MAGNIFYING GLASSES 

These were useful devices, commonly found in office desks, and collectors’ tables. Sherlock Holmes used one to help him solve his cases.

Ray was a little different from other magnifying glasses. Objects around it were tired of being alarmed every time Ray panicked for no reason.

If, for example, a tiny insect crawled across the office desk, Ray would cry out that a huge monster had invaded their domain. A floating speck of dust was a meteorite about to crash. A pen leaking a bit of ink was a major flood coming their way. A strand of hair, a venomous snake.

Neighboring letter openers, stamps, paper weights, calculators, even office chairs, were constantly startled.

Once, an old, wise, tape dispenser told Ray the story of Peter and the Wolf, hoping that it would get the message. It didn’t work. Finally, one day, Ray’s owner found it on the floor by the desk, its glass shattered. The man looked around for clues, but all he could see was a bunch of poker-faced office supplies.