Erna placed Bent’s clothes on the kitchen counter. Sarah sat down awkwardly in the same chair she’d sat in before. She’d forgotten just how amazing the view was. Beyond the large glass doors stretched the infinity pool that bled out into the never-ending expanse of ocean. Several sea birds fluttered lazily in the breeze.The sun was set high in the sky. Sarah fiddled with a fruit basket on the table. Several green pears, bananas, peaches, apples, and kiwi filled the basket. “Would you like lunch?” Erna called. She didn’t seem to wait for a reply. The android busily set to work cutting up a platter of smoked salmon, fresh avocado, a few hard boiled eggs, and a cup of what looked like some kind of vegetable juice. She set the lunch tray down in front of Sarah. Sarah would have jumped up to assist if the android hadn’t been so unbelievably quick. But Sarah was feeling a bit shy again. After all, despite that the android wasn’t technically alive, Erna was a part of Bent’s life. A part of his ‘extended’ family. Sarah gave the android a closed-mouth smile. She realized, indeed, that she was hungry. “Thank you, Erna. You’re very kind,” she managed to say. The android did her funny bow. “It is my pleasure, Sarah.” Sarah sipped the vegetable juice. It was pretty good. It tasted like a combination of tomato juice mixed with celery, carrot, and spinach. There was something sweet in it as well. Maybe it was pear? Sarah set down the cup. “There’s no need to bow to me,” Sarah finally said as Erna took what seemed to be her usual place, standing silently beside the kitchen door.The android’s blue lit eyes gave a slight blink. “It is in my nature to bow to those I serve, Sarah. You are a guest. Therefore, I am at your service.” Sarah decided she wasn’t going to change the android’s ways. If Bent had had his androids or robots or whatever he wanted to call them bow to him, then she wasn’t going to argue about it. Sarah quickly ate her lunch. It was very good. And healthy. And while she wasn’t always a fan of smoked salmon, usually finding the flavor extremely fishy, this smoked salmon was quite good. When she’d finished her meal, Erna came buzzing over to carry her plate and cup away. But Sarah waved her off. “No, I can do it. I like to help.” The android seemed confused. Its mechanical gears made strange clicking sounds. But then Erna backed away to stand in her corner again. Sarah rinsed her plate and cup in the sink and placed them into the empty dishwasher. She noticed there were actually four dishwashers. Though she couldn’t imagine anyone needing four dishwashers, except maybe a restaurant. “Where are the dogs?” she asked Erna. The android blinked its blue eyes again. “They’re out with their dog walker.” Sarah clapped her hands. “Oh, that’s right. They must be with my friend Pam.” Erna didn’t respond. She remained motionless. Sarah heard another sound. A pattering sound. When she looked up, the octopus-shaped robot came whirring into the kitchen. It seemed to be mopping the floors. “Oh, hello there, Cleaning Robot. I…I mean C.R.!” she called. C.R. continued to whirr by her. “Good. After. Noon,” C.R. rattled as the robot disappeared into the adjacent room. Sarah saw the large fridge had a jumble of magnets on it. Under one of the magnets was a postcard of a beautiful tropical paradise. In the background of the image, there appeared to be a great fortress. The words read, The Wonders of South Fortland. Sarah sighed. She’d never been to that country. One day she hoped to go. Maybe after she graduated. There were various alphabet letter magnets scattered around the fridge. They looked a bit out of place in the otherwise magnificent kitchen. A few colorful magnets spelled out words like RUN and JOURNEY. Then one of the words caught her eye. It seemed as if the word was placed around other magnet letters to hide it. But standing where she was, the word was very clearly spelled out. And it made her freeze in place. The word spelled S-A-R-A.