He made a notation in the folder. “How is your eyesight? I see that you don’t wear glasses.”

“Oh, I see perfectly, sir. Nothing wrong with my eyes. I’m observant too.” Mary wasn’t sure why she added the last, and she wished she could take it back. Answer the questions directly, Mary Elizabeth. Don’t offer things that aren’t asked.

“That’s good. Do you have any disabilities?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.” Mary squirmed. She had trouble reading and writing and needed to be extra careful and take lots of time with those skills, but those weren’t disabilities.

“Do you have any trouble with your back, your hands, or your neck? Is there any reason you can’t sit for long periods of time, or turn dials, pull levers, or twist knobs?”

“No, sir. I’m the picture of health.”

“Good.” He reached into his drawer and pulled out another folder. “I’ve got a short, written test here for you to take.”

Panic welled up, choking off Mary’s airway. “I-I’m not very good at written tests, sir.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You said you graduated high school, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can read and write?”

Mary heard buzzing in her ears. “Y-yes sir, but I’m much, much better at verbal and visual tests.”

“I see.” He tapped his pen thoughtfully on the desk. “Stay here, please. I’ll be back in a minute.”

When he’d gone, Mary’s shoulders slumped. You’re doomed. Doomed. If only she had an easier time reading. It wasn’t that she didn’t try, or even that she didn’t enjoy reading. She loved stories.

Several minutes passed, and then Mr. Knutsen returned with another man in tow. This gentleman was nattily dressed, fit, and much younger.

“Hello, Mary. I’m Mr. Edwards. Mr. Knutsen and I have talked it over and think we have a better way to test your aptitude. If you’ll come with me, I’m going to show you a machine and tell you how to work it. That will help us determine if you’re suited for the job we have in mind for you. Does that sound okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

They passed a classroom humming with activity. Girls sat on stools in front of massive panels. On the panels were meters, gauges, knobs, and dials. Mary knew her mouth was hanging open. What were these things?

Mr. Edwards led her into another room and sat her in front of a single similar machine. “Okay, Mary. I’m going to give you some instructions. Let’s see how well you can retain the information and apply it.”