Nature Abhors A Vacuum

James Dryson sat at the workbench in his shed and gazed at the shelves of failed inventions he had created feeling momentarily disconsolate. Turning back to the object in his hands he felt a flutter of excitement but quelled it instantly recognising the same emotion he had experienced before trying each and every one of the 139 previous ‘breakthroughs.’

This, he muttered, will be different. The cyclonic engine was improved, the suction more focused and it was light, extremely light. He placed it on one side and took out a clear A2 sheet of paper which he carefully laid across the detritus of his work station. From the shelf above he took a small jar and, after slowly undoing the lid, shook the contents of dust, flluff and other dirt onto the white 180gm cartridge.

It could be said that James was a negative man. Whether this was from birth of whether life had taken the enthusiasm from him no one could state but one thing was certain, those who knew him would happily say that James was a very, very negative man.

After bracing himself for failure James picked up the small vacuum cleaner and turned it on. A faint hum took the edge off the silence. James himself could hardly breathe. He moved the opening towards the dirt and watched carefully. Closer, closer, closer and still no movement from the dust and dirt. Finally he was right next to the mess and still nothing. Not even a wobble from the fluff. He turned off the little engine and an all-consuming silence filled the air.

He sat back and stared at the little vacuum. Tears filled his eyes as once again he had to face his utter failure. His mood was black, as black as the dirt that mocked him from the otherwise virgin paper.

He turned the vacuum to his head as with a gun and pressed the ‘on’ switch. Why? he thought, Why? In an instant all negative thoughts were sucked from his head. He turned and looked at all the inventions on the shelves and suddenly saw them as positive steps on a journey, a journey that would lead to success. Each as important as the others as it is from failure that you learn most.

He looked at the vacuum in his hand and saw something in the waste collector. Taking off the clear plastic container he emptied the contents into his bin. Previous laziness had meant he hadn’t emptied his rubbish for some time but now, in this positive mood, he tied up the black sack and whistling carried it out to the bin.

Over the next few days those that met James commented on his more positive outlook on life. When asked he could not explain it, he just felt better.

Andy Croft was probably one of the happiest people you could meet. His attitude to life was simple – enjoy it because it’s all you’ve got. He was not for the rat race, he was not for creating pressure and tension. He could have had a high paid job, a big house and all the things people see as visible signs of success. But no, he had something much better, he had peace of mind and everyone who met him benefited from his attitude and warmth.

At an early age he had chosen the work of a bin man. Simple, no pressure and he enjoyed the outside air. Of course the job had changed. He had become a refuse collector and now was a recycling operative but it had not changed his attitude one jot.

Bending to pick up James overweight black bin bag he did not sigh as others or curse as some. No, he lifted it with a smile and even laughed as the bag split right next to his shoulder and something spilled out.

Never had such a mood descended upon Andy. Never had such a feeling of gloom pervaded his soul. His colleagues found him sobbing on the pavement surrounded by refuse. His tortured cries of how worthless his life was would haunt them for the rest of their days.

James, on the other hand, went from strength to strength never knowing what he had invented.