Writing Prompt: Merriam-Webster word

Go to the Merriam-Webster word of the day web site ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/ ), and write a story based on that word.

Realia is the word for today 1/11/13

Realia: objects or activities used to relate classroom teaching to the real life especially of peoples studied
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/#igdcQAiX8WqAMqrW.99

Joe stared inside the old cardboard box he held in his hands.  Strange pointed rocks covered the bottom.  His grandmother called them realia from an ancient world long gone from this world.

            Whatever they are, he thought, their smooth surface made them perfect for skipping across the creek.  After all, they're rocks.

            He picked one from the box and whipped it toward the water. It jumped three times.

            Beside, he thought, Grandmother in heaven. She doesn't need them anymore to remember Granddaddy by.  She's up there with him, no longer with me.  He whipped another one, it skipped five times. 

            Not here with me, he thought again, throw the next rock hard, "Ahhh" he yelled at it. "Stupid things anyway." He mumbled.

            Another one flew across the water.

            And another one.

            The last one in the box.

            He picked it up.

            "Joe," a woman called behind him.  He turned to stare at her, his grandparents' neighbor. "the woman from child service is here."

            He stared down at the last rock, red like the Alabama red clay beneath his feet. He whipped it across the water, "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, 12." he counted it's skips "and gone like them."