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The Experiment - Confessions of a Lab Rat
| Open Poetry #13 |
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The Experiment - Confessions of a Lab Rat |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
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The Experiment - Confessions of a Lab Rat (just a little true story, LOL) Sometimes, the best of stories come from childhood memories, And though I have a multitude, there's one that stays with me; Oh, I could tell you tales that you could simply not conceive, For as a youngster, I did not need fancy make-believe. My father, bless his heart, was a psychiatrist you see, So you can well imagine, how objective he could be; He taught us well, my dear old dad … I love him to this day, For all the lessons that I learned, I carry on my way. Of course, we had our chores to do, each week another chart, We'd check them off and get allowance, one buck just to start; But what a treat to get an extra special something too, For dad would hear of studies they would "pay" for you to do. About the tender age of ten, my dad announced one night, That I could get five dollars! What a treat … that was alright! The university it seemed, just wanted me to sit, And watch a bunch of pictures while they tracked my mind though it. "Why not!" I said, "I want five bucks! I'll do it dad, let's go!" So in the car we traveled to the little picture show. We came upon a trailer in the parking lot we stopped, And dad said, "This is it my dear." So I got out and walked. A woman opened up the door, she smiled and let me in, She waved to dad and he drove off, then said "Now let's begin!" In front of me, there was a chair, quite big and overstuffed, With dangly wires and cables all surrounding funny cuffs. She was a kindly woman, nothing fearful did I feel, In soothing tones, she hooked me up to monitors and steel; She strapped all sorts of cables to my fingertips and then, Positioned things upon my chest, my wrists and little head. I must have looked a sight, I laughed, no worries did I show, She said I'd watch some pictures now in front of me, they'd go; "Each time you feel a tingle in your hand," she then explained, "It signals that the photograph you see will quickly change." "It's just a small electric shock, not painful, just a buzz," "A little mild vibration run in sequence, OK love?" She tested it, I giggled, as the picture changed a'new, Another buzz, another pic, in sequence through and through. She wandered back behind the curtain, said she'd be right there, Just tingle-picture, tingle-picture … five bucks, from a chair! I smiled, for easy money, nothing difficult, you see, She was behind the curtain, and the pictures, so pretty. I sat like this for quite a while, in sequence … tingle-change, Until all of a sudden, something happened to this game! The picture changed, but something's wrong … no tingle did I feel, My mind alert, I waited for the next vibration deal. Ah, back to normal, tingle-change, the sequence was restored, But wait! It's out of whack again, my picture changed once more! It started out sporadically, went tingle-tingle-change, Then changed without a tingle … "Something's wrong, now this is strange!" My mind began to panic, I was taken to the brink, Where was this lady? Did she know that things were out of sync? "Yikes, there's another!" Tingle-change, change-tingle, tingle-change, I was in full-fledge panic now, a little child deranged! I called her name, she didn't come, "What's happening?" I cried, But eerie silence filled the little trailer from inside. Envisioning she met her doom, I lost all track of time, The sequence lost it's meaning, as I screamed within my mind. Then suddenly, I realized, the order re-appeared, "I'm back to tingle-change!" I sighed … my trauma disappeared. It stayed in sequence yet again, from there until the end, The lady soon emerged with treats, five bucks for me to spend. My dad was there to greet me as I walked out of the door, He smiled and said, "Well, how'd you do?" (I really wasn't sure!) He then explained of Pavlov's dogs and what they hoped to gain, I was the "norm" they needed to assist them in this game. He told me life is full of patterns, easy to relate, It's when the sequence changes that we panic at our fate; For those who can recover from a change in their routine, Are stronger and can handle more that comes their way it seems. And as we drove into the night, myself and dear old dad, I chattered on about the test, the fright that I had had; My father smiled and took my hand, and said "We're almost home!" "Remember now, say nothing, for your brother's next you know." I looked at dad, and smiled a smile that only sisters could, For my big brother's turn was next … ha HA … now life was good! /Kit McCallum [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 04-29-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved | |||
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latin passion Senior Member
since 2001-04-26
Posts 576 |
