Robot Memories

First Place for 11/16/07 Challenge
Prompt: Write about finding a valuable object in an unexpected place.
Word Count: 297


The robot caught Billy's eye. He'd been browsing the garage sale for fifteen minutes before noticing the plastic toy. Its paint had worn off in spots, showing the dark-gray plastic underneath. He picked it up and was flooded with nostalgia. Something about the toy robot was very familiar to him. Subconsciously, he turned the toy over and saw the initials "WR" etched on the underside of the robot's right foot. "Oh, my God," he said, under his breath. "Lisa, look at this!"

         Lisa, who had been scrutinizing a lamp, walked over to him. "It's a robot."

         Billy couldn't contain his excitement as he held the robot's right foot to Lisa's face, who looked at him quizzically. "My initials! I had this robot when I was six or seven! Mom must've gotten rid of it when she moved."

         "How cool!" Lisa exclaimed.

         "Excuse me, that's not for sale!" a man's voice made both of them look up. It was the owner of the house where the garage sale was taking place. "Sorry for the mix-up. That was...my son's favorite toy."

         "Well, he'll probably want it back," Lisa said, liltingly.

         The man half-smiled. "He passed away ten years ago. Oh, how he loved that toy! He wouldn't let go of it even while going through chemo."

         "We're sorry for your loss," Lisa said, embarrassed. She gave Billy a nudge on his ribs, and he hesitatingly gave the toy to the man's waiting hands. The man thanked Billy and gently held the robot while walking toward the garage.

         Billy was saddened at how his exciting discovery had ended, but he relished in the fact that his little toy had given so much joy to another young boy during a time of need. It was then that he noticed the unicorn.