Experimental

By T. W. Spencer

During the summer of 1991 in Philadelphia, Pa., Matthew Montgomery is down on his luck after his adoptive mother (no father) dies. He leaves college and desperately tries to find work, but no jobs seem to be available. He looks in the newspaper for an open position, but discovers Dr. Lexington offers $2,500 to anyone who participates in his trial. Matthew shows interest. He undergoes a new procedure, which Dr. Lexington intends for the improvement of brain disorders. It has side effects, which leads to the development of telepathy, hypnosis, and telekinesis. Dr. Lexington teaches Matthew to control them. Matthew proceeds to assist with teaching another test subject, Norman Lake. Dr. Lexington discloses information on the procedure and its subjects to the media. Matthew angrily confronts Dr. Lexington. He mistakenly attacks Dr. Lexington and retreats to his cousin, Earl Park. Earl helps Matthew out of the state to meet his girlfriend, his former doctor, Dr. Sondra Morgan. The FBI pursues them. They capture Earl, but Matthew remains free. He reunites with Sondra and they free Earl. Afterward, Norman uses telepathy to trick Matthew to return to Philadelphia. He reluctantly fights Norman. He finds himself going back to Philadelphia, where the FBI takes him prisoner. After telepathically convincing Agent York of the FBI, Matthew plots to confront Dr. Lexington, who now has the same abilities. After all of the grueling events, Matthew finally achieves some normalcy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 15, 2010
• ISBN: 9781456713430

T. W. Spencer

A woman gives birth to T.W. Spencer in Calvert County, Maryland. Residing in Lexington Park, Maryland for two years, he emigrates with his mother to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to be closer to her six sisters and ten brothers. He grows up the third of seven children. In eighth grade, his family moves with his grandmother, who dies from lung cancer two years later. Throughout school, he shows great creativity, mostly with writing; however, he doesn't desire a career in writing. After graduating high school in 2005, he makes writing his hobby. In late 2006, he begins his first novel, Experimental, only as a hobby. In mid-2007, he makes a huge career decision. He joins the local plumbers' union, but he maintains his hobby. In the following months and years, the novel grows. He adds characters and conflicts. His hobby comes to an instant halt after he suffers a Traumatic Brain Injury in a serious, near-fatal car accident. He loses a great amount of memory, but miraculously retains memory of his novel. A new desire to be a published author surfaces when he almost dies, not showing anyone his talent. He retools his novel, edits it, and prepares it for publication. Now, he isnt shy to display his writing, nor scared to allow others to read it.

Book preview

Chapter 1:

Meet Matthew Montgomery

After work and alone, a man ventures to through one of the harshest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to get home. The wind makes it cold. He wishes for a new coat. Halfway into his journey, he stops. He waits for a traffic signal to allow him to cross a busy intersection. He looks at his watch. It reads twelve minutes after midnight. He moans because he knows it's only December 12, and it is already too cold for him. He counts on his fingers the years he still has to work. He starts at 1970. Coincidentally, it is twelve years until his retirement. He tires of repeatedly embarking on the same tedious journey.

He reaches a block away from home. As he walks, he hears a noise. He ignores it and continues home. The noise gets louder and clarifies. It sounds like the cry of a baby. He continues ignoring the cry. The cry intensifies when he reaches an abandoned house. He stops and looks at the building. He hears the cries originate from within it. He wonders why a baby would be in an abandoned house. He thinks someone has left an unwanted child within the neglected home. He runs into the house. The cries sound as if they come from a bedroom on the house's second level. He carefully walks up to bedroom. He avoids debris. He enters the dilapidated master bedroom. It is too dark to see. He hears the baby in the room. He reaches for his cigarette lighter to illuminate the room. On the messy floor, he sees the naked baby boy with the umbilical cord attached. The man follows the umbilical cord. He discovers it goes to a newly deceased woman's womb. The sight horrifies him. He nearly vomits. He quickly rushes to the nearest telephone booth and hastily calls for emergency services. Moments later, the police and paramedics arrive.

I was walking when I heard him crying, the man informs paramedics, How is he?

Surprisingly, he's fine, but we'll take him to the hospital to make sure he's alright, says the paramedic.

At the hospital, the nurses enjoy caring for a baby. One nurse in particular, takes special care of him. She pays close attention to him. In fact, she is with him when a social worker from Child Protective Services comes to take him.

I've come for…what's his name? says the social worker.

Uh…Matthew, says the nurse. She says her late father's name.

The social worker takes custody of Matthew. He cries. The social worker takes Matthew to a local orphanage. A day passes. The social worker drops off another child. The nurse, she met the night before, approaches her.

The nurse says, I slept on it, and I am still highly interested in taking Matthew home. How can I do that?

You are? Well, there are a lot of requirements you must meet, says the social worker, Does your husband know of your intentions?

