The Watch - Part 30

After I had picked up my credit card and drew out some money – I figured a couple hundred would be enough - I didn’t really know what to do next. I could go home and wait for when I have to go out to the event, or I could walk around the place and see what’s about.

I decided on the latter because who wouldn’t, so I walked around the place, only to discover that nearly everything was much the same, except for one major thing: There are loads and loads of robots. As soon as I entered the shopping centre, there they all were.

My mouth dropped. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There were many multi-coloured robots walking around the place, carrying shopping bags, pushing pushchairs, talking to someone, helping an old woman stand up from her wheelchair, walking a dog. It was exactly like I had just walked into a science fiction novel, or comic or something. Anything involving robots acting like the ones I’m seeing right now, and I’m in it. I realised I had stood in the doorway for a good couple of minutes, making it difficult for everyone else to enter and leave the building, so I moved to one side and gathered my thoughts.

‘I need a pick me up,’ I said, noticing the café right in front of me. As I was walking towards the café, a robot came up, carrying a tray of tiny bits of cake and asked me in its robotic voice whether I would like to try a free sample.

‘Yes,’ I said, immediately picking up the first piece that I saw and tried it. It was delicious.

‘Carrot,’ I said swirling my tongue around the taste.

‘Yes, Sir,’ the robot said nodding.

‘This tastes delicious,’ I said.

‘I’m glad you like it, Sir,’ the robot said in a happy voice. Now that I have an up close and personal look at one of the robots, I could focus on its features. Red was its primary colour, not too bright, not too dim. It looked eye-catching if I'm honest, and it complements the silver colour around the arms and legs, which was a nice touch. The face was half-expressionless and half-happy at the same time. It doesn’t change when it talks, only change its voice to the emotion it wants, which must have saved so much time and money.

‘Is there anything else that I can help you with today, Sir?’ the robot asked.

‘Um…’ I said, ‘I’m just going to the café to get myself something to drink.’

‘Have a good day to you, Sir,’ he said before turning on the spot and asking someone else if they would like to try some of the cake. The café wasn’t that busy so finding a table wasn’t hard. I picked up an iced-coffee and sat down. I bowed my head and closed my eyes as I allowed my brain to pull itself together.

‘Woah,’ I said jumping about a mile into the air when I had looked up and saw another robot standing in front of me. It was rather obvious to distinguish the difference between female and male robot. I don’t think I have to explain that.

‘Good morning to you, Sir’ the woman robot said in a happy voice.

‘Er… Morning,’ I said as my breathing returned to normal.

‘How are you finding your iced-coffee?’ she asked.

‘Oh, um, very nice,’ I said unintentionally hurriedly.

‘Is everything alright, Sir?’ she asked sympathetically.

‘Yes, everything’s fine,’ I said not wanting to create a fuss, ‘you just surprised me, that’s all.’

'I do apologise for startling you, Sir,' she said calmly.

'Don't worry,' I tried to be as casual as I could, bit instead it came out a bit strained. However, it was genuine enough to allow the conversation to move on.

‘Is there anything else you would like today, Sir?’ she asked returning to her happy voice.

‘No, I don’t think so,’ I said.

‘Have a good day, Sir’ she said, turning on the spot. She walked away to another table and started to tidy away the tray that someone had left.

‘And to you.’ I was talking to that woman robot as if it was an actual real human being and now that I’m thinking about that, it felt weird to do so. I mean, that was a robot, full of wires and software and mechanisms that are clearly much more advanced that what we have back home; it is just a robot, but I just talked to it as if it was an actual human. I’ve lost count about how many times my mind has been blown in such a short period of time.

I drank my ice-coffee, moving my thoughts towards the event that is going to happen this afternoon and what the robot will be like. It could be a giant, or it could be the same size as the ones I’ve spoken to today. The more I envisioned the possibilities, the more I wanted to go there.

After I had finished my drink, I decided to walk around the shopping centre some more, to explore the shops, and have as many conversations as I could with as many robots as I could.

Time got away from me a bit, and it was only when I instinctively found myself looking at the time on my watch, I noticed that the event was about to start. I need to get a move on otherwise I’m going to miss it, so I made my way towards the exit and head straight there.

As I was walking home, a robot walking a dog rounded the corner. The dog was incredibly cute (I’m a sucker when it comes to dogs). It was very excited to see me. It came up to me, panting and wanting fuss, wagging its tail in happiness.

‘Hello,’ I said rubbing the dog’s back. ‘Sorry,’ I said to the robot, ‘I’m a sucker when it comes to dogs.’

‘Not to worry, Sir,’ the robot said, ‘the owner is not worried about other people stroking the dog.’ That was practically a free pass. I stroked the dog for a good few minutes before realising that I have to get going.

‘I’ll let you get back to walking,’ I said.

‘Thank you, Sir. Have a good day, Sir,’ the robot said.

‘And to you,’ I said nodding. If I don’t learn anything from this place, I’ve learnt one thing and that every robot is very friendly. This world is awesome. And I have a feeling that it is only going to get better.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)