A
helping hand
The taxi was a standard model T3, except they’d exchanged
the usual humorless nav guide computer Chuck was used to for an annoying new
interactive version. Chuck had had just about as much as he was going to take
from the little AI. It kept droning on and on about how he was boring and even complained
about the classic rock he liked to play on his down time.
When Chuck pulled up to the curb at exactly ten p.m. he was
just about ready to rip it out of the dashboard and toss it out the window. It
could probably read his mind because its screen started flashing red as he
reached out to grab it.
A second before he could commit robot homicide somebody
started pounding on his window. He looked up and found a woman with long brown
hair standing pathetically under an umbrella while the skies were pouring rain
on her head.
“Unlock the doors Stevie,” Chuck growled.
The locks popped open and the woman literally jumped in the
cab.
“Oh thank you. God it’s raining so hard out there,” she
said.
Chuck mumbled something like I’m sorry but he couldn’t tell if she heard him. She was probably giving
him an odd look.
“I’m going to Lexington and 24th,” she continued.
Chuck nodded his head and started the engine, slowly pulling
away from the curb and joining the traffic headed south.
“Hello miss I’m Stevie and my driver here is Chuck. What’s
your name?” the annoying little robot asked her.
“I’m Eve Stevie and it’s very nice to meet you both,” she
said.
Chuck glanced at her in the rearview mirror and was
surprised to see a smile on her face, and what a face it was! She reminded him
of one of those models that were on all the billboards.
“Hey Eve if you don’t mind me asking what were you doing out
in such crappy weather?” Stevie asked her.
What was wrong with the little moron? Did it really think
someone like her would talk to them?”
“I had a performance Stevie. I’m an actress on the Alice in
Wonderland production,” Eve said.
“Wow an actress. Did you hear that Chuck? She’s an actress.
Chuck here also acts,” Stevie told her.
What was he telling her? This AI had one serious death wish
and once he’d dropped Eve off he was planning to do dismantle it with the
spanner he had in the trunk.
“Really? Is that true Chuck?” she asked.
Chuck could feel his heart beating wildly. “Ah yeah,” he
said gruffly, “but I’ve only had bit parts so far but only in minor plays, not
on Broadway or anything.”
“Hey maybe I can come see you on stage sometime?”
Chuck was stunned and was having a hard time finding his
voice.
“That sounds like a plan so Chuck here will get your
number,” Stevie cut in.
They finally pulled up to a nice looking apartment complex,
complete with its own doorman. The uniformed doorman brought up an umbrella and
rushed forward to open Eve’s door.
“Well I hope to hear from you Chuck,” she said.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ll call you,” Chuck said turning around.
She gave him a last smile as she stepped out of his car. He
sat there watching her walk into the building and admired the easy grace of her
movements. Stevie gave a little hoot and when Chuck studied his screen he felt
there was something smug in the way the little maniac was displaying flashes of
red and green.
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