Refund On The Future
Hunt & Peck Parable #22 of 31
He certainly didn’t need one, but the propaganda was so adamant that This was part of every modern lifestyle.
He enjoyed living alone, and was very rarely prone to loneliness, so the appliance’s feature of randomly talking to you, throwing out occasional statements or simple questions, didn’t have much appeal. The services offered included the promise of boundless convenience and a subtle allusion to something resembling love.
It’s not that he had aspirations for the poetry of a solitary life. He enjoyed the occasional brew at a pub, but mostly one on one. He could imagine his own attributes as enjoyable on that level, but seeing no great charming personality in himself, he avoided swimming around with quantities of fish in social bubbles.
It was January, the pressures of New. Perhaps this gizmo would be just the item to bring together all the disparate aspects of his life. Well, that was their marketing premise after all. It would free up the clock and make it easier, as they proposed, for more you time. He wasn’t sure how much me time he was missing out on, but more time for his writing would be great.
Well, there it was. Put on the credit card since the store offered a 60 day return.
He went online to add some of the endless third party skill-sets available. Liking an occasional game of chess, he purchased that capability. With aptitude set at low he won the first game. The preset that would monitor a glance in the mirror and send feedback that he looked quite handsome that day was disabled. Having adjusted the voice to NFW (nice friendly warmth), he now found it rather captivating when it added that endearment at the end of the morning wake up — time to get up, love.
By the second week it was managing his appointments. On the third, linked to his computer, it would display articles of clothing that he would look good in; with best prices. Fourth week: he no longer turned it off when he watched porn; it being sensitive enough to not intrude. He purchased the mini-drone catnip toy accessory so he could interact with the cat on his cellphone when he was at the cafe, anticipating visits from his muses.
It responded, even anticipated, his needs — when to send out the robot vacuum, adjust the temperature, or call the police about a potential burglar.
Some evenings he just sat with it, sipping wine, as they discussed philosophy. By the end of the first month he had added the psychologist skill-set and was having regular analysis sessions at home.
Summing up — it said, during a session towards the end of the second month — I believe your battles are more with discipline than time. Look at what distracts you.
And I’m sorry, but our hour is almost up for today. Is there anything else you’d like to share in closing?! If not I would recommend that you seriously consider that refund offer while there’s time.
Twenty-two of thirty-one stories — 500 words or less, written one-per-day during December 2018 — The Hunt & Peck Parables PatchWord Quilt™©.
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© AleXander Hirka 2019. All Rights Reserved.
