The thought filled him with a quiet satisfaction no news interview had ever provided.
The regional exhibition took place six weeks later.
The engineer attended with his sister and mother.
His niece stood behind a small table decorated with her project title, a diagram of the communication system, and the two wooden devices.
She wore a navy shirt and had tied her hair back neatly.
The engineer could tell she was nervous.
Her fingers kept moving along the edge of the table.
He approached her before the judges arrived.
"Everything working?"
"Yes."
"You tested it?"
"Four times."
"Then what's wrong?"
She looked toward the other exhibits.
"They all look so professional."
The engineer glanced around.
Several projects featured polished housings, large screens, elaborate displays, and carefully printed posters.
Some had obviously received substantial financial support.
Others were the result of months of work by students who had access to excellent equipment.
His niece looked down at her small wooden boxes.
"Mine looks cheap."
He studied her.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed the little radio receiver they had repaired together at the library.
He placed it beside her project.
She stared.
"Why did you bring that?"
"To remind you of something."
"What?"
"This receiver was broken when you found it."
"I know."
"You repaired it."
"With help."
"Of course. Most useful work involves help."
He pointed toward the two devices.
"Did you understand the problem you were trying to solve?"
"Yes."
"Can you explain your design?"
"Yes."
"Can you demonstrate what happens when communication fails?"
She nodded.
"Then your project has something valuable."
She looked toward the neighboring exhibits.
"But theirs are prettier."
He smiled.
"Pretty is nice. Reliable is better."
She laughed.
The judges arrived shortly afterward.
The girl began speaking nervously.
Then she settled into her explanation.
She described the transmitter.
The receiver.
The acknowledgment system.
The retry mechanism.
And the importance of knowing whether a message had actually reached its intended destination.
One judge asked what inspired her.
She hesitated.
Then she looked toward her uncle.
"My family taught me that sometimes people think they've communicated just because they've spoken."
The engineer felt something tighten in his chest.
She continued.
"But communication isn't complete until somebody listens."
The judges nodded.
She demonstrated the device.