The Future

[sneezeagainplease]

The Future

Part One

 

So, the new thing is to purchase a robotic companion and I am intrigued by the idea.  I’ve been saving up money for a year now and finally have enough.

 

I’ve read everything on “The Future” website about the robots offered.  They can do almost anything you need them to do, except drive a car. They come with and photo ID and a tracking device that can be traced remotely.  They are programmed to react to emotions and to feel emotions to the greatest extent a robot is able to at the current time.  They can eat and drink and their waste is eliminated, though not quite in the same manner as the human system would do things.  But, most interesting of all to me, is that the robots have stored in them 108 common cold viruses. When they come into contact with a cold virus, as identified and tracked by a computer system, immunity factors are weighed such as sleep or lack of, stress, length of exposure…etc.  Like us, many times the robot will not get sick.  The robot will catch an average amount of colds per year. When he or she coughs or sneezes, it will be a real vial of contagion housed inside the robot that is released. 

 

Back to the purchase of my robot.  I sat down in front of my computer and hit submit on the paperwork, after paying the purchase fee.  I would be contacted within 24 hours for an interview and if all goes well, I could take home my new companion that same day.

 

The phone rang that same night and I answered it.  We set up my interview for 9:00 the next morning.

 

I couldn’t sleep that night because I was so excited.  This was truly the most fascinating thing I had ever done.  Due to the high price, no one I knew actually owned a robot. I would be the first in my circle to experience what it is like.

 

I finally fell asleep at 2:00 am and made sure I was up at 7:00 so I would not be late for my interview.  I arrive at 8:45 sharp, put my name in and waited.

 

By 10:00, I was given my robot and was free to leave. 

 

I named my companion Senna Rose.  She was in her 20’s, same as me and she had long curly dark hair. Her eyes were a deep brown and her skin was a light brown color. She was average in height and weight.  I got to pick out which one I wanted of those available.

 

Senna climbed into the passenger seat and we drove to my house.  I asked her to clean the house and I took the opportunity to take a short nap. 

 

When I woke up, Senna was sitting in the living room reading a magazine. The house was spotless. I have to admit, I am really liking having Senna here!

 

We had a busy night planned. I was having dinner with friends and then we were going to a late movie. In the morning, I would bring Senna to my parent’s house so that they could meet her.

 

We were both exhausted by the time we got home Saturday night.  Senna yawned and fell asleep in the car and I had to wake her up.  I gave her a pair of my pajamas to wear and told her she could sleep in my bed with me. 

 

Sunday was just as busy as Saturday.  Senna met my nieces and nephews. I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters, so there are a lot of them!  Senna was excellent with the children and she never tired of playing with them, so they loved her. 

 

I had to work Monday, so Senna stayed at home where she would prepare dinner and tidy up.  The rest of the time was hers to use as she would like it. I had given her my old computer and IPOD to give her something to do in her spare time. 

 

When I returned home from work, the laundry was done, the house was spotless and dinner was on the table.  I noticed Senna sniffling a bit when I greeted her with a hug and kiss on the lips.  Her cheeks were a bit flushed and she felt a little warm. 

 

“Sweetie, are you feeling ok?” I asked.  “Actually, I do not feel ok at all. I do believe I am catching a cold by the fact that my throat feels scratchy, my nose is running and I have been sneezing all day,”  She said.  I laughed at the rather robotic answer.  “You poor thing,”  I said.  “How about after dinner, I run you a nice bath and you can just rest?” I added.

Senna’s face scrunched up and she inhaled sharply.  “HAHTISHOOO!”  Her body flung forward and she sneezed openly.  She was still directly in front of me and her sneezed sprayed my face.  “Bless you sweetie,” I said, wiping my face with my sleeve.  I sure hoped I didn’t catch this cold Senna seemed to be coming down with. “Sweetie, when you sneeze, you really should cover, especially when you are in public. It’s ok to do it here just with me, ok?  Although.., I would really rather you didn’t sneeze on me.” I said.  She looked puzzled, so I showed her.  “How will I know I am going to sneeze?” She asked.  “Sweetie, when you feel your nose get all tingly and you will suck air in.  When you suck the air in, cover. You will get the hang of it. You may want to practice here so you will know what to do in public, ok?”  “Sure, I will practice.” She said.

