ELMO’S INVENTION
ELMO FINDS A USE FOR HIS MACHINE
The day after Kingsley’s visit Mildred called. Elmo answered the phone expecting more trouble, “Hello.”
“Hello. It’s me. I miss you so much but I just couldn’t take the conflict and uproar. I’m coming home. Is everything over?”
“It’s all over, Doll. My invention is history. I’m not even going to patent it, it’s done.”
Mildred could hear the disappointment, the depression in his voice. She loved him so much and wanted to comfort him in his loss. She said, “Elmo, I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you.”
He responded, “I love you too, Doll. And I realize more than ever how much I need you.”
After hanging up the phone, Elmo immediately felt better, but at the same time, he felt disappointment that all his efforts had resulted in nothing, more than nothing. Would the folks that protested ever forgive him? Would they ever understand that he was trying to help them not harm them? Would his community forgive him for the disruption he caused? Would everything ever be back to normal? All these thoughts were on his mind as he waited for his love to come home.
Mildred arrived the next day to the open arms of her husband.
The city cleared most of the trash, but there was no way that things would be back to normal for a long time. Mounds of debris still littered the front yard and the curb. Neighbors passed by and shook their heads. Cars passed by and slowed down to take in the event that marred their community.
Mildred said, “I can’t wait until this is over and begin our lives again.”
Elmo loved Mildred so much, yet at the same time, he wanted the efforts he put into his invention to have some success. But he also realized that to pursue that purpose would mean more misery for him and his wife. Society just wasn’t ready for the radical change his invention offered. Elmo now knew that changes that affected the income of sections of the economy, no matter how much they may improve society, would take a long time to be accepted. Money was more important than progress.
* * *
Elmo’s machine still worked fine, and he wanted to continue to use it in some capacity.
One day he said to Mildred, “Maybe I’ll contact Nat Brooker. I matured chickens for him in the past; maybe I can do that again and earn a little profit.”
The next day Elmo drove out to Brooker’s Farm. Nate was repairing some fencing, saw Elmo, and waved a gloved hand. The two men walked to meet.
Elmo said, “Nate, could I set up a deal with you to mature some of your chickens in my invention? Ten for one. I mature ten chickens and you give me one cleaned and ready to cook.”
Nate said, “I know all about the protests out at your place. You sure did stir up a hornets nest. You’re a good man, Elmo, and this sounds like a deal that could help us both. I’d be glad to give you chicks or eggs, but how will I know the chickens will be normal?”
Elmo scratched his head, and then said, “Do you have to submit chickens for inspection?”
Nate responded, “Why yes I do, on occasion.”
“Then submit one of the chickens I age and see what the results are. I can almost guarantee you that there will be no problems.”
“I trust you, Elmo. And what could go wrong? You’re just aging the damn things.”
Nate’s expression suddenly became pensive, and then he asked Elmo, “I’ve been thinking about aging. Have you thought about what else you could age, say cheese or wine?”
Elmo’s eyes brightened as he considered the prospect of finally making some money from his machine. But then he thought some more and the happiness was replaced by dread, how much conflict occurred when he thought he was doing society a favor. Before his mind’s eye were protests from those whose livelihoods depending on aging cheese and wine. There would be picket lines set up by construction workers who built the facilities for the aging. Elmo realized that, with the exception of his chicken farmer friend, he could not use his machine in a way that would endanger someone else’s livelihood. Anyway, he wanted to build a time machine, not an aging process. He mused to himself and smiled, at least I’ll be able to provide the occasional chicken for the dinner table, but he wished for so much more for his efforts.
