Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHILDREN SHOULD BE SEEN Earth’s closely guarded secret. Secrecy had even entailed distributing the darn things to children so that. the small knob grafted on the spine would seem a universal part of the human anatomy... The door swung open now, showing Emily sending out streamers of love, images of supper .. . He beamed back. Nothing was changed! If people only acted sensibly everything would be all right! Only—the kids weren’t shouting. They were standing there, and their faces had an odd look. Why weren’t they shouting like they always did, what did you bring me, daddy, what did you bring me, huh? Then he was closer and he caught it. The silent shouting shoving into his brain. “‘Look!”’ they screamed silently. ““Listen to me!’’ And then—what did you bring me, daddy, what? Let me have it now! He let the images flash back—two small plastic space stations, two bars of chocolate —and felt the disappointment bounce off them. Expected the universe, these kids! What did they think he’d been 27 doing all week—playing marbles ? Then the enormity of what was happening got through to him and he stopped dead in his tracks, swearing silently to himself. Only it wasn’t to himself any more. The kids’ delight (Oh, Daddy, what yousaid!)mingled with Emily’s protest—“‘Sam, darling! Not in front of the children!’ He hadn’t opened his mouth. And that had been enough © protection—last week. And now they were yanking down their T-shirts. And there they were. On each spine was grafted the neat little fiesh-coloured gadget that magnified thought waves ... He winced. Had the authorities thought of the vitality, the violence of chil- dren’s nervous systems? “Isn’t it super!” They bounced up and down, mouths closed. ‘‘Isn’t it terrific?” **“Yes. Yes,” he said. ““That’s fine, isn’t it? Very nice r ““You don’t have to talk to us, Daddy! Can’t you remem- ber? None of us have to talk any more!”’ Gary giggled. “You won’t have to shout at conmicloooks.com