Speaking At Length
The professor spoke at length about the rock, using terms and theories that mostly went over Benjamin’s head. Still, one thing stood out clearly.
The old doorstop he had barely paid attention to all these years turned out to be far more valuable than he’d ever imagined. Not just in terms of money, but in scientific worth too. How had he overlooked something so important?
Purchasing A Farm
In late 2008, Benjamin purchased a farm in Dallas, Texas, believing it would be the turning point he’d been searching for. Having spent his childhood on a farm, he longed to return to the simple, grounded life he once knew.
What he didn’t expect, however, was that a forgotten relic from the past—tucked away on the land—would spark a transformation far greater than he imagined. The real change wasn’t buying the farm; it was what the farm still held.
From A Young Age
From a young age, Benjamin dreamed of having a farm of his own. It was a passion rooted in childhood, shaped by early memories of life on his family’s farm. The wide-open fields and simple lifestyle brought him a sense of peace and belonging.
Unfortunately, that peaceful life was cut short. Financial struggles forced his father to sell the farm, and the family had no choice but to relocate to the city. The transition was tough on all of them, leaving Benjamin with a longing to one day return to the land he loved.
Buying The Farm
Benjamin saw buying the farm as a way to honor his father’s lifelong wish. Old man Jones had always dreamed of going back to the countryside, and this farm felt like the perfect way to bring that dream to life.
He envisioned building his father a home right there on the property—a quiet place where he could live freely and enjoy the land as he pleased. Every detail had been thought through with care, a heartfelt gesture to give his father the life he'd always wanted.
Father Back
Bringing his father back to the land he loved felt like the perfect way to honor him—offering one final chance to reconnect with the life he cherished most. But for Benjamin, it was about more than just nostalgia.
He shared his father’s deep love for farming and saw the land as a place full of potential. He envisioned a modest start—some cattle, perhaps a couple of pigs—and a crop that would reflect his dedication and pride.
Deal Was Finalized
Once the deal was finalized, Benjamin took a thoughtful walk across his property. Although he'd visited the land many times before, this particular stroll felt different—more intentional.
This time, he wasn’t just admiring the space; he was planning. He’d already chosen the perfect spot for his dad’s future home and was now focused on mapping out the rest, figuring out how best to divide and use each part of the land.
During His Walk
During his walk, Benjamin wandered into the weathered, collapsing barn. As he stepped inside, his eyes fell on the solid rock propping the door open. A small smile tugged at his lips.
Earlier that day, he'd asked the former owner about the unusual choice of doorstop. The man's response had completely caught him off guard—strange and unexpected, it lingered in Benjamin’s mind as he stood there, staring at the unassuming stone.
Didn't Share Much
The old man didn’t share much, but he told Benjamin the rock held deep meaning for his family. It had been discovered by his father many years ago and had since become a symbol of their family's story and connection to the land.
Although it was clearly important to him, he chose not to take the rock with him when he left. Instead, he asked Benjamin to hold onto it—a simple yet powerful way to remember the farm’s past and everything it represented.
Without Hesitation
Without hesitation, Benjamin headed to the pasture behind the barn. The wide, open land stretched out before him—ideal for planting crops. Its proximity to where his father planned to build made it a convenient path for future strolls.
As he took in the quiet beauty of the field, he found himself questioning why the former owners never used it for farming. But his thoughts were interrupted when something unusual caught his eye in the distance.
Noticing Something Small
He’d noticed the small pond before, dismissing it as nothing more than a charming water feature. But now, viewing it from a different angle, it seemed like something entirely different.
It resembled a crater, as if nature had slowly filled it with rainwater over the years. The thought unsettled him. Why hadn’t the previous owners mentioned anything about this?
Further Investigation
After his discovery, Benjamin decided to do a little digging. He returned to the farmhouse and called up the previous owner.
The man was a little shocked to hear from him so soon after the sale. But as soon as Benjamin mentioned the crater, his tone changed. It was almost like he didn’t want to speak about it.
His Story
But Benjamin wasn’t going to let the matter go, and as soon as the previous owner figured it out, he started talking. And he told Benjamin something he never expected to hear.
What did the old man have to say? And how would it impact Benjamin’s future? Was there any truth to it at all?
It Started With A Riddle
The old man started with a riddle, stating that the rock in the barn and the crater were connected. At this point, Benjamin was fed up with beating around the bush, and he asked the old man to just tell him what he meant.
That was when the old man started opening up, and what he said was beyond comprehension.
