The Pencil on the Milk Carton
September 16, 2026
Where were you on December 31, 1999? (Were you even anywhere at all?)
I was at my parents' party. They hosted everyone they knew in our tiny apartment living room. I spent the evening wandering out to pilfer chips and leftover birthday cupcakes into my bedroom, where I counted down to midnight with the Disney Channel.
I was excited for the new millennium. Having just turned ten years old, I felt that my future was right around the corner. And I knew for sure that it would be silver.
Earlier that year, I begged my mom to buy me silver sneakers (she did). I also owned a silver sequined shirt that I wore to school at least once a week. My dream car was a silver Volkswagen Beetle. For me, silver was the color of the new millennium.
It was also the color of my favorite pencil, which you can see illustrated below:
The pencil was not really a prized possession. But it was mine, and I liked it. Who could resist the pencil label, as if it could be mistaken for anything else? Or the little scattered Y2Ks? They amused me, like anything from that time period still does. I just think it's charming, maybe because that era felt so optimistic. We were at the dawn of the future, and the future was silver.
I had the pencil until some kid stole it in junior high. Then it passed out of all knowledge. For years I have searched: thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales. And for years I have left, pencillessly.
Now I turn to you. Please help me bring back the future in the form of this pencil. It's gotta be out there somewhere.
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