I still don’t understand why I couldn’t get the Newton’s Cradle,
Elias said at breakfast.
Chewing eggs and toast.
Looking plaintively across at me.
Wanting to continue processing.
Yesterday’s denial of the device.
That demonstrated conservation of momentum, energy.
Appealing to him in the shop at the Franklin Institute.
Do you remember the reasons Grandpop gave? I questioned.
Yes, he answered.
I would lose interest.
It required space.
Mom would have a conniption.
He smiled at the word conniption, learned at the museum’s café.
When we first went over why the souvenir wasn’t a good idea.
I imagined my daughter’s exasperated voice:
One more tchotchke in an already overstuffed apartment!
Now, I said, tell me your reasons for wanting it.
He enumerated.
It’s a cool example of a physics principle.
I would play with it.
I’d store it on my brother’s computer table.
I listened intently.
Then told him a story.
About when I bought hermit crabs and a cage, gifts for his older brother.
When his brother was much younger.
How his parents made me return them to the store.
For the clutter they’d cause.
For the work to take care of them.
Elias piped up.
Well, you’d have to clean the cage, feed them.
Find a place to put the cage.
Aha! I said.
You’re taking the parental perspective.
He smiled, understanding.
The Newton’s Cradle issue done.
Elias seemed satisfied.
Understanding fully now
his Grandpop’s override.
Lynn Benjamin
November 9, 2023
