Rory and his Many Treasures

By Joe Casey

Illustrations by Katie Casey (forthcoming)

Rory just found a new treasure to add to his collection.  "I need to keep this one in a place where it doesn't get mixed up with my other treasures," he told his sidekick, Ruby.  Rory is, after all, a world traveler, and expert in discovering treasures.

 "I know!  If I put this small treasure in a large box, then it will be easy to find."  Ruby nodded in agreement. "Large boxes are easy to see," assured Rory.

 Rory then found more treasures, and each of these he also put in its own large box, so he can easily find them later.

 "Now that all my treasures are in large boxes, I can't find any of them anymore," he said to Ruby, who seemed equally puzzled.

 Rory found another treasure.  "This one is special," he said.  "Ruby, let's put this one in a box larger than the other boxes, since it's special.  Then we will be able to find it right away."

 Rory found more special treasures.  Each of these he placed in its own extra-large box, since they were special, so that he could easily find them later.

 "Now that all my special treasures are in extra-large boxes, I can't find any of them anymore," he complained to Ruby.  Ruby seemed equally frustrated.  Also, there was the issue of space.  The floor was so filled with large boxes (and extra-large boxes) that Ruby had no more room to walk around.

 Then Rory had an idea.  "What if the next treasure we collect, we put it in a box and attach it to a balloon.  This way, we can find it right away."   

 So the next treasure Rory found, which was extra-special, he put in a large box, attached it to a balloon, and the balloon floated up to the ceiling.  Rory and Ruby looked up at their extra-special treasure with delight, because they could easily find it.

 Rory found more extra-special treasures.  These he also attached to balloons and hung from the ceiling.  Eventually, he had so many extra-special treasures that he couldn't find any of them anymore.  Rory was frustrated.  Ruby, too. They had collected all these treasures, and couldn't find any of them!

Rory and Ruby left home and went on a long trip around the world.  They went to Paris and ate a baguette.  It’s like bread roll, they discovered, but longer. 

They visited to India and saw the Taj Mahal.  There, he and Ruby shared some naan bread.  It's like a bread roll, they discovered, but flatter.

Rory met the baby pandas in China.  Ruby wasn't allowed to, though, because she is a dog, so she waited outside.

They saw all sorts of colorful birds the Amazon rainforest.

They danced with the penguins in Argentina.

They even waved to a grizzly bear, while fishing in Alaska. 

At first, Rory missed all his special treasures.  Ruby, too.  But after a while of traveling, they began to forget about missing their special treasures, and soon after, forgot about the treasures completely. 

After being gone from home for a long time, they returned, to find all the treasures in large boxes (and extra-large boxes), right where they left them.  

But Rory's relationship with the treasures has changed.   Ruby's, too.  "I know every one of these treasures by heart, but the treasure isn't what makes me happy.  Thinking about the treasure that I found is what makes me happy."  Ruby agreed.

So, Rory unpacked all of the boxes (including the ones hanging from the ceiling), created a shelving area, and placed all of his treasures on the shelf.  As Rory grew up, he continued to collect treasures (special ones, and extra-special ones, too) but now he brings them home and puts them on a shelf with his other treasures. 

And sometimes, when Rory and Ruby are out traveling around the world discovering new treasures, they take a picture and then put the treasure back where they found it.  This way, other kids (and dogs) can discover that treasure someday, too.

The End.