A Beady Reunion

Years passed.  Beads were created.  Beads fell.  Beads rolled away.  Beads became jewelry.  They joined key rings and necklaces, bracelets and rings, earrings and anklets.  Some would meet after years had passed and recall time spent on the mandrel, or the days in the beadmaker's kiln.  Some would find each other on bead social networking sites like BeadBook and MyBead.  At last they decided that a reunion was called for.

The invitations went out to all the corners of the world.  And soon the beads began their winding trek to the site of the reunion.



They followed ancient paths and goat trails.



They criss-crossed continents, rolling hither and yon.



They hitched rides on freighters, stowed away in airplane cargo bays, hopped freight trains until at last they were reunited.



Their were representatives from all the continents, with beads of pottery and shells...



...beads of stone and beads of bone...



...beads of wood and beads of glass...



All night long they rolled and strung each other.  They matched shape and played games arranging themselves by size.  They wire-wrapped their friends and their new acquaintances.  They fused.  And then, as quickly as they gathered, they returned, for they had a destiny.



To celebrate earth with pretty shiny things.