Shrinkage

by Jonathan Wood

“I’ve done it! I’ve bloody done it!” he cried, leaping into the air, clapping his hands, beaming, the problem finally solved.

“What is it?” Carol asked, regarding the tiny black speck, suspended like a drop of midnight in the magnetic field.

“It’s the answer. It’s the source. It’s the power. It’s energy. It’s cash. It’s everything we need.”

“Looks like a little black hole,” Carol replied and she was unerring in her accuracy.

At the news, the academic establishment perked up its head, cocked its ear.

Next to follow were the corporations, the marketers, the slogan writers.

“Mass energy—Mass distribution” “Black holes puts us in the black.”

Then—distribution, a proud owner in every household.

And the good inventor was a savior, and was rich.

Until, a mistake, an instability discovered.

And no matter how he raced to fix it.

Everything he loved, even Carol.

Going, going…

Gone.