Sunday, April 18, 2010

The Assistant

The alarm blared loud and incessant.  He opened his eyes slowly, picked up his phone and shutoff the alarm.  Lying in bed, he concentrated on the dream he just had, which was slowly fading into nothingness.  Another one to be forgotten.  It wasn't important anyway.  Just that it was a beautiful dream.  Time to get up.

When he got to the kitchen, she was sitting there, waiting for him.  "Good morning, Clarice.  Eventful night?" he asked.

"It was pretty uneventful.  There was a short spike in sales in your e-store about two hours ago.  Your sons emailed to greet you a happy birthday.  Your daughter emailed to confirm your dinner date at Friday's tonight.  Your stock portfolio looks to be! healthy for a few more weeks.  How was your sleep?"

Grumbling for the reminder on his age, his reply was a simple grunt.  He went to get his coffee which Clarice had brewing shortly before his alarm woke him up.  "Wonderful coffee, as usual, Clarice.  Did you fall asleep last night?"

"You know I do not sleep, John.  Not so long as there's power in my batteries."

"Right.  I'm sorry.  You look so much like her that it's hard for me to remember that you are what you are."  Apologetic as he was, there was nothing condescending nor discriminatory in his statement.  As he sat down at the table, he took a good look at her.

"Apology accepted."

Clarice was beautiful.  She had big, doe-like black eyes which were slightly slanted.  A pert nose and a small round mouth with lips which some would describe as sensual.  Her face was moon shaped.  Very oriental looking, m! atched with long straight, raven-black hair that reached the m! iddle of her back.  Her skin was smooth but was made of a rubber like substance based on silicone.  She was an android.  Not perfect as she still has a wheelchair for legs but he's working on that.  At least the artificial mind behind the face was close to perfect with an equally biting wit.

Thinking about that, he thought to himself, "why did I ever think programming her with a high IQ was a good idea?"  It was already done, however, and he liked the results.  Even his daughter seems to think so.  At least she was helpful and useful in making his life easier to bear.

His coffee done, he gave instructions for her to carry out for the day pertaining to his business and other personal matters.  As he got up to head for the shower, he was already thinking about the date he's gonna have tonight with his daughter and wishing his sons also lived nearby to enjoy this day with him.

references:  Walking, Talking Living Doll, Geminoid-F, Creepy, Creepier, Japan's New Android

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