 

We sat down at the table.  Senna’s face scrunch up as soon as she put the first bite in her mouth.  “There COVER!” I shouted.  She held her elbow up as I showed her and sneezed into her shirt sleeve.  “HUHSHEW!  AHTCHOO!”  “Bless you sweetie. That was very good.” The snot dripped down her nose and onto her shirt. The food in her mouth landed on her lap.  It was a start though.  I handed her a napkin. “Now blow,” I said.  It took a few lessons, but before long, Senna knew when the sneezes were coming and learned to cover. 

 

“Sweetie, now you know how to cover. Most people do not cover at home, so you don’t have to if it is just me. Also, I should also add, it is not nice to sneeze directly on people. Most people do not like it, OK?”

“Thanks. I am learning so much,” She said.

 

I helped Senna with her bath and tucked her into bed with a box of tissues next to her.  I realized that I hadn’t instructed her to sanitize her hands when sick. Oh well, that will come later.

 

On Tuesday night, we had plans to meet some friends for dinner at their house.  I told them Senna has a cold and I didn’t know if we should come.  But, they said it was fine and come anyways.

 

By the time I came home from work Tuesday night, Senna looked a mess.  She had dried mucus on her face and hair. There was a pile of tissues on the couch next to her and she was coughing without covering.  Her face was flushed. 

 

“Sweetie, you look awful.  How are you feeling?” I asked her.

 

“I feel hot and not like I am normally supposed to feel.  I just keep having to blow my nose and I keep sneezing.  Now I am coughing too. My throat hurts and my head hurts.” She responded.  She continued, “I checked my system and I do have a rhinovirus or as most people say, a cold.”

 

I notice her make the presneeze face. I was sitting next to her on the couch rubbing her back.  She brought her hands to her face and sneezed into them.  “AAAAHTCHOOO!  HAHTISHEW!”  She used some tissues to wipe her face and hands and to blow her nose. She sneezed twice more into the tissues she held. The snot dripped onto her lap.  “HUHCHEW! AKSHOO!”  “Goodness sweetie, bless you.” I said.  She coughed in my face.  “Sweetie, when you cough you also need to cover. Especially when it is in my face and always in public. At home, at least  turn around. OK?”  I said.  “I’m sorry. I …EYE-IHSHOOO! … didn’t know that.”  “That’s ok. You are still learning.” I said.  I was certain that I couldn’t really avoid getting this cold at this  point.

 

“Sweetie, we have dinner plans so I need you to wash up and change clothes.  When you are all snotty like this, you need to pull your hair back and pay attention to wiping your face better, ok?”  “Ok, she said, getting up to get dressed.

 

Senna was sick as a dog the entire evening, but she did well with covering and staying clean.  What she didn’t know was not to hug my friends when she was this sick.

 

“EHH  HUH HUHCHEWPHXX!” She sneezed onto her coat sleeve, sniffed her snot a bit, wiped and blew her nose and then hugged and extended her hand to my friend Charlie Anne.  Charlie Anne was polite.  “Bless you. Sounds like you are getting a cold, huh?”

 

I whispered into Senna’s ear.  “Sweetie, when you have a cold, just tell people you have a terrible cold and don’t want to get them sick.” I said.  “Don’t hug and shake hands, ok?” I finished.  She nodded.

 

She turned and said to Melanie, “I have a terrible cold and Dhalia says not to hug or shake hands so I will not get you sick too.” She said.

Melanie smiled.  “I appreciate that.  How about an air hug? “ 

 

Half way through dinner, Melanie whispered in my ear.  “You were not kidding when you said she was sick!”  “Yeah, you didn’t believe me?” I responded.  “Well, she is a robot, so I couldn’t exactly picture it,” Melanie said.  

 

Senna sneezed onto her napkin that evening more times than any of us could count.  Lucky for us, the restaurant was not crowded and we sat in the back corner. 

 

“Do you need anything else?” the waitress asked when she brought the food to our table?”  Senna sneezed, again.  “HUHSHOOO!”  She did turn around and used a tissue to cover up nicely.  “Bless you dear.  Cold or allergies?” The waitress asked.  “This is definitely a cold. I have all the common symptoms. I can list them if you want.”  The waitress giggled.  “I think I can see that you are sick without you listing them hon,” She said.

