Hello and welcome to me this pod episode 18. I'm your host to de
minas have been sitting on a bunch of stories for way too
long and it feels good to be producing meat as part again. If
you're enjoying the show, well let me know mail me this pod.com
Or at meatus pod on Twitter, but the best thing you can do is
share the show. On this episode, we have two stories for you. The
first is a flash fiction story from James Moran. James Moran is
a professional astrologer who regularly publishes articles,
fiction and poetry. His published works can be found at
James moran.org/the-creation-playpen.
A link will be in the show notes. Inventor by James Moran.
He remembered the names of the first 50 robots he invented.
After 50 He grew concerned. Daily he encountered not only
robots whose names he could not recall. But totally unfamiliar
robots he did not even remember building. On the dusty floor
behind his workbench where no robot could see. He knelt and
begged mother earth to swallow the growing village of robots
crowding his property. He prayed so hard that he shook and he
shook so hard that he didn't notice the earthquake until
Splinter showered him. He tumbled through the fissure in
the floor, cool soil and Villa Tim and needed him in a
peristaltic flow until he was deposited on the floor of a
tall, dim cavern. All around him. Women made of polished gold
stood on thick thighs. Strong arms nodded over their chests.
They did not speak. He finally asked. So will you do it? When
they didn't answer? He asked. Will you destroy the robots.
Together, they turned and marched out of the cavern. Once
alone, he cried himself to sleep. When he awoke in his bed,
His room was empty the curtain below it in the breeze. He stood
across the room and looked out over an utterly vacant field. He
spent the following two days going on walks and sipping tea
and quiet serenity. On the third day, He tiptoed over the fissure
in the floor of his study, sat at his workbench and said about
constructing another robot
Our next story comes to us from Todd wells. Todd wells lives in
Chicago. He has three children and one wife. He dabbles in time
travel in that he plays bass in an 80s cover band. You can visit
Todd's website at travel diary of a madman.com. The voices
you'll hear in this episode come to us from Sarah Gertrude
Spencer, Larry Blattner, Gregory Forman and me. Sarah Gertrude is
a voice and on Camera Actor based in Austin, Texas.
Originally from Wisconsin, she is known for her casual
Midwestern attitude and overall quirkiness. Spencer is the host
of bowl after bowl with his wife Lorien and host of Abel craft
with his bandmate Abel Kirby. Larry brightener is the host of
that Larry show. Gregory Forman is an actor writer, podcaster
and publican, who diversifies an intense amount of waking hours
with a vibrant dream state. We're not concocting ambitious
geopolitical movements or manifesting creative spaces, he
has often seen catering to the whims of his two young children.
Should you wish to hone his considerable multi talents and
utilize them for your project. He is always available for
consideration. Links to all of their work will be in the show
notes. Without further ado, here's our story. Household
appliances by Todd wells. Kobe shook the container and tried
again a trickle of orange juice dribbled around the block of ice
that had formed in the bottle. He checked the thermometer in
the refrigerator inside. It was back down to 21 degrees. Kobe
drank the ounce and a half of liquid he had been able to
extricate at least it was cold. He was not looking forward to
another round of phone calls with Irwin, the developer who
sold them the condo. Kobe and Marcia had moved in a month ago,
and things had started malfunctioning almost
immediately. Unfortunately, Irwin had their money leaving
the young Trouble with little leverage, as Kobe thought rather
the next round of phone tag he would have to endure. He saw
through the bay window the strange old man on the other
side of the street. He was staring at their house again.
The old man looked quirky, like he shopped for clothing and
dumpster behind the tweed factory and was unaware that
combs had been invented. But it did not look threatening. Kobe
had never followed up on the old man because every time he
appeared, there was inevitably some house issue requiring Kobes
full attention that morning was no exception. Marsha's cry
echoed through the house. She strode into the kitchen.
The Wi Fi just went down again. Right before I could send the
email off to the Dallas office. Do you want to call Erwin again?
Kobe wanted to do anything but make that call. Still. He
nodded. Marcia picked up the orange juice container shook it
inside.
I'm late. Do what you can. I'll see you tonight
Kobe's wife kissed him goodbye and left for work. Kobe grimace
to the task ahead and prepared to call but his phone couldn't
get a signal both disappointed and relieved. Kobe got his
things together and left for work to Kobe moped as he walked
home from the train station that evening. Earlier a brief and
unpleasant phone conversation with Irwin had put Kobe in a
worse mood, a difficult feat. Irwin had blamed Kobe and Marcia
for the glitches and refused to take any more remedial action.
