Read the previous story about Elizabeth here.
At the Cosy Toastie café Elizabeth’s friends had gathered for their regular coffee morning and eagerly listened as she shared her latest mishaps with the reclining chair her son had bought her. Nobody, including Elizabeth, was sure of the circumstances that had led to John moving in with his mother and there were mixed feelings about the benefits.
‘At least he managed to rescue my old armchairs from the tip and he’s having them professionally reupholstered; unfortunately that will take a while.’
‘But I’m envious you have someone to reach high shelves.’
‘And reach the smoke alarm to pull it off the wall when it’s beeping…’
‘Yes true, though it’s usually John that sets it off. Anyway, I’ve got my handy steps, I’ve had them for years, though I haven’t used them since John moved in. He got those boxes down from the top of the wardrobe that I’ve been meaning to sort out for years; though I had rather they stayed up there; his ideas of what to keep and what to throw!
When the taxi dropped Elizabeth home she was relieved to find a note from John saying he had been called in to work. She was grateful that whatever his job was exactly, it could not all be done from home on the computer. A nice simple cheese omelette for lunch she decided, but where had the cheese grater gone? A search of the cupboards under the countertop was to no avail so she decided to look in the top cupboards; there on the highest shelf was her cheese grater, why on earth had John put it up there? When she went to fetch her trusty steps from their usual corner they had disappeared. As she turned she stepped back into somebody and gasped in fright.
‘Oh it’s you John, I didn’t hear you come in, why do you have to creep around?’
‘I thought you didn’t like me being noisy?’
‘Never mind, now you’re back you can tell me what you’ve done with my steps.’
‘Those dreadful old things, I’ve got rid of them, health and safety.’
‘I couldn’t reach the cheese grater, I need those steps when you’re out.’
‘Remember what happened to Aunt Dorris.’
‘She was ninety nine and had dementia and those legs of hers.’
‘Well it’s best to be prepared, you’re lucky I work for such an innovative company. I’ve got you something very handy, or rather someone who can reach everything and do all those jobs you find difficult.’
‘I can manage fine.’
‘Just come and look in the dining room for the surprise.’
In the corner of the dining room stood a skeletal metal figure.
‘What on earth is that?’
‘Our new prototype, Rufus, you are very privileged to be the first to try it out.’
Elizabeth had never been quite sure what John’s work involved.
‘I thought your company made production lines for factories?’
‘That was when I was an apprentice, we’re in the Twenty First Century now. In Japan they have robots as carers in old people’s homes.’
Elizabeth shuddered. ‘Like those waiters on wheels I suppose. Couldn’t you have given this one a smiley face?’
‘It’s built for action and should transform the lives of the eld… all sorts of people. Do you want a demo?’
Elizabeth’s revulsion at the stranger in her home changed to nervous delight at the news she would have for her friends.
‘Where are his buttons?’
‘He doesn’t have any, you just talk to him like Alexa.’
‘Who on earth is Alexa?’
‘He won’t move unless you say his, um.. its name, otherwise it would be havoc. Rufus, go into the kitchen.’
The figure stretched its arms and legs and wobbled past the table, knocking the paint off the door frame as he went into the hall. Mitsy barked at it then retreated rapidly into the garden. Elizabeth was impressed when Rufus did indeed go into the kitchen.
‘How could he know where to go?’
‘In layman’s terms I downloaded a 3D map of the house.’
Elizabeth was nervous of Rufus and avoided speaking or going near him when John was out, telling herself the dog needed time to quietly get used to its presence. She gave evasive answers when her son returned and asked her how she and Rufus were getting on. John had him pushing the vacuum cleaner and loading the new dishwasher. Elizabeth was slightly miffed that the robot was better than her at learning new gadgets.
When John went away overnight to an important conference, Elizabeth was reluctantly forced to try out Rufus so she could make dinner. John and the robot between them had put away the new weekly Sainsbury delivery and she had no idea what John had ordered or where Rufus had put it. Feeling slightly ridiculous she said to herself, now let’s see how clever you are Rufus Robot and out loud
‘Rufus, get out a tin of tomatoes.’
As he headed for the kitchen Mitsy crouched and growled, then went and hid in her bed.
The robot reached up, opened the cupboard door and clasped a tin, lowering it carefully onto the counter top.
‘Oh clever boy’ Elizabeth found herself saying until she looked at the can and saw it was raspberries.
Well he was probably just a toddler in robot terms, cleverer than John at that age.
‘Rufus, find a tin of Italian whole tomatoes.’
This time the long fingers were rifling through the tins on another shelf and he brought down a tin in each hand, placing them next to Mitsy’s water bowl. Peaches and soup. She would have one more try, with all the shuffling around she had spotted the tomatoes. If he didn’t get it right this time she might call Fran down the road and ask if she wanted to try out that new pizza place.
She pointed up to the highest shelf.
‘Rufus get the tinned tomatoes.’
The robot headed to another cupboard and put his hinged fingers round the old flower vase, but as he lifted it down he lost his grip and it shattered on the tiled floor. Elizabeth sighed and imagined herself trying to get down and sweep up. Then she had an idea and handed Rufus the brush and dustpan.
Before she could utter an instruction he cranked into action and started sweeping. Elizabeth smiled as she imagined this story for her friends. Seeing Mitsy’s nose appear round the door she ushered her away from dangerous splinters. She turned back into the kitchen in time to see Rufus emptying the dustpan into the dishwasher.
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 