I sat in contemplative silence -- chin rested on my palm. Across a table from me was a jeweled walking stick. It leaned against a blank wall within the lab. For just a mere minute ago my friend had disappeared into the ruby on top of the cane.

It all started last night -- or if you wish to be exact -- early this morning. I woke up from my slumber by the sound of my door bell. Drowsily, I walked to my apartment door. Right in the hall was my lab partner from the university. He had a wild look in his eyes. His clothes looked as if they had been worn for days. The usually clean-shaven man had grown a beard. As I stood in the doorway just staring at him, he took it upon himself to enter the apartment.

I watched silently as he walked to my pantry and began to eat as if he hadn't in days. He sat on my table in silence for several minutes. I just sat looking shocked. Finally he stopped chewing long enough to speak. "My friend I have discovered something that will change how we think forever." I looked to him intrigued. "Everything we know is wrong. I know it all. An alternate universe, time travel, everything." I backed away slowly staring at him. "Don't believe me? I'll show you."

Reluctantly I followed him to his car. We drove in silence until we reached the University. With shaking hands he turned his key in the door. As the light switched on, I saw the object of my lab partner's excitement. Sitting bathed in flourescent lights was a jeweled walking stick discovered by the archeology wing in an excavation in east China. My friend slammed his fist on the lab bench saying "these bloody brilliant Chinese men made this during the Ming Dynasty - yet it changes every rule of physics. The ruby on top of the cane is a portal to other universes. Yeah, and I figured out how to tap it's full potential...spent 3 days wandering the Sahara. But now I can control it." I stared cynically at him and said "prove it".

At that point he touched the top of the staff, closed his eyes and disappeared. I was left alone in the lab. I waited for over 3 hours. Finally the air shimmered and there was my friend standing nonchalantly and said "ancient Egypt is a fascinating place". In his hand was something I have only seen in books. They were ancient gold coins - worth millions of dollars. I leaned on the jeweled walking stick for support and was in awe.

This is a magpie tale http://magpietales.blogspot.com/ and a poet rally post I nominate Jingle http://itistimetothinkformyself.blogspot.com/