This could be traced back to when the burglar alarm had gone
off at 2am and Marsha not pausing to read the manual
yanked the whole thing out of the wall. He argued that this
void any warranty, dismissing Kobes assertion that the burglar
alarm had nothing to do with a refrigerator. Looking down as he
walked and dreading to find out what else was no longer working,
Coby didn't see the old man until he almost tripped over
him.
Your house is everything working properly, startled,
but also defensive that he owned a house in which nothing worked
properly. Kobe replied, who are you? The old man looked back
towards Kobe's house and answered,
My name is Martin used to run a repair business there.
Martin waved his hand in the direction of the house. Kobe
thought he was beginning to understand. This older gentleman
was grappling with an echo of the past ringing in his ears,
touching and harmless. Kobe could wish this salt of the
earth well, then forget about it and move on. You're in great
danger. Kobe and looked Martin over again.
You don't look dangerous.
Back in the 70s before everything became disposable. I
repaired household electronic items, toasters, televisions,
ham radios. I enjoyed it, probably because I was good at
it. When a customer dropped off a broken appliance. I didn't
just fix it. I improved it.
Martin's gaze grew unfocused as He reminisced.
After I worked on them televisions didn't need aluminum
foil on the antennas. Radios sounded like you were right
there in the station with DJ toes brown perfectly every
single time. This last
item resonated with Kobe, as his toaster had recently started
making bread soggy.
I discovered how to reorganize the circuitry in any piece of
electronic hardware so that the appliances at most basic level
wanted to succeed.
Martin turned to Kobe, and for the first time he could see the
clarity and Martin's eyes,
I gave them instinct. I wired them for the ability to see from
all angles the task they had been designed for, and let them
decide how to accomplish it.
Martin clenched his gnarled hand into a fist. He tensed up
briefly before continuing now with an air of regret,
but I wanted more, too much. I kept improving the electronics
until one day,
Kobe, now unwrapped, trying to guess the ending.
You gave them artificial intelligence
Martin's mouth bent into a wry smile.
No, there was nothing artificial about it. I made them sentient.
Kobe considered this instinct I can understand. But what good is
a sentient appliance
none. Before they ran smoothly, did exactly what they were
supposed to. Once they were thinking and knowing they became
needy, petulant. I couldn't just turn on a lamp anymore. I had to
ask nicely. Or if the alarm clock thought I was spending too
much time with the stereo I would go off accidentally in the
middle of the night. Still, they were my children. I brought them
into the world and I was responsible for them. And I
would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy their company, at
least a little.
And that's why nothing works in our house. All the appliances
are alive and in a bad mood. No,
Martin sighed, as his gaze drifted to nothing in
particular, your appliances
are not alive, but your house is haunted.
Marcia put her hand to her mouth and cried that is so sad. Kobe
had recounted Martin's tale to Marcia. He told her about the
fire that Martin stove had started in a bit of jealous peak
after learning of Martin's plan to buy a microwave. The repair
shop burned down and none of the appliances survived. Martin held
a service for them and buried the charred remains on the site.
He planted a small garden as a memorial and visited once a year
to pay respects. The Urban Decay of the 70s and 80s ensured that
the land was of no use to anyone and the appliances rested
peacefully. But when the neighborhood began its
revitalization process. The only question was whether the plot of
land would be turned into a condo or a vegan coffee shop.
Martin had anticipated that disturbing the grave might have
consequences. So he approached Erwin during construction and
offered to pay him to have the site excavated and moved to a
more permanent location or when took the money, but never moved
the remains.
So the spirit appliances are taking over the bodies of the
living ones
Marsha asked as she looked at the Food Dehydrator with
concern, but also empathy.
Martin says know that our appliances don't have the
enhanced nervous systems required for that. But the
ghosts are able to disturb them and stop them from doing what
they're supposed to
Marcia patted the stereo speaker gently and asked, So what
do we do? How do we help them find peace?
Kobe explained Martin's plan. Martin, Marcia and Kobe sat at
the dining table waiting for their guests to arrive. The room
was illuminated by five candles. Because the overhead lights
wouldn't turn on. The ghosts were clearly in a state of
agitation as nothing in the unit was working properly. The candle
flames flickered and the updrafts caused by the heat and
air conditioning running at the same time. From down the hall.