this was wonderful!! |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Very entertaining, Kit! |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Um... There's a poem in every crevice of life, isn't there???... This is just extraordinary... I love it - I love it...   |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Kit---this one is fantastic...tingle/change---change/tingle...I'm gonna remember this one (I remember stuff like THAT)  great story, with an electric message and some sibling humor too! WONDERFUL! |
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Mabel A. Dilley Senior Member
since 2001-03-17
Posts 859Seattle, WA, USA |
I loved the truth behind this poem and the subtle humor therein. "I am not now that which I have been." |
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Auguste 
since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953By the sea |
Kit this is an excellent write and such good entertainment. I thank you. Michael Proust- |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
This was truly riveting. I am glad you have happy memories of childhood. Mine was idyllic but I see so many poets here who seemed to have had a traumatic childhood. I find that sad. Joyce |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Enjoyed reading this Kit...James |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
*A little extra thank you to you all for getting through this loooonnngg one. I'll have to shorten up some day or you'll be moving me over into the Prose Forum, LOL!  ~Latin Passion: Glad you enjoyed Latin Passion (love the name by the way) Thank you! ~Denise: I'm happy you found it fun Denise, many thanks to you! ~Nan: LOL, thank you for the test tube Nan! You're wonderful! ~Serenity: Thanks so much Serenity ... I've got another "electric" story, but I'll save that for another time, LOL ... I'm glad you enjoyed! ~Julian: I'm glad it came across OK Julian, it sounds bizarre, but sometimes life is stranger than fiction, LOL. Thanks! ~Michael: Thank you so much for the great throughts Michael, I'm pleased it's coming across well! ~Joyce: I was very lucky as well Joyce. I had a wonderful childhood, even though I have these odd tales to tell, LOL. Many thanks for your thoughts, I loved the "riveting"! ~James: Thank you James, I'm grateful you enjoyed the read, many thanks! Much appreciation to all, /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 04-29-2001).] |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Kit~ Absolutely delightful in the telling ! But I would think quite a traumatic ordeal in the mind of a ten year old ! Glad to know that you got some comedic relief in knowing your brother would have the chance to participate. Does he remember it as vividly as you do ? ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Oh, that I could recover from change more quickly! LOL) The story you tell is fantastic and the message a wise one... and it's written so very well! Great job! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Marge: My brother remembered it as clearly as I did Marge, he was 12 at the time, and went the next night. I kept my mouth shut and just waved the $5 around. No traumas ... really! Some day though, I'll have to tell you how I was the only one who didn't get sewed up with needle and thread at the kitchen table, LOL (my brother and sister both had that little experience). Why go to the emergency room, when you just need a few stiches .. Ack! Some day I'll tell ya that one, LOL. ~Suthern: All these little lessons, and the extra one was ... money never comes easy, LOL. I do still wish I could bounce back as quickly as when I was a kid though ... I'm so glad you enjoyed, many thanks! Much appreciation, /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 04-29-2001).] |
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Amuse_mi Member
since 2001-04-22
Posts 110 |
What a great story. I wish I could write like this. You're stuff is so great. |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
I appreciate this one, it sounds wonderful, all of it from beginning to end. This one is a keeper. Kathleen Blake |
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Blaec Member
since 2001-04-23
Posts 130The Sunshine State |
I really enjoyed this. It's very cute! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Wonderful, Kit!!! How I love your style! I think I went through that training myself. Everytime I see a poem of yours, I smile and clap my hands...it's automatic. Pavlov would be proud!  You ring my bell |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Amuse-Mi: Thank you so much for the kind words Amuse-mi, I'm grateful you enjoyed this little tale! ~Kathleen: I'm glad you appreciated this one Kathleen, it's been a keeper in my memories. Some things you just don't forget, LOL. ~Blaec: Thanks so much Blaec, I'm glad you enjoyed, much appreciated! ~Balladeer: ROFL ... what a mind you have Michael ... I see my experiment has been a success then! Thank you for the grins! Much appreciation to all, /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 04-30-2001).] |
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