The 1960s
According to the previous owner, the story of the rock and the crater went all the way back to the 1960s. That was when his father owned the farm, and what he saw left everyone speechless.
The story became so big at the time that it was somewhat of a local legend. A legend that only the older folks remember today.
The Local Legend
According to the legend, the town had attracted quite a bit of attention back in the 60s due to the unnatural phenomena that had been occurring there during that time.
And the previous owner’s father had seen the sight with his own eyes. The previous owner was too young to understand what was happening at the time, but the story was a fundamental part of his history.
20th Of March 1966
As the man spoke, goosebumps broke out across Benjamin’s skin. He had never thought he would hear such a tale. But there he was, listening to the man speak.
According to the previous owner, it was the night of the 20th of March 1966. His father and older brother were looking out the window, admiring the storm. And then they saw something they would never forget.
Unexplainable Sighting
A strange light appeared on their property. It was hovering above the ground, and his father and brother felt the need to investigate.
As they reached the site, the orb disappeared and reappeared 500 yards away. Then they heard a sound. It was like the bullet of a rifle bouncing off an object. After that, the light disappeared.
Contacting The Authorities
The man’s father then contacted the authorities so he could make a report. He knew the possibility of being called a prankster was high, considering what he had to say, but he couldn’t just let it go.
And when the police arrived, they told him something that left both him and his teenage son shocked.
Not The Only Sighting
As it turned out, the man’s father and brother weren’t the only ones who saw the strange lights. Police officers, as well as other citizens, had seen exactly the same things in the rural parts of the town.
The rumors blew up after that, with many people claiming that it was a legitimate alien encounter.
An Investigation
Because of all the wild rumors, the authorities called in a local expert to debunk the myth. The astrophysicist arrived a few hours later, and he immediately began his investigation into the case.
After days of speaking to the community and checking out the areas where the phenomenon was spotted, the astrophysicist came to a conclusion.
The Conclusion
He concluded that the phenomenon was a natural one. Even though the event was widespread and seen by many credible people, like senators, the astrophysicist concluded that it was nothing more than swamp gas.
He suggested that when swamps decay, they release gasses that can emit both light and sound. But was that it? Was the story over?
Not The End
No, the old man still had a little piece of information that related to Benjamin and his doorstop. The man continued by saying that the lights might’ve stopped that night, but something else happened a few weeks later.
On that night, his father and brother saw something falling from the sky. The object landed on their property.
Finding The Rock
The following morning, the man’s father and brother went out to check what it was that crashed with such a noise the night before. What they found was the crater Benjamin had been asking about.
And in it was the rock in question. At the time, the rock was still warm to the touch, but over time it cooled and became the barn’s doorstop.
A Closer Look
After hanging up, Benjamin went to the barn and picked up the rock. He wasn’t sure if he believed the old man’s tale, but as he stood there, he was certain it was just a bedtime story.
He had never heard of the tale before, and he certainly never heard of meteors landing so close to home either.
Just A Rock
Plus, the rock in his hand looked like any other rock he’d seen before. There was absolutely nothing special about it. But that story could turn into a fun experiment.
Even though there was nothing special about his rock, combined with the tale, it would make one heck of a bedtime story for the kids he intended to have.
The Next Eight Years
Now that he had heard why the rock was so important to the previous owner and how the crater was involved, Benjamin put the entire ordeal behind him.
He kept the rock as he had promised and moved on with his life. And for the next eight years, the rock would be nothing more than a story.
Starting A Family
A couple of years after the incident, Benjamin got married to the woman of his dreams, and the couple had two sons together.
Benjamin had all but forgotten about the rock until his youngest son asked about it. And that was when the old tale came back to life. He told his sons about what happened in the 60s, and they adored the story.
Show And Tell
They loved it so much that they started taking the rock to show and tell day at school, where they shared their favorite tale with all their friends.
But other than that, the rock didn’t really see the light of day. It kept its spot in the barn, where it remained a trusty doorstop. That is until something happened in 2016 that got Benjamin thinking.
Nothing Out Of The Ordinary
Up until that day, Benjamin never saw any truth in the story, and he never gave a second thought to the rock. For him, it was just a simple rock that managed to keep his kids entertained.
But on that fateful night, everything changed. Benjamin started replaying the story in his mind, and the pieces finally started falling into place.
One Special Night
One night, Benjamin and his boys were sitting at the window watching the night sky. There was an eerie similarity between his night and the one in the story. But Benjamin didn’t pay much attention to it.
On that night, there would be a meteor shower, and he wanted to share the moment with his sons. Little did he know that it would change his mind about everything he thought he knew.