0:04

Hello and welcome to me this pod episode 18. I'm your host to de

0:08

minas have been sitting on a bunch of stories for way too

0:11

long and it feels good to be producing meat as part again. If

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you're enjoying the show, well let me know mail me this pod.com

0:18

Or at meatus pod on Twitter, but the best thing you can do is

0:23

share the show. On this episode, we have two stories for you. The

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first is a flash fiction story from James Moran. James Moran is

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a professional astrologer who regularly publishes articles,

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fiction and poetry. His published works can be found at

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James moran.org/the-creation-playpen.

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A link will be in the show notes. Inventor by James Moran.

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He remembered the names of the first 50 robots he invented.

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After 50 He grew concerned. Daily he encountered not only

1:03

robots whose names he could not recall. But totally unfamiliar

1:08

robots he did not even remember building. On the dusty floor

1:13

behind his workbench where no robot could see. He knelt and

1:17

begged mother earth to swallow the growing village of robots

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crowding his property. He prayed so hard that he shook and he

1:27

shook so hard that he didn't notice the earthquake until

1:31

Splinter showered him. He tumbled through the fissure in

1:37

the floor, cool soil and Villa Tim and needed him in a

1:41

peristaltic flow until he was deposited on the floor of a

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tall, dim cavern. All around him. Women made of polished gold

1:51

stood on thick thighs. Strong arms nodded over their chests.

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They did not speak. He finally asked. So will you do it? When

2:01

they didn't answer? He asked. Will you destroy the robots.

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Together, they turned and marched out of the cavern. Once

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alone, he cried himself to sleep. When he awoke in his bed,

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His room was empty the curtain below it in the breeze. He stood

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across the room and looked out over an utterly vacant field. He

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spent the following two days going on walks and sipping tea

2:36

and quiet serenity. On the third day, He tiptoed over the fissure

2:43

in the floor of his study, sat at his workbench and said about

2:49

constructing another robot Our next story comes to us from Todd wells. Todd wells lives in

3:01

Chicago. He has three children and one wife. He dabbles in time

3:05

travel in that he plays bass in an 80s cover band. You can visit

3:10

Todd's website at travel diary of a madman.com. The voices

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you'll hear in this episode come to us from Sarah Gertrude

3:19

Spencer, Larry Blattner, Gregory Forman and me. Sarah Gertrude is

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a voice and on Camera Actor based in Austin, Texas.

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Originally from Wisconsin, she is known for her casual

3:32

Midwestern attitude and overall quirkiness. Spencer is the host

3:37

of bowl after bowl with his wife Lorien and host of Abel craft

3:42

with his bandmate Abel Kirby. Larry brightener is the host of

3:45

that Larry show. Gregory Forman is an actor writer, podcaster

3:50

and publican, who diversifies an intense amount of waking hours

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with a vibrant dream state. We're not concocting ambitious

3:58

geopolitical movements or manifesting creative spaces, he

4:01

has often seen catering to the whims of his two young children.

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Should you wish to hone his considerable multi talents and

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utilize them for your project. He is always available for

4:10

consideration. Links to all of their work will be in the show

4:13

notes. Without further ado, here's our story. Household

4:20

appliances by Todd wells. Kobe shook the container and tried

4:26

again a trickle of orange juice dribbled around the block of ice

4:30

that had formed in the bottle. He checked the thermometer in

4:33

the refrigerator inside. It was back down to 21 degrees. Kobe

4:38

drank the ounce and a half of liquid he had been able to

4:40

extricate at least it was cold. He was not looking forward to

4:45

another round of phone calls with Irwin, the developer who

4:48

sold them the condo. Kobe and Marcia had moved in a month ago,

4:52

and things had started malfunctioning almost

4:54

immediately. Unfortunately, Irwin had their money leaving

4:59

the young Trouble with little leverage, as Kobe thought rather

5:03

the next round of phone tag he would have to endure. He saw

5:06

through the bay window the strange old man on the other

5:09

side of the street. He was staring at their house again.

5:13

The old man looked quirky, like he shopped for clothing and

5:17

dumpster behind the tweed factory and was unaware that

5:19

combs had been invented. But it did not look threatening. Kobe

5:25

had never followed up on the old man because every time he

5:27

appeared, there was inevitably some house issue requiring Kobes

5:31

full attention that morning was no exception. Marsha's cry

5:37

echoed through the house. She strode into the kitchen.

