[ WP ] A middle aged inventor has been scraping by on the mediocre contraptions . He creates a device that can understand newborn baby 's . During testing it becomes apparent that this would finally make his fortune , but he is torn as he can never let the world know what the babies are saying .

The parents are out of the room. The baby is calm. A shaky breath. Trembling hands flip the switch. 
 
 `` Okay, little one. What's going on in your world?'' 
 
 < In my world? Mommy is worried about me, soft, but staticky. Sister is jealous. It burns my mind. Papa is resentful, and it's cold inside my head. > 
 
 This is - not- what he had imagined. He was expecting things like'Want Mommy' and'Hungry.' He'd have to think very hard before releasing a device that could prove that babies were empathic... 
 
 A few more tests, at least. Well, as long as he had baby here...'' Anything else you want to tell me?'' 
 
 The baby gave him a look that crossed anger with constipation and began to wail, as the speaker murmured < Mommy's heart will fail. Daddy's car will crash. Sister's boyfriend will kill her. You will- > 
 
 The switch on the microphone assembly was loud, audible even over the child's escalating screams. 
 
 The inventor, shaking again, managed to call in the parents and explain that, no, the device did n't work, and he would certainly call them if he needed a baby to test with again. 
 
 Later, after a shot of whiskey, a small fire, and a few cups of tea, he looked over at the pile of broken bits and pieces that had been his pride and joy, and swore the old vaudeville preformer's oath. 
 
 `` Never work with animals or small children.''