I don't have one, she discloses, Is that a problem?

Being a woman, I'm all for woman’s lib, says the social worker, However, it may count against you, Miss…

Montgomery, she says, You can call me Samantha.

The social worker shakes her hand and says, I'm Maxine, nice to meet you. A single-parent adoption is highly unpopular, but it exists. Okay Samantha, let me make a few phone calls and then I will give you notification on whether you can take him or not. After a long time on the phone, Maxine convinces her superiors to allow Samantha to take Matthew home, but under one condition, she visits every six months. Samantha agrees, although Maxine watches closely.

Samantha rejoices. She takes maternity leave from her job. Samantha asks Maxine when she can return to work. Maxine tells her. Shortly after Matthew is old enough, Samantha hires her sister, Shirley, who has a son Matthew's age. She looks after him while she works. The years seem to pass quickly. On Matthew's fifth birthday, Maxine's visits change to once a year until he turns the age of thirteen, when they finish. Matthew celebrates each of his subsequent birthdays with Samantha, family, friends, and Maxine.

After Maxine's visits end, Matthew creates mischief with his cousin, Earl. They spend most of their free time in Center City, Philadelphia. They trick pedestrians. Each week, police officers escort the boys to their respective homes. Most of the time, Samantha works, in the emergency room of a local hospital. Shirley eagerly calls her with the details. She arrives home, thanks Shirley, and scolds Matthew. Regardless, he continues to create trouble, with Earl as his partner. Each week, Earl tells Matthew his plan, and they enact it. After the police almost arrest them, they decide to go easy. They keep the pranks only in school.

School is where the two boys differ. Earl passes with high grades. Matthew barely passes. Earl occupies his spare time with extra-curricular activities. Matthew occupies his spare time with television, which he prioritizes over homework. Samantha knows this, but works too much to do anything about it. It surprises her when a local college accepts Matthew, despite his low grades. Earl uses his merit to attend the school with his friend.

In college, Matthew realizes his manner concerning school harms his success. The dean places him on academic probation. He notices he needs to work for what he wants. It is at this time he takes a completely different approach to his studies. He chooses a major. He bases it on his interests and studies computer technology. He knows it will be a very hard task for him, but he accepts the challenge.

Matthew replaces partying with studying, dating with studying, and even sleeping with studying. His grades drastically improve. In his second year of school, the school releases him from academic probation because he earns a place on the Dean’s List. It shows him that he isn’t dumb, just lazy. The satisfaction makes him continue to study hard. His great work lasts until late in his junior year of college. On one night, at one in the morning, while reads a textbook, his phone rings.

Matthew answers, I'm busy. What you want?

A woman says urgently, Matthew, I'm your mother's co-worker. Sammie has been in a horrible accident.

Matthew stands and asks, What happened?

After her shifts end, Sammie walks a few blocks to a bus stop. While she crosses a street, a car hits her. The rain must have made it hard to see, but I would’ve known if I hit someone. That jackass kept going.

What the…, Matthew says as he drops the phone.

Matt…Matt…, she yells.

I'm here, he says. He picks up the phone and tries to hide his complete sadness.

She tells him, You need to hurry. Sammie's on life support and I don't know if she has much time.

Okay, he says. He hangs up the phone and frantically grabs his coat.

His roommate and cousin, Earl, wakes. He asks, What's wrong?

Sammie was hit by a car, Matthew says, I gotta go.

Earl gets up and says, Aunt Samantha? Wait, I'm going too.

The young men, still in nightclothes, rush to the hospital in the rain. They travel a far distance on public transportation. Once there, Matthew demands to visit with his mother. Samantha's co-worker leads the way. They arrive to her room. Matthew insists he should be first to see her and alone. Samantha's co-worker and Earl move to let him in the room. He walks to her sleeping body. He stands over her. Matthew pulls a chair closer to his mother. Samantha awakens when she feels his hand on hers.

Matthew! she says with a low, quiet tone, It seems I don't have much left.

Don't talk like that, Matthew says sadly.

Do you know what I said when I first saw you? Samantha asks.

No, Matthew answers, although he has heard it before, many times.

I said, 'this boy deserves better', Samantha tells him.

You are the best, Matthew replies.

A long beep interrupts the tender mother/son moment. A group of doctors and nurses rush to the room. They call the time of death, two forty-six in the morning. Matthew sadly leaves the room and cries on Earl's shoulder. Earl remains at Matthew's side until the day of her memorial. Since Samantha doesn't have any insurance or much money, she only leaves him the three thousand dollars in her savings account.

