It took many months as more giants seemed to collect in the area. Occasionally their steps would push him back down, but eventually he made it to the top. Before the Grain, it saw the beings mixing other grains in a mud mixture of plants and larger stones. In awe, it asked, What gods must these creatures be?

Again the Grain was buried by the wind, but a year later it was topping another dune. The mixture was being burned and new stones crafted massive squares. Wanting to be a part of this, the grain almost shouted, but then just let the wind sink him back down. These gods would never hear him, but to be a stone again -the little Grain felt hopeless. As a boulder, it never thought it would degrade. Long ago, it seemed he held up a mountain. Why be hopeful when you are forgotten? Eventually it was pulled upward by the wind once more. The structure before the Grain was so majestic, and enormous that it almost made the gods look like sand. Not too far away was a giant mixing more batter to complete the monstrous triangle. Looking up, the Grain made its final shout, You will not blow me down! It seemed as though the wind howled in response, but the Grain called down below him, You are all significant! We are important! These creatures are not gods! We hold them up. They would fall forever if we were not here. They would not have their stones if we were not below their bodies. Other specs heard the Grain and cheers came from the sand. As he was pushed to the mud by the other sand grains, the Grain had a sudden revelation. One day his new stone

form would erode again, but as it looked back at its family of sand, it new it would always be important. Years went by and one day the Stone was nothing more than many granules. Many significant granules with an amazing future ahead of them, for they knew that they were important.