Chapter 2

 

Amy picked up a remote from the table and aimed it at the robot. “Just push the button to activate her. It works as easily as when you aim a remote at the television or any other modern convenience. No rocket science on your part to learn this, my friend.”

Karen folded her arms over her chest. “Oh, thanks a lot What kind of friend are you? First you insult my housekeeping abilities. Now I really like the thought of having a weird maid living in my house with me since you think I might be too dumb to handle anything too complicated.”

“I didn't mean that the way it came out. Honest I didn't. It's just most people will be as intimidated as you are with an experiment like this one. We, here at the lab, want you to help us put the prospective buyers at ease after you try the robot and see how easy it is to live with one in your house.

Knowing the price of the robots, buyers will wonder how much of an advantage having one in their homes might be. We expect the customers to react just like you.” Amy giggled. “That's why this is good practice for me to use my sales pitch on you. You're thinking just like our customer will when we try to convince them to buy one of the robots.”

“How much does a robot costs?” Karen asked.

“The price isn't so bad. Four hundred thousand dollars is affordable for most people who will want to purchase the robot,” Amy said causally.

Karen swallowed hard and choked. “You think four hundred thousand dollars is affordable?”

“For rich people who buy one of our robot the answer is yes. They pay good wages all the time for servants. One flat fee for a robot won't sound like much to them. They will save money in the long run.

Now try talking to Henie. She obeys voice commands. Just like this.” When Amy pushed the remote button, Henie opened her eyes. “Hello, Henie. Karen wants to meet you. Say hello to her.”

Henie stuck out her hand to shake hands. In a young, giddy voice, she said, “Hello, Karen. It is super duper to meet you.”

Tentatively, Karen shook the cold, soft synthetic hand and glanced at Amy doubtfully. “Doesn't sound to me like this robot was ever intended to wear the mature uniform of a maid.”

Amy looked confused. “I agree. However, this robot should do the job she was built for.”

Karen looked at Amy for more instructions. “What can I talk to her about? You do know she and I have nothing in common?”

Amy laughed. Before she could answer, Henie spoke up, giving Karen a cheerful answer to her question. “You can say anything you want to me, and I'll answer. My memory recall is super duper good. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll follow your instructions.”

“You're right about her being so lifelike,” Karen said slowly as she gave the robot a closer inspection. “Her face is so animated.”

“Henie is good to go like she is,” Amy said proudly. “We've been working on this experiment for several years. Being lifelike is what we wanted so the robot maid bought to work in a home wouldn't be so obvious to visitors.”

“I've got news for you. This robot will stick out like a sore thumb,” Karen declared.

Amy back tracked. “Perhaps, this one would. What I want is for you to give her a try to see if she works out well. Her personality shouldn't stop her from doing the daily chores we have programmed into her. We don't have time to reprogram her now that you're here. If you will please take Henie home, we can revamp her personality and voice when we bring her back to the lab.”

“I don't know if I want to get involved. This might turn into a time consuming project I don't want to waste my time on when I have my book about finished. I need to concentrate on my writing,” declared Karen. “Besides, this might be an experiment that will go down the tubes fast when people find out how much one of these things cost.”

“Henie and the others are pricey to start with, but once people buy a robot like this one, I can explain to them they don't have to worry about other expenses. She can't eat and doesn't need to be paid wages. The expenses will be a new change of clothes once in awhile, and a new battery every five years.”

Karen looked very concerned. “The word pricey scares me.”

“Why?” Amy asked.

“Are you sure if she breaks down you won't expected me to pay for her parts?” Karen asked.

“Of course not, silly. Henie is just an experiment at this point. We need to put her to work so we know what to look for if problems come up which I really don't anticipate. If she has a weak part that needs fixed, we need to know before we put her on the market.

You can call me any time. I'll send a tech out to repair her at no cost to you. That way we can perfect the robot to be even better than we think she already is.

That's where you come in. You put her to work and tell us what we need to do to make her perfect.

I do need to caution you to remember to be careful how you talk to her. No more calling her it, thing or creature. She can show emotions like humans so don’t hurt her feelings. She smiles, cries, and looks sad.”

Karen's face scrunched up. “Really? Sounds more and more like a giant doll to me. I had a doll once that wet her pants when I fed her a bottle.”

Amy didn't find that particularly amusing. “That won't happen with one of our robots. Don't try forcing anything down Henie's mouth. She isn't able to intake so there isn't anything to come out.”

