Episode 37: The Pet Rock Enhancer

The shop bell gave its usual half-hearted jingle as a kid, no older than 10, wandered in. He had that look of determined innocence only children and overly ambitious inventors seem to pull off. In his hands, he clutched a rock — not a special one, just an ordinary, slightly lumpy rock that looked like it had lost a fight with a bigger, meaner rock.

Felix leaned over the counter, curious. "Hey there, kid. What can we do for you? Need a wand? Maybe a spell that makes your vegetables taste like candy?"

The kid shook his head, holding out the rock with both hands. "I need you to make Rocky cooler."

Zira, lounging near the back again, barely looked up from her book. "Cooler? It's a rock. It's already the coolest it's gonna get."

The kid's eyes narrowed. "Rocky's not just a rock! He's my best friend. But…" He looked down, voice dropping to a whisper. "My friends say he's boring. They have pets that bark and purr and do tricks. Rocky just… sits there."

Felix exchanged a look with Zira, who raised an eyebrow.

"You want us to make him, what… wag his tail?" Felix asked, trying to sound serious.

The kid's face lit up. "That'd be awesome! But even if he just rolls over or does something, that'd be enough."

Felix leaned on the counter, thinking. "Alright, kid. I think we can work with this."

---

Thirty Minutes, One Explosion, and a Singed Eyebrow Later…

Felix set the newly enhanced Rocky on the counter. The once-dull rock now had a faint, glittering shimmer around it, and Felix had added a tiny, carved smiley face for good measure.

"Alright, Rocky 2.0 is ready," Felix announced proudly. "He can roll over, bounce a little, and I even threw in a basic charm to make him sound happy when you pet him. He's basically a pebble-sized puppy now."

The kid's eyes widened as Rocky wobbled, gave an enthusiastic "Wheee!" and rolled over on its own.

"Rocky! You're alive!" the kid gasped, scooping him up like he'd just reunited with a long-lost sibling.

Rocky vibrated slightly and gave a cheerful, high-pitched hum, like a rock trying its best to giggle.

Zira, now fully invested, smirked. "Just don't teach him fetch. If he launches himself through a window, that's on you."

The kid laughed, hugging his new-and-improved rock. "Thanks, mister! Rocky's the best pet ever now!" He bolted out of the shop, leaving Felix and Zira in the quiet aftermath.

Zira chuckled. "You realize you just invented the world's first sentient skipping stone, right?"

Felix grinned. "Yeah, and somewhere out there, a kid's about to win 'Show and Tell' for the next five years."