They can hear the buzz of Marshalls electric toothbrush
nearby, a low battery warning and a carbon monoxide detector
chirps. Are they angry? Martin looked around the room.
I don't think so. My presence confuses them. But that's all
Martin paused. Then added
however, I don't know how they'll react when we get
started. You have everything you need.
Double check Kobe. Martin only smile and patted the worn
leather satchel at his feet. Which was good, because it was
much too late to do anything if the answer had been anything but
yes, the three of them sat without speaking while different
components of that condo word into action and abruptly
stopped. When the knock of the front door finally came Kobe and
Marsha left from their chairs. Martin rose slowly and
deliberately satchel in hand.
Well, good luck to all of us.
Martin turns make his way towards the back door but pause.
He looked at the electric pencil sharpener that was spinning
without any pencil inserted and added
your luck to you two old friends.
Once martinet close the back door behind him. Marcia and Kobe
exchanged a final nervous glance. Then Marsha open the
door. Hi, good to see you again. Irwin was clearly uncomfortable
returning to the scene but the bait had been too enticing to
pass up. I
got a message from Kobe saying that you guys wanted to buy a
second unit in the development. Yes,
yes, come in. Thanks for coming by.
Everyone stepped into the four year and looked up at the track
lighting which was blinking asynchronously. Marcia was
ignoring it. So he pretended not to notice it too. He followed
Marsha into the living room where Kobe stood to greet him.
Erwin had worked in construction all of his life and was quite a
bit more muscular and Kobe. Yet the shadows of the candlelit
room made Kobe look like a vampire. And Irwin
unintentionally covered his neck with his hand.
Thanks so much for coming. We're really excited to buy another
one of these condos, they look like great investments.
at bat. The lights in the room blinked on then off again. As in
the Fourier, neither Marcia nor Kobe said anything. So Irwin
played along please have a seat. Marcia beckoned towards the
chair. Irwin lowered himself into the seat with more caution
than usual though unsure exactly what he might be exercising
caution against, he began.
So you really want to buy another one
absolutely
confirmed Kobe as the light in the hallway went out. Oh, okay.
So Erwin with a nervous glance at the whole way.
I brought specs for several days. units that will be
completed in the next six months. Do you know how many
bedrooms you're interested in
the hallway light came back to life then grew dimmer, but
didn't go out. Kobe and Marcia looked at each other
questioning.
We hadn't really thought about that, too, maybe? Or four.
How about three? Something right in the middle,
the holy light changed its mind and grew brighter again.
Confused? Erwin looked back and forth between Kobe and Marcia
actually stated Kobe with conviction.
The number of bedrooms isn't important. We want to see them
all
the hallway light throbbed.
Well, then we can just start at the top,
and he flipped over the first of his brochures. Kobe and Marcia
could hardly see anything in the dim light, but studied layouts
and upgrades as Erwin went through his sales pitch. Now
focused on getting the sale. He managed to ignore the
malfunctioning systems and the possibility that has
construction might be in some way responsible for their
behavior, even when the television turned on by itself,
broadcasting a droning performance on C span or when
stayed on topic,
this shelving come standard in particleboard. But we can
upgrade that to mahogany, which of
course are when added with a knowing nod would dramatically
increase the resale value of the units.
Yes, that's an interesting point. But I wonder if teak
might be a better
a knock at the door and erupted Cobis exposition Excuse me a
moment. Kobe walked through the door and looked through a
peephole. It was Martin. Kobe open the door only wide enough
for him to slide outside. in a low voice Martin asked,
Do you have an extension cord?
Kobe replied in the loud whisper.
What do you need an extension cord for? You're working on his
car?
It was locked. I thought you said you knew how to break into
a car. I do. But car locks have changed I guess during his
pickup truck doesn't even have a keyhole
Coby felt a twinge of panic.
So this isn't gonna work. It will if you have an extension
cord,
distraught, Coby shook his head, but ran to the garage to
retrieve his extension cord. As he handed it to Martin, he
asked,
How much longer do you need
five minutes. Kobe didn't
like this turn of events, but there was no alternative other
than to see it through. Kobe returned to Irwin, and the sales
pitch Everything okay. Sure. Answer Kobe in a voice that was
too high. Marsha was about to follow up. But a gurgling sound
from the kitchen interrupted her. Excuse me just a moment
Marsha pardon herself and walked into the kitchen. A moment later
she reappeared it appears
the water in the freezer is now boiling. Would anyone like tea
before either
the men could respond? They heard a cry of alarm from
outside. Oh, you
mustn't? That isn't the way it's Martin.
