Thomas Edison was one of America’s most celebrated inventors, and when he created the electric light, people from nearby towns rushed in to see the invention for themselves. At that time, electricity was still magical to most people, so the chance to witness a glowing lightbulb felt like seeing the future. Among the curious visitors was an elderly woman who walked nearly twelve kilometers just to reach the demonstration site. By the time she arrived, her legs trembled from fatigue, and she sat on the roadside, massaging her tired feet and pounding her lower back for relief.
Edison happened to pass by and noticed her struggling. With his usual warmth, he stopped to ask why she had come from so far away. The old woman explained that she had walked almost three hours because she wanted to see the electric lamp with her own eyes. She then added that life would be so much easier for elderly people if someone could invent a vehicle that carried them around without relying on horses. When Edison mentioned that horse-drawn carriages already existed, she shook her head and said they made her dizzy and uncomfortable. What she truly wished for was something smooth, steady, and modern. She dreamed of a gentle vehicle that didn’t require any horses at all.
Her words struck Edison with unexpected inspiration. A bright idea flashed through his mind, and he suddenly exclaimed, “Ma’am, I am Thomas Edison. And thanks to you, I have just thought of a vehicle powered entirely by electricity.” The old woman stared at him in disbelief. She had imagined the great inventor as a grand figure surrounded by assistants, not as a simple, friendly man who spoke directly to her. Before she continued her journey, Edison promised her with sincerity, “When I finish my electric vehicle, you will be the first person I invite for a ride.”
From that day forward, Edison became deeply absorbed in developing this new invention. He worked long hours, ran countless experiments, and pushed through failures with determination. Weeks turned into months, and finally, the electric car was ready for its first public run. On the test day, crowds lined up eagerly, forming a long queue that wrapped around the station. People wanted to see another of Edison’s groundbreaking ideas come to life.
Keeping his word, Edison personally invited the same elderly woman to ride in the very first electric car. When they arrived at the boarding area, he turned to her with a proud smile and said, “I kept my promise.” The old woman’s face lit up with excitement. She stepped onto the electric vehicle and said cheerfully, “Thank you. Now I can travel anywhere I want, all day long, with this marvelous machine.”