[ WP ] Two people are staring at a particular point in space trying to figure something out .

“ Did you touch it? ” 
 
 
 
 “ Of course not! Did you touch it? ” 
 
 
 
 “ Of course not. Maybe we should poke it with something. Like a stick or something and see what happens? ” 
 
 
 
 “ Ok! ” Marlow began looking for a stick or something to poke it with. As he was searching, Brian continued to stare at the strange point in space. It wasn ’ t moving, but it seemed to have something inside of it moving. Brian was afraid to get too close to this particular point in space, for fear that it would electrocute him. Brian was paranoid of being electrocuted. 
 
 
 
 “ I got a stick. Here! Poke it! ” Marlow said. 
 
 
 
 “ Why me? You have the stick, you poke it. ” 
 
 
 
 “ Jesus, Brian, what the hell are you afraid of? It ’ s just a particular point in space. It doesn ’ t even seem to be moving. Poke it and see if it moves! What are you scared of? ” 
 
 
 
 Brian remembered the last time someone had goaded him into poking something. It was years ago, when he was much younger. His schoolmates teased him, and called him all sorts of names, until he crumbled under the peer pressure, and went ahead with the poking. Since then, Brian had a subtle phobia of light sockets. He still has nightmares about light switches, electrical cords, and high tension wires. “ Listen buddy! There ’ s no way in hell I ’ m going to poke this thing. If you want to see what happens when you poke it, then YOU poke it. In fact, I think you ’ re a coward if you don ’ t poke it! ” Brian thought about this statement, and deep in the back of his mind, he felt guilty for calling his friend names for not poking something. Brian looked at Marlow and apologized. “ I ’ m sorry. You ’ re not a coward. Maybe we could throw something at it instead? ” 
 
 
 
 Marlow laughed, and plunged the stick forward into the strange, peculiar, particular, point in space. 
 
 
 
 A small flicker of light, a loud pop, and an arc of electricity zapped Marlow through the branch. Brian and Marlow smelled burnt arm hair. 
 
 
 
 “ It electrocuted me! ” shouted Marlow, “ Man, that hurt! But like… what a rush, ya know? Scary, but it almost felt good! You want to try? ” Marlow offered the stick to Brian. Brian shook his head. “ OK then, I ’ m going to poke it again! ” Marlow reached in for the second time, and again was zapped by this particular point in space. “ WOW! ” 
 
 
 
 Marlow ’ s hair was now standing up on end. The burning smell intensified, and Marlow ’ s eyes were wide open, expressing a sort of crazed euphoria. “ It ’ s like I can taste the electricity! A bit of blueberries, and sunshine. It feels like the beginning of a first date, or when you ’ re driving too fast on the highway! ” Marlow was practically salivating. 
 
 
 
 “ Marlow, I think you outta take it easy. We still haven ’ t figured out what this particular point in space is. It could be some kind of portal, or ball lightening. Maybe it has something to do with aliens?! What if it ’ s a trap for humans? Like some episode from The Twilight Zone? I think we should report this right away. ” Brian pulled out his cell phone and began to dial the emergency number to the National Electric Grid from memory. 
 
 
 
 “ Just one more time. ” Marlow squared up to the point in space, licked his lips, and this time reached out with his index finger. The particular point in space jumped again, this time with an even larger more beautiful, and extravagant display of light accompanied by the smell of singed hair. “ Whoooooie! I feel like I ’ ve slept for a thousand years! My batteries are charged! My brain is working at the speed of light! My body feels like static. My eyes see nothing but stars! I feel, magnificent! I ’ m unstoppable! I can communicate with all the atoms of the universe! This is the most amazing thing that has ever happened! ” Marlow was breathing rapidly, and he really did look happy. Marlow smiled, and seemed to glow with excitement. “ Brian! You have to try this! ” 
 
 
 
 Brain scowled. He stopped his phone call, and carefully placed his phone back into his pocket. He looked at Marlow, and then eyed the particular point in space. He was skeptical, but curious. Brian didn ’ t really think it was an alien trap, and after all, Marlow seemed to really be jazzed about the experience. Brian thought about all the times he had been afraid in life to try new things. His friends and family had always joked about how sheltered he was. Brian avoided water parks, and hated flying. He ordered his steak well done, and never walked in rainstorms. He was overly cautious, and never experienced the kinds of small adventures most people do. Brian wondered if he could change all that. Maybe Marlow was right? Maybe he should try something thrilling, exotic, and new? Something interesting. Something like this particular point in space, perhaps? 
 
 
 
 Brian took off his safety helmet, and approached the particular point in space. He looked towards Marlow. Marlow grinned, and shook his head, then gave a thumbs-up. Brian grimaced, and slowly brought his poking finger into contact with the particular point in space. 
 
 
 
 There was a brilliant spark, followed by the prompt and complete vaporizing of Brian ’ s entire body as it burned up in one enormous electric flame. A few delicate ashes landed on the ground. Then the particular point in space faded from existence. Like Brian, neither were to be seen by Marlow again.