“That's good to know, but why do robots have to have emotions to be able to do their jobs as maids?” Karen scoffed.

“Remember we're trying to make them as lifelike as possible so only the owners know they are a robot. We need her to fool visitors into thinking she's human,” Amy explained.

Amy was trying hard to make this sound easier than Karen thought it was going to be. There had to be problems Amy wasn't sharing. “Does she ever have an attitude problem or refuse to do a job she's asks to do?”

Amy shook her head. “No, she can handle any situation concerning a household. That's what has been programmed in her as a priority. You won't find any attitude when you give an order. This robot will automatically obey and do the task. What will be of interest to us is will she automatically do tasks on her own without being told. That's what we'd like her to do.”

Karen still wasn't so sure. “You will see to it a different outfit is sent with her if I take her? That teenage girl look gets on my nerves. That isn't the way maids are supposed to dress if you're going to try your sales pitch on buyers.”

“That's an accurate assumption. I told you there's a spare outfit in the satchel already. How about it, Karen? Will you help me? Try Henie for me,” Amy pleaded.

“Okay, just for you, I’ll do this against my better judgment. How long do I have to keep her?”

“I'll be checking with you occasionally to see how things are going. When you and I think the kinks are worked out of Henie, I can bring her back to the lab. This phase of the experiment shouldn't take more than four weeks. You don't mind me coming out once in awhile to see how she performs? I'll call first. I promise,” Amy assured her.

“Fine, you know you're always welcome at my house. In fact, I was going to invite you out anyway to see where I'm living now. So enough of the sales pitch already. Box her up,” Karen said.

Amy laughed as she picked up a journal from the table and handed it to Karen. “Henie doesn’t need a box. She can ride in the car with you just like any other passenger. Fortunately for you, she isn't the nervous type like most humans would be. When she experiences for the first time how you drive, she won't get the least upset. Just don't ask her for an opinion of your driving or your housekeeping. She's programmed to be honest.”

Karen pretended offense at Amy's remarks. “Really! All right, enough already. Making all these aspersions about my failings aren't funny. You're living dangerously for someone who needs a big favor from a friend.” Karen peered at the journal Amy had stuffed in her hand. “What’s this book for?”

Amy took Karen by the elbow. “Let's walk to your car as we talk. Come along, Henie. Pick up your satchel and follow us.

The journal is for the experiment's documentation. Make a daily entry about the robot’s performance each day. Any suggestions you can think of to help us make her perform better will be helpful. How to make her more presentable to the customers. Anything else you'd like to see done to make her more sales proof will be great.”

Karen snapped, “Great! Just what I needed, paperwork. Anything else I need to know about this experiment you have failed to tell me until after I agreed?”

Amy stopped with Karen by the car in the parking lot. “I think that's about it. If you have any questions call me. I do need you to email me your address and directions to your house. I'm not too good with country driving. Otherwise, I might get lost.

Now take the robot home. Stop worrying. You will do fine. Enjoy letting Henie do your work for you.

Henie, get in Karen's car and go with her to her house,” Amy instructed as she opened the back door and threw the satchel on the seat by the grocery sacks.

Karen watched as Henie opened the front car door and bounced into the passenger's seat. She inspected the interior. “Cool car, Kiddo.”

Karen raised a brow.

“You will be fine. I promise,” Amy said with a nervous giggle as she gave Karen a shove.

Karen saw her friend's hands bunch in her lab coat pockets. She wondered if Amy had her fingers crossed on both hands. Wishing for luck maybe that gullible Karen would believe this experiment will go smoothly. Hoping Karen wouldn't change her mind and kick the maid out of the car before she drove out of the parking lot.

Karen climbed in and backed her car up. Garth Brooks's latest song was playing on the radio. Karen liked his singing. She concentrated on the words and watched the traffic as she pulled into the street.

The song cut off in the middle of a verse. Karen glanced at the radio, wondering what the station interference was.

Henie was poking the buttons. “There must be some neater stations we can pick up. I like pop music.” She stopped poking when she found a song she liked.

Karen was about to demand Henie get her finger off the radio buttons. She remembered harsh words might make the robot cry. She clamped her mouth shut tight and concentrated on her driving. Heavens forbid, she hurt Henie's feelings on her very first ride in a car. The robot might jump out to run back to Amy in the lab and get run over by a car. That might make Amy mad enough to send her a bill for the creature.