"Kit"

William arrived home from a long day of accounting to find a large box on his doorstep. Excitedly, he fumbled for his keys and opens the door with a small click before rushing inside, throwing his briefcase onto the floor and rushing to get his hand trucks. He hurried back to the step and carefully slid the small metal wedge under the box, tilting it back slowly, before pulling the box inside and securing the door. The large smile upon his face never left.

After kicking off his shoes and getting his toolbox, he gently pried the box open and slowly, meticulously removed the inner protective wrap, revealing the shiny red and yellow box, which with a gentle care he opens, and lays the pieces-Small bags, boxes, little sealed pouches hundreds of them, each meticulously labelled and numbered- off to the side keeping each in order. He took out the instruction manual, a large, 250 page booklet and sat down on the couch to read it, every so often glancing up at the box and a few of the contents. Something like this you can't make a mistake on. The manual gives detailed instructions, down to the most minute assembly instruction. Everything must be done just right or the entire thing has to be redone. William knows this, and knew it from the time that he saw the tiny little ad on the corner of the website that no matter the cost, this would change his life.

It was nearly four thirty in the morning when he finished reading the instructions, and being a rational man, William decided to get a good night's sleep before he began, lest a momentary sleep-deprived distraction may cause him to err from the instructions. He also realized that he'd not yet eaten for the evening, and grabbed a slice of yesterday's pizza before heading up to bed. Tomorrow would be a sick day, he was sure.

Ten fifty-seven greeted him as he looked at the clock, the nice red digital read-out reminding him that he was late for work. He didn't care, and a quick phone call and a faked hoarseness soon freed him of the day's occupational responsibilities, leaving the day free for assembly.
He didn't begin right away, going to the kitchen and cooking himself as nice a breakfast as he could, eggs, bacon, hash browns and a nice large glass of orange juice with lots of pulp. He then showered and shaved before heading back to the living room, and sitting down to his project.

He took the first small box, gently cutting the tiny piece of tape that held it closed and opened it. He'd not checked any of them last night, too anxious to read the instructions, but there in front of his eyes was the starting piece, the Alpha, the first step in what would surely be the most amazing thing he'd ever done. He took put the box down, simply staring at it for a moment, before reaching hands shaky with excitement down to touch the object within.

Beside him, the torn wrapping of the red and yellow package danced slowly as he carefully assembled his new life, his new world, the logo proudly displayed-"Build-your-own-Universe kit"