My Great Uncle Tom passed away when I was six, and willed me a small, closed, brown cardboard box. On the top was written "Only Open in Case of Emergency".

I carried the box with me everywhere, it gave me great confidence. At night I slept with it on a table next to my bed.

One day a local bully, Dolph, knocked me off my bike on my way home from school. He said he was going to kill me! So I quickly reached for my box and tore it open.

A small light seemed to emulate from the box the instant I cracked its seal. Inside I found three small toy soldiers. Two were using guitars like weapons, and one was dialing in the sound.

I held them out in front of me for protection. Dolph kicked me in the nuts, stole my toy soldiers, and let me live.