Since he does not earn a scholarship, Matthew depends on his mother to pay for school. When Samantha dies, so does his dream for a degree. He doesn't return to school after the funeral. Instead of graduating with a Bachelors' degree, he decides to venture into manhood. Things become harder for Matthew. He cannot pay the mortgage, so he loses his mother’s home and has to find another place to live. He rents a small apartment. It consists of one large room, separated by a counter between the kitchen and living room areas. It has only one other room, the bathroom. Since there is no bedroom, he purchases a couch, which converts into a bed. He pays rent with the money he inherits. Now he has a home, he desperately searches for employment.

He finds his first job easily. He works as a short-order cook at a local diner, but Matthew cannot cook. He burns every order he gets. His boss fires him before his first shift ends. Matthew eagerly tries to find another job, but has no luck. Each day, he tirelessly searches for a new job, but no one calls with a job, despite the many applications he completes. Meanwhile, he uses his mother's monetary gift to pay for his everyday expenses. He no longer considers getting a haircut to be one of them. Still, his inheritance quickly shrinks.

Each day, Matthew wakes. For a moment, he does not remember what he has to do. He loves it, until reality hits him like a subway train. He rises and reluctantly starts his day. He washes and dresses. He struggles to tame his rapidly growing hair. He leaves to complete more applications. This is his daily routine, until one late-June, Tuesday morning in 1991.

Matthew’s alarm sounds. He thinks and hits the snooze button. He sleeps longer than he anticipates. He looks at his alarm clock and sees it's now ten forty-seven. He enters the bathroom and prepares for the day. At four minutes after eleven, he leaves the bathroom, dresses, and goes into his living room/bedroom. He looks at his alarm clock. He believes it is too late for job hunting. Matthew grabs his tattered wallet and counts two dollars and eighty-four cents. It is the last money he possesses. He takes it and leaves his apartment. Matthew walks to the local store, two blocks away from his apartment. He enters.

How are you? he says to the clerk at the store.

Hello, says the clerk, Things are okay. My wife is pregnant, again.

Now, that will be your seventh child, right? Matthew asks. He gets an orange juice from the cooler.

Yes, the clerk answers.

Matthew brings his juice to the counter. He reaches behind him and places a newspaper on the counter. The clerk asks, Since when do you buy newspapers?

Since I woke up too late for hitting the pavement. I just need the want ads, explains Matthew.

The clerk responds, If I could afford it, I'd hire you myself. He denies Matthew's money.

Thanks very much! says Matthew as he turns to leave.

He walks the two blocks home. A Philadelphian heat wave makes it seems like a trek of two miles in the Sahara. Still, the neighborhood kids play. One of them approaches Matthew on a bicycle and says, Yo, Matt, when can you fix my bike? My brother is taking this one back to college in the fall.

Well, I don't think I can, Matthew says sorrowfully, So…, sorrow turns to glee, I'll give you mine. I don't use it much anymore.

Thanks, man, the boy shouts. He pops a wheelie as he goes up the street.

Matthew continues to walk home. An elderly female neighbor calls to him, Hi Matt.

Hi Mrs. Richards, Matthew responds. He crosses the street.

You really need a haircut, states Mrs. Richards. She tugs at his long locks.

I can't afford one, remember, Matthew reminds, And I kinda like it.

Maybe you'd get a job if you would cut it, suggests Mrs. Richards.

I have seen people who have worser hair than me get jobs before me, Matthew tells her.

I taught English for thirty years, she says, I could tell you the many things wrong with that statement. The biggest thing is 'worser' is not a word.

Sorry, he apologizes, I never did that good in school.

Uh…never mind, says Mrs. Richards. She stops herself from correcting him.

Matthew waves goodbye and says, Tell Mr. Richards I say, 'hi'. He crosses the street. He sees his landlord leaving his apartment building. Matthew hides his somewhat slim body behind a tree. His landlord looks around the street and does not see him. The landlord gets into his car and leaves. Matthew wipes his brow and goes into the building.

In the building, Matthew discards his empty orange juice bottle in the vestibule. He opens his mailbox and checks his mail. His mailbox contains bad news to Matthew, bills, very late bills. The most important piece of mail is a non-mailed letter from his landlord. Matthew unfolds it. The letter reads, To the tenant of 2612 North Twenty-First Street, Apartment E, Mr. Montgomery, you are two months behind in your rent. To avoid eviction, please make immediate payment. This is your FINAL NOTICE.

Matthew balls the letter. He returns to his apartment. He tosses the letter on his counter. The heat within his domicile overcomes him. He opens the only window in his apartment. It slams shut. He raises it again. It slams shut again. Matthew raises it for a third time. He retrieves an old math textbook to keep the window raised. The odor of urine from the alley below hits him in the nostrils.

Matthew returns his bed to its couch formation. He sits and opens his newspaper. He reads the job listings and comments aloud, Stable cleaner needed. I ain't that desperate, although, I'll put that on the 'maybe' list. Cook needed at local diner. Hey, I worked at that place. Computer technician wanted at rising new company. I can only wish.

