Once again, Oliver felt the enormity of this task pressing down upon him. Had he really done everything he could? Was this the absolute best of his ability? He suddenly felt extremely insecure in his creation. Not to mention terrified that if it didnt work it would prove once and for all that Oliver wasnt talented enough to be Armandos apprentice. Then hed be sent back to his terrible life for sure. The thought was unbearable.

Its ready, Oliver said with a nod, his chest tight with anguish.

He flicked on the machine and heard the buzz of electricity as it came to life. He let out a little bit of held breath. So far so good.

The LD light on the end of the camera blinked red. So that was working too, Oliver thought with a growing sense of relief and accomplishment.

Then he and Armando walked over to the screen. To Olivers utter dismay, they were staring at nothing but blackness. The image from the camera wasnt being displayed onto the screen, which was the whole point of the task. If he couldnt make the image come onto the screen, hed effectively achieved nothing.

Beside him, he could feel the disappointment coming off Armando. But it didnt even begin to match the disappointment Oliver felt in himself. Hed let himself down. Hed been a fool to ever think he could be more than a poor kid from a bad neighborhood.

Oliver couldnt even bear to hear what Armando was about to say. He didnt need it confirmed to him, he already knew. He turned and headed for the door, trudging dejectedly away from his failure.

Oliver… Armando said.

Oliver couldnt even bear to look back. No, no, you dont have to say it. Ill just leave.

Oliver… Armando repeated.

Its fine. I understand. Im leaving.

OLIVER! Armando yelled, interrupting him.

This time, Oliver finally stopped. Hed made it all the way to the door, and he turned now at the threshold, looking back through sad eyes at Armando, who was still standing beside his crude invention.

Yes? he said, sadly, bracing himself for Armandos disappointment.

I think you missed something, Armando said.

Oliver frowned. It was not what hed been expecting to hear. What?

Armando just nodded at the invention. Come and look. Youll figure it out once you get here.

His brow furrowing even more, Oliver walked back over to his ugly machine. He didnt really want to look at it again, at his failure. What good would it do, other than rub salt in the wound?

But as he approached, he noticed the same thing Armando had. There was something wrong with the camera he had connected to the screen. Though it was on and working, as indicated by the flashing light, the actual lens didnt look right at all. In fact, it looked as though it had been coated in a film of something black, like oil or dust.