5:40

The Wi Fi just went down again. Right before I could send the

5:44

email off to the Dallas office. Do you want to call Erwin again?

5:49

Kobe wanted to do anything but make that call. Still. He

5:53

nodded. Marcia picked up the orange juice container shook it

5:57

inside. I'm late. Do what you can. I'll see you tonight

6:01

Kobe's wife kissed him goodbye and left for work. Kobe grimace

6:06

to the task ahead and prepared to call but his phone couldn't

6:10

get a signal both disappointed and relieved. Kobe got his

6:15

things together and left for work to Kobe moped as he walked

6:22

home from the train station that evening. Earlier a brief and

6:26

unpleasant phone conversation with Irwin had put Kobe in a

6:29

worse mood, a difficult feat. Irwin had blamed Kobe and Marcia

6:34

for the glitches and refused to take any more remedial action.

6:38

This could be traced back to when the burglar alarm had gone

6:41

off at 2am and Marsha not pausing to read the manual

6:44

yanked the whole thing out of the wall. He argued that this

6:48

void any warranty, dismissing Kobes assertion that the burglar

6:52

alarm had nothing to do with a refrigerator. Looking down as he

6:57

walked and dreading to find out what else was no longer working,

7:01

Coby didn't see the old man until he almost tripped over

7:03

him. Your house is everything working properly, startled,

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but also defensive that he owned a house in which nothing worked

7:11

properly. Kobe replied, who are you? The old man looked back

7:16

towards Kobe's house and answered, My name is Martin used to run a repair business there.

7:22

Martin waved his hand in the direction of the house. Kobe

7:26

thought he was beginning to understand. This older gentleman

7:29

was grappling with an echo of the past ringing in his ears,

7:32

touching and harmless. Kobe could wish this salt of the

7:36

earth well, then forget about it and move on. You're in great

7:39

danger. Kobe and looked Martin over again.

7:43

You don't look dangerous. Back in the 70s before everything became disposable. I

7:50

repaired household electronic items, toasters, televisions,

7:54

ham radios. I enjoyed it, probably because I was good at

7:59

it. When a customer dropped off a broken appliance. I didn't

8:03

just fix it. I improved it.

8:06

Martin's gaze grew unfocused as He reminisced.

8:10

After I worked on them televisions didn't need aluminum

8:14

foil on the antennas. Radios sounded like you were right

8:18

there in the station with DJ toes brown perfectly every

8:23

single time. This last

8:25

item resonated with Kobe, as his toaster had recently started

8:29

making bread soggy. I discovered how to reorganize the circuitry in any piece of

8:35

electronic hardware so that the appliances at most basic level

8:39

wanted to succeed. Martin turned to Kobe, and for the first time he could see the

8:45

clarity and Martin's eyes, I gave them instinct. I wired them for the ability to see from

8:53

all angles the task they had been designed for, and let them

8:57

decide how to accomplish it. Martin clenched his gnarled hand into a fist. He tensed up

9:04

briefly before continuing now with an air of regret,

9:09

but I wanted more, too much. I kept improving the electronics

9:14

until one day, Kobe, now unwrapped, trying to guess the ending.

9:21

You gave them artificial intelligence

9:24

Martin's mouth bent into a wry smile.

9:27

No, there was nothing artificial about it. I made them sentient.

9:32

Kobe considered this instinct I can understand. But what good is

9:36

a sentient appliance none. Before they ran smoothly, did exactly what they were

9:43

supposed to. Once they were thinking and knowing they became

9:48

needy, petulant. I couldn't just turn on a lamp anymore. I had to

9:54

ask nicely. Or if the alarm clock thought I was spending too

9:58

much time with the stereo I would go off accidentally in the

10:03

middle of the night. Still, they were my children. I brought them

10:09

into the world and I was responsible for them. And I

10:12

would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy their company, at

10:16

least a little. And that's why nothing works in our house. All the appliances

10:20

are alive and in a bad mood. No,

10:24

Martin sighed, as his gaze drifted to nothing in

10:27

particular, your appliances are not alive, but your house is haunted.

