A Simple Matter by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Afternoon: The Great Recline

By early afternoon, Lemmy shuffles to the “Early American” living room, adapted by way of 1950’s aesthetics, further defiled with a big screen TV of indeterminate origin, wearing the same T shirt he slept in. The couch has already been warmed to his preferred temperature. Unit 2 has queued up a list of movies based on his "recent emotional patterns," which Lemmy finds both flattering and mildly insulting.

He picks something loud and comforting. Explosions, car chases, maybe a talking animal. The robots dim the lights. One of them hands him a snack he didn't know he wanted until it was in his hand.

He watches. He drinks. He dozes. He rewinds the same scene three times because he keeps drifting off.

The Robots' Quiet Choreography While Lemmy exists in a haze of half-conscious leisure, the five robots move through the house like a silent ballet.

They never interrupt him unless necessary. They never complain. They never ask why he hasn't left the house in thirteen days.

Evening: The Soft Fade

As night settles in, Lemmy migrates back to the outdated bedroom. Another drink appears. Another movie starts, “Madame Web.” He watches until his eyes blur, then lets the screen play on without him.