How was it possible that it no longer worked. It just stopped one day, or maybe in the middle of the night. No amount of turning, pulling on knobs, or shaking it made any difference. Mom didn't have the answer and neither did Dad. He guessed it was up to him to discover what was broken inside it. After breaking it apart with a screwdriver and staring at the inside, he wasn't sure where to begin to fix it.
Do you have memories of a child breaking something in order to see how it worked, or perhaps thinking he/she could fix it?
My spouse used to be able to repair anything. clocks, machines... he never knew how he knew how but he did... kind of the opposite of this problem I suppose...
ReplyDeleteI know that some people are very gifted in that way. Everyone has a gift(s). I think sometimes people don't give others who work in the trades enough credit, because perhaps they didn't get schooling beyond high school. Certainly obtaining as much education as possible is important, but some people, who for whatever reason didn't get that education, become masters in the field they choose.
DeleteProbably worse still when as kids you had your irst watch and the temptation was to open it it up to see how it worked only for it to never go again!
ReplyDeleteYou came quite close to guessing the object in the story. It was a wind-up alarm clock.
Deletefunny about perspective* even an inanimate object, like a clock or a toaster, when it ceases functioning, it's different to us, in our minds.
ReplyDelete*lol, I was just commenting on another Six Sentence about perspective
Your comment reminds me of a TV show where the contestants purchase items, perhaps even pieces or parts of items, at a flea market. They then take their purchases and create a new object and try to sell the new object or objects. The team that nets the most from their sales wins. They get quite creative.
DeleteThat's me! I have to have someone else hang pictures! I can't fix anything!!!
ReplyDeleteEven if that is the case, you probably make up for that inability with the skills you do have. :-)
DeleteI don't think this is the hula hoop story, but I can't remember what else he broke--besides the bicycle, that is.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wind-up alarm clock. Perhaps you were already off to college.
DeleteCool story! Inquisitive children love to take things apart in an attempt to figure out how they work, and often it falls to Dad to work on reassembly/repair, if possible. I am always amazed at what can be found inside a seemingly simple exterior, be it created or man-made.
ReplyDelete