Whiskaboom

In Short

This whimsical science fiction piece follows Jack Gretch, a brilliant but socially isolated young man who rents a room from an elderly couple, the Burroughs, to conduct clandestine experiments. Obsessed with Einstein’s theories and the "re-integration principle," Jack creates a mysterious, rhythmic machine he calls the "whiskaboom." When his equipment malfunctions, he accidentally deletes the third dimension from himself and his landlords' house. The result is a poignant, humorous, and surreal meditation on the dangerous divide between a child’s dreams and a father’s mercenary ambitions.

The Story

Jack Gretch arrives at the Burroughs' home, solitary and guarded, bringing boxes of mysterious equipment. He is twenty-six, red-headed, and possesses a profound, almost religious, reverence for Albert Einstein. He avoids social interaction, preferring to spend his nights hammering away at his machinery. The Burroughs, a retired couple, soon become accustomed to the rhythmic sound of his invention, which begins as a series of disparate noises before settling into a steady, hypnotic "whiskaboom."

As Jack works, his health deteriorates, leading to a physical collapse. While caring for him, the Burroughs learn the source of his misery: he is hiding from his father, Mr. Gretch, who demands that Jack work on profitable commercial projects rather than his own idealistic, time-harnessing experiments. The Burroughs grow fond of Jack, offering him a stable environment where he can pursue his science at his own pace.

The domestic peace is shattered one Sunday when Mr. Burroughs discovers that his house has vanished. It remains standing, but it has become a "false front"—a two-dimensional structure with no depth. Returning to the house, the couple finds Jack in an even more dire state. He has been reduced to a two-dimensional sheet, thin as paper and literally waving in the breeze. He explains that a circuitry error resulted in the accidental excision of the third dimension. Though he knows how to reverse the process, doing so would require the extensive resources of his father’s laboratory.

Jack is terrified that his father will refuse to help, or worse, manipulate the situation for profit. He begs the Burroughs not to contact his father, but as the neighborhood begins to notice the missing house features and the public utilities fail, the couple decides they must act. In a final, surreal gesture of care, they roll the flat, paper-thin Jack into a cardboard mailing tube and ship him via registered air mail to his father. They send him off with a request that he be restored to his full, three-dimensional self, and perhaps, with a bit of luck, fix the hollowed-out house that remains behind.

How It Unfolds

The arrival of the recluse Jack Gretch moves into the Burroughs’ guest room, immediately establishing a boundary of silence and secrecy. He displays an intense, defensive posture, refusing help with his luggage and locking himself away to begin his work.

The rhythm of discovery The house is filled with the strange, rhythmic sounds of the "whiskaboom" machine, which eventually becomes a comforting presence for the elderly landlords. Jack slowly emerges from his shell, revealing his exhaustion and his deep-seated conflict with his father over the nature of scientific progress.

The dimension shift After Jack’s health stabilizes, a catastrophic miscalculation triggers the disappearance of the home’s interior depth. Mr. Burroughs experiences the shock of walking through his own property as if it were a flat, paper-thin movie set.

The flattened inventor The Burroughs find Jack in his room, reduced to a fragile, two-dimensional state that requires them to use clothespins to keep him from blowing away. He expresses genuine remorse, noting that his error is a failure that would have disappointed his hero, Einstein.

The final mailing Deciding that professional intervention is the only path to survival, the Burroughs pack Jack into a cardboard tube. They ship him home, hoping his father will prioritize the life of his son over his own financial interests.

The People

Jack Gretch is a brilliant, fragile idealist who seeks to advance science for the "good of mankind." He is motivated by a desire for intellectual independence and a need to live up to the standard of his idol, Einstein. His struggle is defined by his father’s control, which renders him both physically and emotionally hollowed out before he even makes his technical mistake.

The Burroughs are an elderly, retired couple acting as the story’s grounding force. Their primary motivation is simply to be good neighbors and caretakers, though they eventually become reluctant, protective guardians of Jack. They evolve from confused, slightly irritated landlords into compassionate parents, willing to embrace the absurd to save a young man’s life.

Mr. Gretch serves as the distant, antagonistic catalyst. Though he never appears in the text, his influence is all-consuming; he represents the cold, transactional world of industrial science that views talent only as a means to generate profit. He stands as the primary obstacle to Jack’s happiness, forcing the son into a desperate, underground exile.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the sound of the machine:

The first one was like a wire brush going around a barrel. It went whisk, whisk.

Explaining the nature of the accident to the Burroughs:

"I didn't harness the fourth--I chopped off the third dimension! Einstein wouldn't have approved!"

The couple’s final, practical solution to their flat boarder’s predicament:

So, despite our promise, we are sending Jack to you by registered parcel post, air mail.

What It's Really About

At its core, this story is a critique of the commodification of human potential. It explores the tension between "pure" science—pursued for the sake of discovery and the benefit of humanity—and the sterile, profit-driven demands of modern industry. Jack’s physical flattening is a potent metaphor for the way he has been compressed by his father’s expectations; his life has been stripped of its "insides" and depth, leaving him a superficial husk. The story asks whether we value the creators or their output, and highlights the tragedy that occurs when a parent treats a child as an asset rather than an individual.

Why Read It Today

This story is a gem for readers who enjoy the mid-century blend of domestic realism and speculative absurdity. It reads like a fable, maintaining a gentle, earnest tone even as the plot veers into the impossible. Readers will likely connect with the Burroughs' warmth; their matter-of-fact reaction to the bizarre—tending to a two-dimensional man with ammonia and garlic before deciding to mail him—is both hilarious and deeply touching. It captures a specific, slightly dated mid-century American voice, yet the emotional core remains sharp and relevant.

The pacing is swift and the narrative structure is clean, making it a perfect quick read for an afternoon. However, readers should be prepared for the period-specific gender roles—Mrs. Burroughs handles the domestic tasks while her husband directs the action—and a certain lack of scientific exposition. It does not try to explain the "whiskaboom" with jargon; instead, it focuses entirely on the human impact of the invention. If you appreciate short, imaginative fiction that prioritizes character humanity over technical complexity, you will find this piece both delightful and strangely haunting. It stays with you, not because of the science, but because of the image of a young man, fragile and folded, being sent home in the mail.