It was Jarrod who broke the long silence his family had just put upon itself. "Well, family, it is interesting, don't you think?"

Another lengthy pause before Nick responded in his usual loud voice "Interesting, Pappy? What's so interesting about a contraption like that?"

"Boy Howdy, Nick, I agree with you," Heath remarked, "I can't see what the fuss is about?"

"Well," Audra spoke up, "If what the man who put it here said is true, it could be very exciting having it, but it is so ugly, I'm afraid I won't enjoy it at all. How about you, Mother?"

"Oh, I should think we will get many hours of enjoyment out of it over the years. Don't you, Eugene?"

The youngest Barkley, pleased to be acknowledged, quickly agreed with Victoria, "Yes, Mother, I do. They've installed one at school, just for experimentation and everyone that's used it is mightily impressed. My history professor says it's the coming thing, no doubt about it."

"Your history professor don't know beans, this time!" Nick raved. "What good could this thing be to anybody?"

"Brother Nick, I should think that even you could see how such a thing could be used," Jarrod began a recitation. "Let's say, for instance, that you wanted to get in touch with one of our neighbors about something, or, let's say, you wanted to invite some lovely young lady to a dance. With this new device, you can contact them without ever leaving home."

Nick wrinkled his brow. "Is that a fact! What's wrong with saddlin' up Coco and ridin' over to the neighbors or the lovely lady you mentioned? Huh? What's wrong with that, all of a sudden?"

"Nothing is wrong with it, Nick," Victoria answered before Jarrod could form a reply. "And such means as you mention has served us well for years, of course."

"Boy howdy, it sure has," Heath shook his head. "New fangled things make me nervous."

Gene smiled. "Not me. I'm going to love it. Just think, when I'm away at school, I can talk to you by using this thing."

"Talk to us!" Nick roared. "Why would you want to talk to us, anyway?"

"Because," Eugene began, "if I'm not mistaken, you people often forget I exist when I'm away. Now, I can remind you."

"Oh my," Audra frowned. "I'm afraid our new, uh, whatever you call it, is going to cause trouble among us."

"Now, pretty lady," Jarrod soothed. "no such thing is going to happen. You are correct, of course, Eugene. You can use the one at school to talk to us here."

"Boy howdy, I didn't believe you people could be so taken in," Heath said.

"Taken in, Heath?" Jarrod reacted, obviously curious. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

"I believe he means, Dear," Victoria took it up. "that we've been hoodwinked, that this contraption on the wall won't live up to its expectations."

"If that's what he means, I agree with him," said Nick. "You can't just hold that thing in your hand and hear somebody else talkin'. No way."

"You are very wrong about that, Nick," Eugene told his brother. "And to prove it, why don't we call someone?"

"Wait a minute!" Nick growled. "Are you sayin' that you want one of us to talk on that thing?"

"I do believe that's what Gene has in mind, Brother Nick," Jarrod said. "And I find it a good idea, indeed. Don't you, Mother?"

"Yes, Dear, I do," Victoria agreed, smiling. "Now, who would like to try it first? Jarrod, since you're the oldest, perhaps----"

"Oh no, Mother," Jarrod protested. "I don't believe I should be first. You, lovely lady, are the head of this family. You should go first."

Victoria quickly made another suggestion. "I know who should go first. Audra, Dear, ring up one of your friends. You'll have lots to talk about."

Audra looked astonished. "Me! Oh no, Mother! I don't know how to use it. I'd much rather someone else---Heath, why don't you----?

"Boy howdy, I wouldn't touch that thing with a ten foot pole!" Heath asserted. "No sir, not me. Nick, you go first. You run the ranch."

"Wait a minute! Why should I go first? I'll stick to ridin' and ropin'," Nick told them.

"Well, family," Jarrod said. "You know what this means? If we're all so reluctant to use it, we may as well have it removed."

"Removed!" Eugene exclaimed. "I object! I'll be more than happy to show you how it works. It won't bite you."

"Well, alright, Eugene, maybe you could lead us on this," Victoria stated.

"I say take it off the wall!" Nick objected to the turn of the conversation.

"And I say let Gene show us how to use it," Audra put in.

"I agree with Nick," Heath added. "Boy howdy, this thing is gonna split this family in half."

"And I agree with the ladies," Jarrod joined in. "Therefore, we win. Now, Gene, please proceed."

Eugene stepped up to the thingamajig on the wall. Just as he did so, it rang. So startled were the other Barkleys, that they ran from the room, leaving the youngest to answer. "Hello," he said into the receiver. "Yes. Yes, it's working. Yes, they'll need me now. They are all scared of your invention, Mr. Bell. They'll need me around here for quite a while. They won't forget me now. Yes, thank you again for personally installing it. Good-bye, Mr. Bell. "