When Dave asked why he wasn’t
inventing, Simon would shrug and respond, “I don’t feel like it right now. I have other priorities.”
Dave knew there was something
more to the story, but he couldn’t get it out of the chipmunk. The next time Jeanette came over to study,
Dave took her aside.
“Has Simon mentioned any
experiments that he’s working on lately?”
“Come to think of it, no, I
haven’t.”
“That’s what I feared. I think Simon is avoiding working on any
inventions because of the accident. I
don’t suppose you could talk to him, could you?
I think he would listen to you.”
“I’m not sure how much better I would
be, but I’ll give it a try.”
“Thanks, Jeanette,” Dave smiled.
“Where did you go?” Simon asked
her once she had sat back down at the dining room table.
“I-uh, went to call Miss Miller
about something.”
“I see,” and he returned to
reading.
Jeanette nibbled on her
fingernail as she tried to think of a tactful way to bring this topic up. After a minute she started, “I haven’t heard
you mention any experiments recently. Do
you have any new ideas?”
“Oh,” he blushed, “I’ve actually
decided to take a break from inventing for a while.”
“How come? You’re so talented!”
“I wouldn’t go far as to say
that.”
Jeanette touched his arm. “Simon, you’ve won the science fair three
years in a row, and your inventions are a great success. Look at the sock sorter you invented for
Dave.”
“Yes, but that was before…this.”
He looked down at the wheelchair.
“It’s just…what if I make
another mistake and make
myself worse? Living in this wheelchair
is bad enough, not able to do all the things I used to do. My life has changed enough already. I don’t want it any worse.”
“I can understand that. But, you can’t let your fears get in the way
of what you love to do.”
Simon was about to argue that he
was not scared but knew it was no use trying to cover it up from Jeanette. She was too smart.
He took a deep breath. “Alright, I guess I can give it another
try. Only, would you mind helping me for
the first few days, just until I can invent on my own again?”
Jeanette squeezed his hand. “I’d love to.”
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