 

By Friday night, Senna had given me her cold.  We were cuddled on the couch watching a movie.  “AHTCHOO!”  I turned my head away from her and sneezed.  “Bless you.  That is the 12^th sneeze this evening since you returned from work.  Plus, your skin is warm to the touch and your nose seems to be running all evening.  I would say that you are catching a cold.”  Senna finished. I laughed.  “Yes, sweetie, you are correct.  I started feeling icky last night.” I said.  “HAHSHOOO! ATCHOO! AKSHEW!”  I sneezed into the tissues which I was using to wipe my runny nose.  “God bless you.  That’s 15 dear. Maybe you should take some medicine and get some rest.” Senna suggested.  She touched my forhead.  “Your temperature is 99.5. You have a fever.” She said.

 

I yawned, stretched and agreed to her plan.  It didn’t take much to convince me. I was feeling awful and was exhausted.  I was visibly shaking and chilled. 

 

Senna took out some clean pajamas for me and I changed.  I brushed my teeth and she climbed into bed next to me to keep me warm.  “I’m so cold, Senna.” I moaned.  She got up and placed 2 more blankets over me.

I buried my face under one of them and sneezed.  “HAHCHEW!”

“God bless you sweetie. You sneezed 5 times in the bathroom, so you are up to 21.” She said.   When I had my cold, I sneezed a total of 76 times.” She said.  I smiled and fell asleep.

 

By morning, I had fully caught Senna’s cold.  In case I couldn’t tell by the symptoms, Senna was able to check my mucus for the exact strain.  “Yes.  Rhinovirus  243x is what  I  read.  You have the  same strain, which means odds are, you  got  it  from me.  I can not get your  cold  because I now have antibodies.” Senna said.  This  was something I  already knew,  since I had blown my nose so much that I used up all the tissue.  “HUHTISHEW!”  “Bless you.  That is the 20^th sneeze today.  Your immune response is very active with this cold.” Senna informed me.  I wiped the snot off my hands with some tissues.  “Thanks. I know. Can you go get more tissues? My nose hurts and we are out of them.  EhhhTCHOO!” I finished with a sneeze.

“Sure, I can do that and bless you again,” Senna said.  The store was within walking distance, but still I was worried about her first outing without me. 

I grabbed some cash out of my purse and handed it to Senna.  “HUH…Be careful. HUHTCHOO! HAHTISHOOO!”  I said.  “God bless you,” Senna said, heading out the front door.

 

She did fine and returned promptly with everything on my list.  I needed the tissues desperately and was happy for her return.

 

For the next few days, Senna tended to my every need.  Senna was at my side with tissues, hot tea, cool cloths for my head and practically jumped to attention each time I sneezed.  “EH..EHHH..EHTCHOO!”  “Bless you Dhalia. What can I do for you?” Senna asked.  “Thanks. Sweetie..wait..gotta..HUHSHOO!  ISHEW!  Sneeze… Honey, just sit down here and relax.  I’m…HAHCHEW! Fine.” I said.  “Bless you.  You didn’t cover that sneeze and it hit my arm.  You really should cover your sneezes.  Plus, you do not sound fine.” Senna remarked.  I moaned.  “I’m sorry Senna.  You’re right.”  I said.  “That’s ok, since I am immune to this cold.”  Senna  said.

 

 

Since I reminded her often enough,  Senna learned to not jump at my every sneeze after that, but was polite.  “Your face says you need to sneeze again.” Senna announced.  “HUSHOOO! ATCHOO! HAHCHEW!”  “Bless you,” Senna said without getting up. I reached over and blew my nose on some tissues.  This went on for the next day or so and then I started to feel better.  Senna tended to my needs, but just didn’t freak out and come running with each sneeze.  That was good because I sneezed constantly for two whole days. 

 

Before I knew it though, we were both well and life returned back to normal.

 

 

 

[Alicia2]

I really like this story, it's really clever and original. I like the idea of a robot learning about colds.

I like the character of Senna, she was kind of robotic enough to know she was a robot but she also had warmth and humanity and vulnerability.

[NoV]

This is a scenario that I really don't think has been explored enough on the forum - the idea of a robot and the variation of sneezes and sneezing situations that it could potentially deliver!

Thanks for posting - I really enjoyed reading this really quite original idea  

[M214186]

Very inventive story

[Medowsweet]

This reminds me of a... story/character/fantasy I have (only the robot is a guy) based on Absolute Boyfriend

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_Boyfriend

We need more like this!