All That Goes Up

In Short

This story is a humorous take on the perils of domestic invention. When an MIT student accidentally discovers a way to alter gravity, his middle-aged father and the family dog become the subjects of an unintended, gravity-defying experiment. Trapped against the ceiling, the father must endure a bizarre and damp recovery process as his family and a visiting professor scramble to understand the phenomenon. It has lasted as a charming example of 1950s science fiction, capturing the era’s wide-eyed optimism regarding amateur discovery and the comedic absurdity of suburban life.

The Story

The narrator, a man in his fifties who sells used cars, is content with the simple rhythms of family life until his son, Jim, invites him into his bedroom laboratory. Jim, an MIT student with a penchant for electronics, has been experimenting with energized metal particles suspended in plastic panels. He intended to create a source for radiant heat or cold light, but he inadvertently created an anti-gravity device. A quick demonstration—tossing a glove onto a glowing plastic plate—sends the item rocketing to the ceiling, where it sticks fast.

The father is skeptical, dismissing the display as a childish parlor trick. However, the next morning reveals the gravity of the situation: the family’s Great Dane, Duchess, has wandered onto the plate and become stuck to the ceiling. When the father enters the room to rescue the dog, he accidentally steps onto the plate himself. He is instantly slammed against the ceiling alongside the frightened dog.

The family’s initial confusion quickly turns to a logistical nightmare. The father and dog remain stuck even after the power is cut, suggesting the plate has somehow altered their physical state rather than merely creating a localized field. The father discovers that small objects he touches—like his cigarette lighter and golf balls—also refuse to fall, instead bouncing against the ceiling. As the family struggles to feed him, the situation takes a tragic turn when Duchess accidentally drifts out an open dormer window, floating away into the sky until she vanishes from sight.

A local professor arrives to assist, confirming that Jim’s device has somehow modified the electrical charge of the objects exposed to it. When the father accidentally chokes on coffee and spits it out, the liquid drifts upward, giving the professor and Jim a breakthrough idea: if touching objects imparts the charge, perhaps a "large volume" of something—like water—can act as a grounding agent to discharge the effect.

The story concludes with the father suspended in mid-air, slowly descending over the course of several days as he is repeatedly soaked by a garden hose. He is eventually lowered to within two feet of the floor, though he remains trapped in a state of partial suspension. The professor and Jim plan to dedicate themselves to researching the discovery, while the father, now skin-wrinkled and weary, resolves that once he finally reaches the ground, he intends to keep his feet firmly planted there.

How It Unfolds

The discovery The father visits his son’s room to witness a mysterious glowing plate that causes objects to fly upward and stick to the ceiling. Despite the father’s skepticism, the reality of the invention is confirmed when a dog and the father himself become pinned to the ceiling.

The unintended consequence The family attempts to manage the crisis while the father remains trapped near the rafters. The tragedy of the dog drifting away into the sky serves as a stark reminder of the danger posed by the unchecked experiment.

The scientific intervention A professor arrives to analyze the transformer and the plastic plate, concluding that the father has been "charged" rather than merely affected by a field. The team confirms the danger is consistent and reproducible by testing a new, smaller plate.

The slow recovery The group decides to use water to discharge the father, leading to days of indoor flooding and a slow, agonizing descent. The story ends with the father still hovering slightly above the ground, resigned to his damp fate while the scientists look toward the future.

The People

The narrator, a middle-aged salesman, serves as the unwilling test subject. He is a pragmatic man who prizes comfort and stability, and his transition from a skeptical parent to a floating, water-logged captive provides the story’s primary source of conflict and humor.

Jim, the twenty-two-year-old son, is the catalyst for the chaos. His earnest, scientific curiosity leads to the breakthrough, yet he lacks the maturity to foresee the risks of his invention. By the end, he is eager to pursue the discovery further, seemingly unbothered by the domestic wreckage he has caused.

Mary, the wife, manages the household through the crisis with a mixture of exasperation and practical support. She is the one who keeps the family fed and provides the necessary tools for the "rescue" mission.

Johnny, the younger brother, provides comic relief and essential assistance. He is the first to suggest the solutions—such as using straws to drink and a ladder to reach the ceiling—that allow his father to survive the ordeal.

Professor Jordan is the professional authority who validates Jim’s work. His presence shifts the tone from a family misunderstanding to a serious scientific inquiry, though his proposed solution—soaking the father with a hose—highlights the desperate, trial-and-error nature of their efforts.

In Its Own Voice

The narrator reflects on the indignity of his new position after the initial shock of being pinned to the ceiling.

"There's no compensation for being plastered to the ceiling."

The father describes the surreal, vertigo-inducing experience of looking out a window while suspended upside down.

"It's just plain impossible to describe, but try to imagine how it would look right now, if you looked out your window ... at the top (to you) is the ground, and at the bottom? Nothing!"

The professor explains the bizarre logic behind the decision to use a hose to solve the problem.

"You see, if whatever you touch picks up a bit of the charge, then about the quickest way to 'discharge' you would be to touch you with a large volume of something."

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is a playful exploration of the gap between scientific ambition and human consequence. It asks what happens when a brilliant, unchecked discovery collides with the mundane reality of a suburban home. The story questions the ethics of invention: is the potential for technological progress worth the immediate, personal cost? The "charge" that traps the father serves as a metaphor for the way new knowledge can fundamentally alter a person's life, often in ways that are messy, uncomfortable, and impossible to "un-do" once the experiment has begun. It highlights the tension between the desire to solve complex problems and the need to maintain a stable, grounded life.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy mid-century science fiction will find this a delightful, quick read that captures the "gee-whiz" spirit of 1950s gadget-driven stories. It feels like a precursor to the modern "man-vs-absurdity" genre, where the focus isn't on the mechanics of the science, but on the hilarious, wet, and frustrating logistics of living with a scientific miracle gone wrong.

The story is lighthearted, but modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes toward domestic roles and the casual, if unintended, cruelty of the dog’s fate. While the writing is plain and conversational, the central image of a man living on his ceiling for days is genuinely memorable and surprisingly vivid. You will stay for the father’s dry, weary humor as he deals with the indignity of being treated like a lab specimen by his own son. If you are looking for a story that trades high-stakes space exploration for the intimate, claustrophobic chaos of an accidental invention, this will stick with you—much like the narrator—long after you finish.