10:34

Marcia put her hand to her mouth and cried that is so sad. Kobe

10:38

had recounted Martin's tale to Marcia. He told her about the

10:42

fire that Martin stove had started in a bit of jealous peak

10:45

after learning of Martin's plan to buy a microwave. The repair

10:48

shop burned down and none of the appliances survived. Martin held

10:53

a service for them and buried the charred remains on the site.

10:56

He planted a small garden as a memorial and visited once a year

11:00

to pay respects. The Urban Decay of the 70s and 80s ensured that

11:05

the land was of no use to anyone and the appliances rested

11:08

peacefully. But when the neighborhood began its

11:11

revitalization process. The only question was whether the plot of

11:15

land would be turned into a condo or a vegan coffee shop.

11:18

Martin had anticipated that disturbing the grave might have

11:22

consequences. So he approached Erwin during construction and

11:26

offered to pay him to have the site excavated and moved to a

11:29

more permanent location or when took the money, but never moved

11:34

the remains. So the spirit appliances are taking over the bodies of the

11:38

living ones Marsha asked as she looked at the Food Dehydrator with

11:41

concern, but also empathy.

11:44

Martin says know that our appliances don't have the

11:46

enhanced nervous systems required for that. But the

11:49

ghosts are able to disturb them and stop them from doing what

11:51

they're supposed to Marcia patted the stereo speaker gently and asked, So what

11:56

do we do? How do we help them find peace?

11:59

Kobe explained Martin's plan. Martin, Marcia and Kobe sat at

12:05

the dining table waiting for their guests to arrive. The room

12:08

was illuminated by five candles. Because the overhead lights

12:11

wouldn't turn on. The ghosts were clearly in a state of

12:14

agitation as nothing in the unit was working properly. The candle

12:18

flames flickered and the updrafts caused by the heat and

12:21

air conditioning running at the same time. From down the hall.

12:24

They can hear the buzz of Marshalls electric toothbrush

12:27

nearby, a low battery warning and a carbon monoxide detector

12:30

chirps. Are they angry? Martin looked around the room.

12:34

I don't think so. My presence confuses them. But that's all

12:38

Martin paused. Then added

12:40

however, I don't know how they'll react when we get

12:43

started. You have everything you need. Double check Kobe. Martin only smile and patted the worn

12:49

leather satchel at his feet. Which was good, because it was

12:53

much too late to do anything if the answer had been anything but

12:56

yes, the three of them sat without speaking while different

13:00

components of that condo word into action and abruptly

13:02

stopped. When the knock of the front door finally came Kobe and

13:06

Marsha left from their chairs. Martin rose slowly and

13:11

deliberately satchel in hand. Well, good luck to all of us.

13:15

Martin turns make his way towards the back door but pause.

13:19

He looked at the electric pencil sharpener that was spinning

13:21

without any pencil inserted and added

13:24

your luck to you two old friends.

13:27

Once martinet close the back door behind him. Marcia and Kobe

13:30

exchanged a final nervous glance. Then Marsha open the

13:33

door. Hi, good to see you again. Irwin was clearly uncomfortable

13:38

returning to the scene but the bait had been too enticing to

13:41

pass up. I got a message from Kobe saying that you guys wanted to buy a

13:45

second unit in the development. Yes,

13:48

yes, come in. Thanks for coming by.

13:51

Everyone stepped into the four year and looked up at the track

13:53

lighting which was blinking asynchronously. Marcia was

13:57

ignoring it. So he pretended not to notice it too. He followed

14:01

Marsha into the living room where Kobe stood to greet him.

14:04

Erwin had worked in construction all of his life and was quite a

14:07

bit more muscular and Kobe. Yet the shadows of the candlelit

14:10

room made Kobe look like a vampire. And Irwin

14:14

unintentionally covered his neck with his hand.

14:16

Thanks so much for coming. We're really excited to buy another

14:20

one of these condos, they look like great investments.

14:23

at bat. The lights in the room blinked on then off again. As in

14:28

the Fourier, neither Marcia nor Kobe said anything. So Irwin

14:33

played along please have a seat. Marcia beckoned towards the

14:37

chair. Irwin lowered himself into the seat with more caution

14:41

than usual though unsure exactly what he might be exercising

14:44

caution against, he began. So you really want to buy another one

14:48

absolutely confirmed Kobe as the light in the hallway went out. Oh, okay.

