by Ashe Hope

Created on: February 25, 2010

My assistant, Tobor.

 We were watching the movie “Short Circuit 2”on TV. I was tired, after a hard day at work and was sprawled out on the sofa, my body limp, eyes half closed, not even attempting to stifle the yawns that came one after the other. My husband, on the other hand was watching the movie with keen interest. “That is fantastic”, he exclaimed. “What is”? I yawned. “The idea of Robots taking over”, he replied. They can clean, fix things, …some day they will even baby-sit. Amazing what science can do these days” “ Yeah, right”…I drifted off. I thought that it would be neat to own a Robot that would clean, cook, wash dishes, do laundry, drive the kids to school. The  list went on. I called it a night and went to bed.

 A pair of cold steel rods, , touching my arms, suddenly awakened me. I opened my eyes in confusion and was startled to see a white dome shaped structure, about four feet tall, standing at the side of my bed. It had two big red lights that looked like eyes and many smaller lights in various colors all over the dome. In the center of the dome, was a screen. “Wha… what..th..the..” , I stammered. “ Wake up” said a metallic voice, that seemed to come through the screen. “It is time to get up”.“What?”I said. “Wake up” repeated the voice, in the same mono tone. “It is time to get up”. ‘Gosh, I’ve got to be dreaming” I said to myself. I looked over to my side, and saw my husband. He was grinning from ear to ear. “Better get up, darling” otherwise, Tobor won't leave you alone”, he said. “Tobor, who?” I asked. “Tobor”, our Robot, he said

 I stared at him. And I stared at Tobor. “You see, honey”, my husband explained. We had a promotion going on at work, and I thought it would be a nice surprise for you. I bought him yesterday.  He has been programmed to wake you up exactly at half past six. The electronic vibrations that are emitted when you wake up and start walking, will tell him that is task is accomplished. He will then proceed to his next task”. ‘And what might that be”? I inquired with morning sarcasm. “Preparing breakfast” , my husband answered. Well, this may not be so bad after all, I mused, still lying down. “Wake up”.started that metallic voice

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