Our new neighbor had a bowl of marbles in his yard, and for days my mother and I couldn’t stop wondering why. His name was Dorian Weller, a quiet man with silver hair who often stood beside the bowl as if it meant everything to him. We were too shy to ask. One evening, after smoke filled our kitchen, I ran outside and found Dorian crouched by the marbles. Summoning courage, I finally asked why he had them. He smiled gently and invited me closer.
Up close, the marbles were all different colors and sizes. Dorian picked up a green one and explained that each marble represented a good memory. That one, he said, marked the day his daughter took her first steps. Another remembered the day he married his wife, who had passed away years earlier.
His daughter lived far away, and they hadn’t spoken in a long time. “These marbles remind me of the beauty I’ve had,” he said softly. Touched, I later brought him a few marbles of my own—for future happy days. From then on, we added marbles together for small joys. My mother eventually crossed the street too, and the three of us grew close.
Weeks later, Dorian’s daughter unexpectedly returned after seeing the marble bowl online. They reunited in tears, sharing stories and memories. Soon, laughter filled the once-quiet yard. What started as curiosity became healing, love, and family. I learned that small things—like marbles—can hold powerful stories, and that sometimes, asking a simple question can change everything.