He's in trouble. Kobe
and Marcia ran out the front door, or when followed,
confused. When they got outside, they saw Martin standing behind
the rear of the truck looking at something in the bed the others
couldn't see. On his face, Martin wore a look of concern or
maybe it was fear.
What are you doing so my truck? Get away from there?
Martin moved away from the truck reluctantly. Irwin peered at
Martin more closely.
Wait a minute. I know you. You're that crazy guy who wanted
me to take all that dirt to the cemetery. And
if you had only done it, we wouldn't have this problem now,
or when stood with his back to the truck protecting it. And
although he wasn't looking at his truck, he could see the
expression on the other's face. So he knew immediately that
something was happening behind him. And it was probably
something bad. Or when turned out just as the hose from the
drive hack that had been in his truck reached his head. The
suction cup at the end of locked onto Irwin's face, and the
driver. Erwin screen was sucked into the bowels of the dry back.
He fell to his knees struggling to pull the suction cup from his
head.
You brought a drive back to life. I thought the plan was to
bring his truck to life and have the truck reason with him.
I told you I couldn't get into the truck to drive back was my
only option.
But why can't the drive back reason with him instead? Well, I
explained the situation but the drive ag was pretty upset about
the whole desecration thing. I think it wants revenge.
Erwin had fallen to his back still fighting to escape. Colby
and looked at his extension cord connecting the drive back to an
outlet on the other side of the condo.
Should we pull the
plug? No, I don't want it to get mad at us to
Marsha took a step towards the driver. Heck, Kobe put on an arm
to stop her. But Marsha shook her head. Kobe had misgivings
when he dropped his arm. Marsha lowered herself to her knees
next to the drive back. She put one hand on its chassis and
queued I know how ng For you must be,
Marcia realized that she wanted the drive back to hear her over
the roar of the motor. She was going to have to speak much more
loudly. So she tried again.
We can't let her emotions get the better of us. We have to
find a peaceful solution that will end the torment of your
electronic brethren the dry
back considered Marsha's plea. It's moto slow trial and error
when was released. Irwins struggled to his feet, grasping
for breath. As he fell into the cab of his pickup. He yelled
your paper like crazy. Do you hear me? You're crazy. And if
you think I'm gonna deal with you and sell you another unit,
you can bet it's gonna be at my office next time.
The door slammed shut and the pickup truck sped off. Kobe
looked up and down the street and then said to the drive back,
we need to get you inside. Before the cops show up.
Martin taps the drive back on his campus and pointed to the
extension cord. The drive back didn't react, which they took to
be acquiescence. Martin unplugged the cord. They carried
the drive back up the stairs into the living room and plug it
in again. My children pride Martin raising up his arms.
With the help of the drive back we have avenged your
desecration. Please be at peace.
They waited slowly and the light stopped blinking. The heater
turned off but the air conditioner remained on Marsha's
toothbrush stopped vibrating. Marcia and Kobe looked around
so I guess that's it. Yes, it feels
different now. Martin looked at the drive as
you've been alive for five minutes, and you're already
quite the hero.
The drive X motor per day in response, Martin considered the
situation.
If it's okay with you. I'll take our new friend home with me.
I'll help him get acclimated and then see what happens.
Marsha knelt and put her arms around the drive back.
Thank you so much. We couldn't have done it without you.
Coby shook the drive back suction cup with both hands.
Yeah, thanks, man. You really saved us. Martin left
with the drive back. And a few days he installed a battery pack
and from then on, they were often seen going on long walks
through the park together. Kobe and Marsha checked in on them
occasionally. Martin had promised he wouldn't bring any
more appliances to life. But cobia Marcia couldn't help but
notice whenever they came to visit, there was always a cute
dustbuster sitting suspiciously close to the dry back. But all
that really mattered was that the orange juice never froze
again.
Meet us pod isn't meet US media production. All rights reserved
unless otherwise stated. Don't forget to boost the show on your
favorite podcasting 2.0 app. If you don't know what that means
there will be a value for value explainer on the next episode.
All of the stories we produce are copyright of their
respective authors. Our theme music comes to us from od
Sprite. You can find more of their music at od sprite.com Be
nice to your appliances folks. And have a good one.