Edith, visiting me from Boston, decided that since I don’t have a housekeeper I should at least have a one of those newfangled robotic vacuums and bought me one. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I’d nearly tripped over the darn thing while she was out shopping. But the carpet at least looked done so I quickly hooked it up to its power source and told her how delighted I was when she came back.

Clearly that had  made her day. But now, after she told me she wanted Lee to come for the supper she’s planning on cooking, I have to  tell her that Lee has other obligations. (Like locking himself in his cabin aboard Seaview after I quickly called his NIMR office and told him about her plans.) No doubt he’ll be there overnight as a precaution. Top secret stuff and all that. And as Captain he can get away with it. Poor Chip’s been drafted as they met in the grocery store. As for me, well, other than citing a national emergency, I can’t figure out any excuse for myself. At least I’m stocked up on bicarb.

I plan on showing Chip the robot, which will please her, but I’m sure he’ll be thinking of another robot. One that wreaked havoc aboard Seaview and cost us lives. All because the damn thing somehow got it’s signals crossed when it was gallivanting around in its outer space probe.

No doubt newer and more inventive robots will come and go. But I know I’m going to have nightmares about this innocent looking little floor vac taking over and sucking out all the electricity, exploding the water heater (while I’m in the shower), and who knows what else my fevered brain will imagine.  I know one thing. As soon as my sister goes back to Boston, it’s going to the garage until she comes back next year.