In the novel Falling Up, Peter carves shapes into rocks for children in a remote village.

Movement to Peter's right caught his attention. He turned to see three children standing at the edge of the crowd, each one holding a rock. Turning back to Li, he said, “Ah, our wait is over. Please ask one of the children to bring their rock to us.”

Li spoke to the children, and to their parents who he also recognized, standing behind them. “Please come forward one at a time with your rock. This man will carve your rock for you.”

After a few seconds of hesitation, one of the men holding his son relaxed his grip and let him come forward. The boy carried the rock in front of him in both hands, though the rock didn't appear to be large enough to be very heavy. To Peter, it seemed like he was holding it out in defence, ready to drop it and run back at every step. He stopped, holding out the rock to Peter.

Peter gently took the rock and examined it, both with his sight and also within the rock, looking for cracks. It would ruin the carving if the rock cracked apart from his cuts. “This rock will do nicely. It has a very interesting pattern, and it's very fine-grained, so will take detail well.” It was a fairly flat rock, more or less oval, and fairly smooth. Apparently, a river rock. If the other children brought river rocks too, it would make his job much easier.

Li and the boy watched closely as he turned the rock over, this way and that. Once he had the pattern he was going to cut set in his mind, he lifted the rock into the air. This brought an intake of breath from many in the crowd, and an 'Aah' from some. Once it was clear of his hands, he put his imagined pattern into the rock, lined it up with the lighter streaks running through it, then cut the rock. He separated the two pieces in the air, then reached for the one with his hand, examining it closely with his eyes. Yes, that turned out very well. The lighter streaks within became branches with a leaf to the side in relief. The edges of the rock were sharp, and Peter lifted the rock once more to round the edges with a few judicious cuts. Taking it again in his hand, he rubbed his thumb across the shape and along the edge, confirming it was safe to handle. It laid nicely flat in his palm. He held it out to Li.

Li was amazed at the detail, and how shiny the surface was, as if it had been highly polished. The unpolished original surface on the other side seemed so rough in comparison. “That is beautiful, Peter!” Reluctantly, he handed it to the boy, who held it close to his face, while he brushed fingers back and forth across the smooth surface.

After several seconds, the boy looked up at Peter, said what Li translated as 'Thank you' while he bowed, then turned and walked hurriedly back to his parents, holding up the rock. His father took it from him, and he and his wife examined it together. Then, carefully and visibly not letting anyone else take it from his hands, he showed it in turn to others nearby, to a chorus of 'oohs' and 'ahs'.

Encouraged by this positive outcome, the next child was promptly sent over with her rock. Peter examined this rock in turn, found no cracks or flaws in it, and noting this rock was rounder as well as larger, chose to make a small group of flowers. Since this pattern was more three-dimensional, it took multiple cuts to free the flower shapes. He also cut a flat bottom on it so it would sit well wherever they chose to display it. The dark grey of the rock seemed to turn even darker with the polished surface.

It, too, was well received, as were other rocks which followed. Then there was a rock that was so large, Peter was surprised the boy could carry it. He chose to make it into a small container with a hinged lid with inlaid flowers, suitable perhaps to hold jewellery. He left the sides rather round but inlaid them with patterns of ferns and other plants, and left a small knob at each corner of the bottom for feet. There was a chorus of 'oohs' when he first lifted the hinged lid, then several 'ahs' joined when he lifted out the interior piece which made it into a container. He left the interior surface plain, the corners sharply defined. By the time he was done, there was only a little of the back that was the original surface, and the box was perhaps half the weight it was originally.
—
Many rocks later, there was a fellow who stumbled as he started forward, looking as if he would fall flat on his face. He threw his arms out in front to catch his fall — inadvertently throwing his rock into the air. Peter caught the rock, for it could have reached the crowd and hurt someone, and also caught the boy mid-fall. He brought the boy over and set him on his feet in front of Li and himself, holding him until he was sure he could stand on his own, gently ebbing the gravity holding him up until he was standing again, though a little wobbly.

This was another river rock, unremarkable in size, shape or colour. Peter chose to be a little bit adventurous by putting the now-smiling faces of his parents and the boy's face in relief into it. It seemed to come out looking ok to his eyes, and Li and the boy seemed very pleased. His parents responded with many bows to him when they saw it, so it seemed to be good for them as well.

The next boy took one step forward, stopped, then flung up his arms above his head, rock in one hand. His intent was obvious to Peter, who, chuckling and turning to Li, said, “Well, it looks like our rock-art time is over. It's time to fly!”

Carty, Rodger E. Falling Up (pp. 82-85). self. Kindle Edition.