"Leonard had already been up for an hour or so before he heard a knock on the door and someone announcing that breakfast was ready.

Leonard made his way down to the kitchen and upon entering saw Wyatt and who he assumed was Wyatt's wife standing there.

"Morning, Leonard, glad to see you're up. Would you like coffee or orange juice with breakfast?"

"Coffee, please."

Wyatt poured a large cup of coffee for Leonard and as he handed it to him, he said, "Leonard I'd like you to meet my beautiful wife, Jenny Cahill."

"Hello, Mrs. Cahill. It's a real pleasure to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you."

"Thanks Leonard, same here. By the way you can call me Jenny. Now, I understand from Wyatt that you have a Ph.D. and work in the physics department at Cal-Tech. That must be interesting work."

"It is. I've recently been studying how to use lasers to transmit voice, data, and energy. If my work is successful, it could completely eliminate the use of hardwired cable and electrical transmission lines."

"Wow. No more towers and lines all over the country and no phone or cable lines. That would be amazing. That has the potential to save trillions of dollars both now and in the future. Damage from extreme weather could be eliminated not to mention the unsightly look of all that stuff."

"Yes, it has the potential to do a lot of good and the best part is that the technology could be used worldwide to provide power and communications systems, especially in undeveloped countries."

Jenny looked at her husband and he nodded his head so she could ask the question that was really on their minds. "Leonard, why are you really here?"

Leonard was taken slightly aback by the bluntness of her question but decided that since he came here to get insight into their daughter and what to do next that it was time to tell them his story. Half an hour later, Leonard said, "That's it. That's the story of Leonard." Jenny and Wyatt sat there shell-shocked. They simply had no idea what the young man before them had endured and the recounting of the experiences between he and Penny broke their hearts. They simply didn't know what to say at that moment. Finally, Wyatt broke the silence when he said, "Leonard let's go look at those experiments I've been doing."

As they drove in his truck, Wyatt commented matter of factly, "It's a small place really by today's standards, but I farm approximately 1000 acres. We grow, corn, wheat, soybeans, and sorghum. The problem as I told you months ago is that the yields have consistently been going down year after year. No matter what combinations of fertilizer I've used and no matter how I've rotated the crops, the problem remains the same. I've consulted with some of the top people in the agriculture department at the University of Nebraska, but all they want to do is for me to use genetically modified organisms (GMOs.) Well, there was one professor there, a Dr. Green who said he would get back to me, but I've never heard from him again. If we can't figure out a better solution, GMOs may be my only option."

"Look Wyatt, I thing organic farming is the answer, not GMOs. That's why I'm excited to see how the experiments you've been conducting using organic farming methods are coming along. Months ago, when I got the results of your soil samples, I determined that conventional farming methods weren't going to work. The sprays and fertilizers you have used for so long have poisoned the soil, and if you keep using them, things are only going to get worse. Remember Einstein's definition of insanity where he said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. When everybody else zigs, you need to zag. Good, we're here at the first test site. Let's see what's going on."

Jenny Cahill picked up the phone on the third ring. "Hey Mom, it's me."

"Penny?"

"Yeah. Surprise. I'm sorry I haven't called in so long. I don't really have a good excuse."

"That's alright. What's going on? Are you okay?"

"No, Mom. I'm not. I'm afraid I really screwed up this time."

"Penny, is this about Leonard?"

"How did you know what happened with Leonard?"

'Well, Leonard is staying with us for a few days. He's working on some crop experiments with your dad. Also, he told us the whole story."

"Oh, God!"

"Penny, I've spent just a short time with Leonard, but I can tell you he's a good man. Considering all he's been through, it's amazing he turned out so well. He doesn't deserve to be hurt anymore. If you love him then you need to do whatever you can to make things right between you two. If you don't love Leonard, then let him go. Leonard deserves to be happy and so do you."

"Okay, Mom. I know what I need to do. Thanks. Bye."

"Bye, sweetie."

The day had been a huge success for Leonard and Wyatt. They had been to each of their test sites and gathered all of the data they needed. Leonard had been poring over the test results on his computer and was excited with what he found. If his calculations were correct then Wyatt, using the organic farming methods they discussed could expect to achieve a 12% increase in crop output the first year and then incremental increases of 3% to 4% on top of that over the next five years for a total of nearly 30%. There was a chance they could even improve on that if scientific advances in organic farming advanced at their current rate.

"Thank you, guys. That was easily the best dinner I've ever had: steak, fried potatoes, salad, dessert. I can die a happy man now."

"You're welcome, Leonard. Now you and Wyatt had better get cleaned up and get dressed in something nice if we're going to make it to the dance on time."

"Jenny, I appreciate the invitation, but I don't know how to dance normally much less line dance or two-step."

"Sorry, Leonard," Wyatt chimed in, "But if I have to go you have to go."

Reluctantly Leonard did as he was told. However, if he had known what awaited him at the dance, he would have been a lot more eager.