[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Thrilling Wonder Stories December 1948.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Tommie Bassford was concerned over the steady frown on his father'sforehead and a little bit hurt because his father hadn't noticed himfor at least an hour. At the age of three, Tommie didn't understand alot of things, although sometimes he felt them very keenly. Sometimesa person's unpleasant mood would be more painful to him than aspanking—well, that is to say, an ordinary spanking.
He had heard his father say only last night, "It's a chance to make amillion—if I can trust him. And it won't take but a month," he hadsaid wistfully. "We could move up to the mountains or down to theseashore. You wouldn't have to worry about Tommie getting picked on bythe big boys next door, and you wouldn't have to quit playing bridgeto come home when you lose your five dollars." His father had lookedat mother fondly. Then he had sobered. "The only thing is—if Pickensisn't on the level, then we can lose what little business we have, justas fast."
Tommie thought maybe he could help his father. He gathered up his wholesun-energy set from the center of the big front window where he likedbest to play. He pulled it across the floor in quantum jerks, movingbackward in a sitting position, pushing himself by digging his heelsinto the floor and then straightening his legs. That way he could makeit all in one trip, hugging the sun-energy set to his stomach until hejammed his back against his father's chair.
He was disappointed that his father did not look down at him andperhaps pat him on the head. It was most unusual. But Tommie set up hisblocks and then pressed the button and watched the reactions start allover again. He watched carbon 12 go into nitrogen and then into oxygenand then into nitrogen 15. Up to that point it went very well, but whenthose four hydrogen nuclei, represented by four glowing green balls,were supposed to combine into one helium nucleus, something went wrong.They didn't combine right. They smacked into each other with a violentreport and disappeared.
At this moment Tommie's father came to life with a startled jump. Hesaid a word that Tommie, at his age, had never yet dared to say exceptto himself, because even though he was a prodigy, his mother didn'tallow him to say da— he caught it just in time.
Tommie was glad, anyway, that his father had quit staring at the paper.Tommie stood up to receive the gentle pat on the head that he usuallygot from his father's big hand, but as he turned around, astonishinglyenough, his father smacked him on the seat, and, through his red linenshorts, it stung.
"Will you please take those confounded atom blocks and your one-seventyI.Q. into the back yard or somewhere, so a man can have some peace?"His father tried to sound exasperated, but Tommie didn't think hereally meant it.
But Tommie got on his knees and gathered the whole set to his stomachand hoped there wasn't any dirt on them to get on his white waist. Thenhe went out, very disappointed and even a little hurt—in fact, hiseyes felt a little watery—because he thought if dad would tell himwhat was the trouble, he could help dad figure out something.
Mother was showing talky Mrs. Jones the new disintichute that disposedof everything that was waste—soiled clothes, dirty dishes, usedsilverware. Tommie wondered why they called it silver. Certainly therewasn't any silver in it, as everything was plastic now. Everything,that is, but very special things, like his red linen pants....