Behind the Red Curtain by Eve Morton

Author:Eve Morton [Morton, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2023-07-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“First,” Doctor Brown stated, “we need to do experiments.”

“Naturally,” Sandra said. Doctor Brown held the machine in his hand, his eyes wide and slightly fearful. Sandra didn’t bother to mention that she had already performed a handful of experiments on herself—and all but one successful. She sat up straighter in her chair, opposite Doctor Brown in his office. “I think the machine is good, completely effective, but we should always warn women that too much use will soon cause them to hit a plateau. We mean for them to exercise muscles that have been ignored. Not to over-stimulate them.”

Doctor Brown raised an eyebrow. He touched the second attachment on the machine, flicking it slightly. “This may have to go. We can let our patients decide, but I fear this may be too much for them.”

“Sure,” Sandra said, though her smile faltered. She folded her hands over her knees, as she watched Doctor Brown fiddle more with the machine at his desk.

In her mind, Sandra had already relinquished ownership of the device she had helped to create. While Doctor Brown had promised her credit and for her to be a part of the upcoming experiments, Sandra knew she had to let go. It was the easiest way of allowing the invention to move forward, into the hands of many wayward women.

Sandra supposed that this was how a mother often felt about her children. You make them, care for them, and then, you grow proud as they grow up. But at some point, you must sever yourself from their identities and personalities—or risk becoming an enemy in their minds. Children must always leave the nest and become their own people. Inventors must always forsake their products to the hand of safety protocols and other mechanics. Sandra had never had her inventions reach this stage before. They had always remained inside a book, ready to draw upon at a moment’s notice, always in her mind. They had always, unequivocally, remained hers.

One of Sandra’s favourite composers had once been quoted as saying that a composer always thinks of his unfinished creation until it is done. Sandra knew there to be another side to that statement: once complete, the composition must be forgotten about in order to create something anew. She needed to forget her first invention, so she could start on more. Sandra supposed the only real consolation, between being an inventor and being a mother, was that her machine would never die.

But, she reminded herself, placing a small hand over her heart, the machine would also never love her back.

“Are you all right, Miss Lightman?” Doctor Brown asked.

“I will be once you call me Sandra again,” she said with a smile. She placed a hand over her knee, smiling weakly.

“Ah, yes. I should think of a pen name for you to put down on the patent form. Something evocative, but something you’re still able to hide behind.”

“How about…Phineas Fogg?”

“Sounds wonderful,” Doctor Brown said with a smile. Sandra tried to not be disappointed when he didn’t ask her what it meant.

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