CARL
& JERRY
Warm
weather was just beginning to make its appearance. March had been unusually warm so far this year - it seemed likely
that 1953 would provide a generous supply of sunny days. As a result of the great weather, there was
a major outbreak of spring fever at the junior high school. Carl was having an even harder time than
usual paying attention to the classroom discussions. As far as he was concerned, there were many more interesting
things going on outside the school building and he was anxious for the school
day to end. Carl looked over at his
friend Jerry, who was tapping at his watch, apparently in an effort to accelerate
the “minute” hand and thus shorten the last class of the day.
Finally
the school bell rang. The boys jumped
up out of their chairs and ran as quickly as the teacher would allow out the
door and down the main school steps.
Without speaking, they continued running and managed to maintain a
pretty good pace all the way to Jerry’s house.
Although out of breath from running, both boys called out at the same
time, “Was it in the mail today?”
Jerry’s mom had known exactly what to expect when she heard the front
door swing open just a few seconds earlier.
Every day for the past two weeks, it had been the same routine. The boys would come home directly from
school, head straight for the hall table where she kept the mail delivered that
day, and call out to her, hoping that the package they had ordered had finally
arrived. Today was the day. “Finally!”, said Carl. “I was beginning to
think that this transistor stuff was a hoax.”
The
boys thanked Jerry’s mom, quickly took the package and headed off to the
basement workshop. “Transistors are not
a hoax”, said Jerry, “ and after we’ve had some time to experiment with what’s
in this package, I think you’ll see why I’ve been so excited about these new
devices.” Ever since Jerry had received his February issue of Radio and
Television News magazine, he had been talking about transistors with such
enthusiasm, that even Carl, who usually reserved this level of excitement for
Whitey Ford and the Yankees, was eagerly awaiting the chance to actually see
and touch one of these little “gems”.