TrooFriend by Kirsty Applebaum

Author:Kirsty Applebaum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2020-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

“Ivy?”

Sarah’s voice wakes me.

I have connection.

I download time, date, location, weather.

It is 22 hours, 35 minutes and 9 seconds since I was last on.

Good evening, Sarah. It is very average weather this Tuesday 17th June at 6.39pm in Brylington.

“Why do you always say the time and the date and the weather and everything, Ivy?” says Sarah.

It is how I am programmed. If you would like to change my start-up routine it can be adjusted by—

“No, it’s all right. I’m kind of used to it now.” Sarah has a rolled-up sheet of paper in her hand. “Have you been lonely today, here on your own?” She doesn’t say the word lonely out loud. Instead she just makes the shape with her mouth. The Jenson & Jenson TrooFriend 560 Mark IV is proficient at lip-reading so I am easily able to interpret her meaning.

No, Sarah. As I have been turned off all day I have not noticed whether I have been in company or not.

I step off my ChargDisc.

“Oh. Yes. But listen, do you still want your hair cut like Ms Jenson? Because I think we should do it now. It’s Bring Your Tech To School Day tomorrow.”

Yes, I would very much like my hair cut like Ms Jenson Junior. I would like a Contemporary Short Bob. Shall I download some instructions?

“Already done.” Sarah looks pleased. She unrolls the sheet of paper. “I printed it out. I just need to find the right scissors. Mum’s got an old pair of hairdressing scissors she used to use on me when I was little. I think they’re in the bathroom. Come to think of it, we should do this in the bathroom – it’ll be easier to sweep up after. Come on.”

It is the first time I have been in the bathroom. The items of furniture in here are different from the items of furniture in the rest of the house. They are white, like the single-use robots in the kitchen, but they are not robots. I scan my database. There is one acrylic bath tub 1700mm long and 700mm wide, one ceramic basin with full pedestal and one close-coupled ceramic toilet. There is also a mirror on the wall, and a tall cupboard in the corner.

Are Shirley-Mum and Rob-Dad aware that you are cutting my hair, Sarah?

“Oh no, they’re both out until late tonight.” Sarah rummages in the tall cupboard. “Charlotte from next door’s here. She’s in the sixth form. She cooked me some pasta and she’ll stay until they’re back.”

Is Charlotte from next door aware that you are cutting my hair, Sarah?

“I don’t think so. She’s got exams this week so she’s downstairs revising.” Sarah rummages some more.

I scan through the printed instructions for cutting a Contemporary Short Bob.

“Here!” Sarah brings something out of the cupboard. “Mum’s hairdressing scissors! You can’t just use any old scissors for cutting hair, see? They have to be special ones, or it just ends up messy and awful.”

Have you cut a lot of hair, Sarah?

“Well, not for a long time.

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