Giorgio turned off the light in their bedroom and tried to fall sleep. But his mind was buzzing, full of thoughts and fears. It was no good. He had to tell Vincent.
"Vince? Can I ask you a big favour?"
Vincent, who had been on the verge of drifting off to sleep, muttered. "Uh, wha..?"
Georgio repeated his question, his soft voice sounding more hesitant than usual, and Vincent struggled to wake up and pay attention. "Of course you can. What is it?"
"Would you mind terribly if we sent Peter back to the store?"
"What?" asked Vincent, taken aback. "I thought you liked him, having all the household jobs done for us."
Georgio looked away for a second, frightened he was making a fool of himself. Then he gathered his courage and turned back to face Vincent. "It's not that. It's just... he makes me uncomfortable."
Vincent looked confused and Giorgio could tell he didn't understand. He took a deep breath. "He cleans, he cooks, he tidies up after us. He's perfect, but..."
"But?"
"He's too perfect and he looks too human!" Giorgio blurted out. "He's tall, he's handsome, he looks about twenty-one-and I don't like it when he smiles at you." God! How pathetic was that? Giorgio closed his eyes in dread, waiting for Vincent's scornful disbelief.
Instead, Vince pulled him across the bed, into his arms. "Are you saying you're jealous? Of Peter?"
Giorgio opened his eyes and looked hopefully up into Vincent's smiling face.
"Idiot," said Vincent in a fond voice. "He's a robot. You're the only man I love. But if you don't like Peter, we'll send him back tomorrow. We can trade him in for one of the earlier models, Version Seven perhaps, the Handy Andy."
(to be continued... one more chapter to come!)
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SFSD X
Science Fiction7. Evleyen is on her seventh and-thankfully-final mission for the month. Crossing the silvery grey moon, Harooo, on her trusty Steed to deliver urgent medical supplies, she takes an unexpected detour... . Round Seven (tie-breaker) - Lost World...