He continues to read and comment aloud. Either each job is too disgusting, in his judgment, or he doesn't have the right qualifications. He spots a very enticing ad Matthew reads, Participant needed for a scientific study. Participant may be compensated up to twenty-five hundred dollars. Matthew rubs his eyes and repeats, Twenty-five hundred dollars, twenty-five hundred dollars, two thousand, five hundred dollars. He reads on, If you are interested, call 1-215…, He reaches for his phone and dials. The phone on the other end only rings once.

Lexington Institute of Scientific Advancement, Jeannie speaking. How may I help you? says the receptionist.

Hello, I am interested in the scientific study, Matthew informs.

Okay, I'll need your name to set up an appointment for an interview, says Jeannie.

Sure, it's Matthew, with two T's, Montgomery, he tells her.

Okay, give me a moment, Jeannie tells him, Sir, I have you down for the twenty-sixth at nine. Do you have any questions?

Yes, I've been living in Philly all my life, but I still don't know where the Lexington Institute is located, says Matthew.

The address is 626 North First Street. It's not too far from Center City, Jeannie explains, You are to report to Suite Seven Hundred.

Oh yeah, when is my appointment again? Matthew asks shamefully.

Tomorrow at 9 am, Jeannie repeats.

Thanks, he says as he looks at the 1990 calendar. He ogles Ms. June and hangs up the phone. He feels his appointment may be lucrative. He decides to share his good news with his landlord. He tries to call him, but there is no dial tone. He tosses the cordless phone onto the couch. It bounces, falls to the floor, and shatters. Matthew sees his recent phone bill on the coach. He picks in up and finds a disconnect notice.

Chapter 2:

Promising Procedure Patient

Matthew awakens the next morning, much earlier than he normally wakes. He prepares for the day. He washes. He irons his best suit, his only suit. He dresses. Matthew reaches for a rubber band and ties his hair back, for a change. Once his appearance satisfies him, Matthew leaves his apartment and walks one block to the nearest bus stop. He wishes he didn’t give away his bicycle. He waits a long time in the early morning heat for the bus. After exhausting the last of his funds on bus fare, he forfeits an empty seat to an older woman and stands on the crowded bus for the entire ride from North Philadelphia to Center City. The bus stops at every intersection possible. After the seemingly endless ride, he finally reaches the intersection of First and Market Streets. He isn't there yet. He asks a person walking by for the time. She answers, Eight forty.

He walks six blocks north on First Street. He counts the addresses after he crosses the sixth street on his journey by foot. He looks up at the building marked 626 and sees a golden sign that reads, Lexington Institute of Scientific Advancement. Matthew walks into the dimly lit building. The cool sensation of the air conditioning relieves him. He walks to the security desk.

Excuse me, he says to the female guard on duty, Where is Suite Seven Hundred?

She stands, points, and says, Go down the hall to the elevator. Take it up to the seventh floor, get off and make a left. It's the last door on the right.

Thanks, says Matthew. He turns his head in the direction the guard points. He follows the guard's directions for a half minute. He forgets which floor. He stands on the elevator for almost a minute as he tries to remember the correct floor. When he remembers, he presses the button marked with the number seven. He reaches the seventh floor. He sees a clock on the wall. It reads eight fifty-five. He turns to the left and walks until he finds the door to Suite Seven Hundred. He opens the door. Inside, Matthew's eyes readjust to the brighter lighting. It surprises him to see no one else waits. It makes him feel a little uncomfortable, but he approaches the receptionist's desk.

May I help you? asks the receptionist.

I am here for my appointment, Matthew tells her.

You must be Mr. Montgomery, she responds, I'm Jeannie. We talked on the phone.

Oh, says Matthew, I'm glad I can put a lovely face to a lovely voice.

Jeannie giggles and says, Wait here and I'll tell Dr. Lexington you're here.

The name shocks Matthew. He replies, Wait a minute, the Dr. Lexington? The same Dr. Lexington whose name is on the building and is in the news all the time?

Yes, says Jeannie. She picks up the telephone on her desk.

In 1965, Michael Lexington graduates from college at the top of his class, with a doctorate in neurology. He diligently studies the brain. After he finishes his residency, the Philadelphia native and new doctor becomes a neurosurgeon. He excels at his craft. He becomes one of the top neurosurgeons in the tri-state area, and one of the highest paid neurosurgeons in the country. Fifteen years into his career, Dr. Lexington takes on research and teaching positions at his alma mater. Over his many years in the medical field, he tends to be an innovator. He creates new ways to treat patients with brain afflictions. In the city and surrounding area, everyone knows of him.

In 1986, he founds the Lexington Institute of Scientific Advancement,