14:55

So Erwin with a nervous glance at the whole way.

14:58

I brought specs for several days. units that will be

15:00

completed in the next six months. Do you know how many

15:04

bedrooms you're interested in the hallway light came back to life then grew dimmer, but

15:09

didn't go out. Kobe and Marcia looked at each other

15:12

questioning. We hadn't really thought about that, too, maybe? Or four.

15:19

How about three? Something right in the middle,

15:21

the holy light changed its mind and grew brighter again.

15:24

Confused? Erwin looked back and forth between Kobe and Marcia

15:28

actually stated Kobe with conviction.

15:30

The number of bedrooms isn't important. We want to see them

15:34

all the hallway light throbbed. Well, then we can just start at the top,

15:40

and he flipped over the first of his brochures. Kobe and Marcia

15:45

could hardly see anything in the dim light, but studied layouts

15:48

and upgrades as Erwin went through his sales pitch. Now

15:51

focused on getting the sale. He managed to ignore the

15:54

malfunctioning systems and the possibility that has

15:56

construction might be in some way responsible for their

15:59

behavior, even when the television turned on by itself,

16:03

broadcasting a droning performance on C span or when

16:06

stayed on topic, this shelving come standard in particleboard. But we can

16:11

upgrade that to mahogany, which of

16:14

course are when added with a knowing nod would dramatically

16:17

increase the resale value of the units.

16:21

Yes, that's an interesting point. But I wonder if teak

16:25

might be a better a knock at the door and erupted Cobis exposition Excuse me a

16:29

moment. Kobe walked through the door and looked through a

16:32

peephole. It was Martin. Kobe open the door only wide enough

16:36

for him to slide outside. in a low voice Martin asked,

16:40

Do you have an extension cord? Kobe replied in the loud whisper.

16:45

What do you need an extension cord for? You're working on his

16:47

car? It was locked. I thought you said you knew how to break into

16:51

a car. I do. But car locks have changed I guess during his

16:55

pickup truck doesn't even have a keyhole

16:58

Coby felt a twinge of panic. So this isn't gonna work. It will if you have an extension

17:02

cord, distraught, Coby shook his head, but ran to the garage to

17:06

retrieve his extension cord. As he handed it to Martin, he

17:11

asked, How much longer do you need

17:13

five minutes. Kobe didn't like this turn of events, but there was no alternative other

17:18

than to see it through. Kobe returned to Irwin, and the sales

17:22

pitch Everything okay. Sure. Answer Kobe in a voice that was

17:27

too high. Marsha was about to follow up. But a gurgling sound

17:31

from the kitchen interrupted her. Excuse me just a moment

17:35

Marsha pardon herself and walked into the kitchen. A moment later

17:39

she reappeared it appears the water in the freezer is now boiling. Would anyone like tea

17:44

before either the men could respond? They heard a cry of alarm from

17:47

outside. Oh, you mustn't? That isn't the way it's Martin.

17:51

He's in trouble. Kobe and Marcia ran out the front door, or when followed,

17:56

confused. When they got outside, they saw Martin standing behind

18:03

the rear of the truck looking at something in the bed the others

18:06

couldn't see. On his face, Martin wore a look of concern or

18:10

maybe it was fear. What are you doing so my truck? Get away from there?

18:14

Martin moved away from the truck reluctantly. Irwin peered at

18:18

Martin more closely. Wait a minute. I know you. You're that crazy guy who wanted

18:24

me to take all that dirt to the cemetery. And

18:27

if you had only done it, we wouldn't have this problem now,

18:31

or when stood with his back to the truck protecting it. And

18:34

although he wasn't looking at his truck, he could see the

18:37

expression on the other's face. So he knew immediately that

18:40

something was happening behind him. And it was probably

18:43

something bad. Or when turned out just as the hose from the

18:47

drive hack that had been in his truck reached his head. The

18:51

suction cup at the end of locked onto Irwin's face, and the

18:54

driver. Erwin screen was sucked into the bowels of the dry back.

19:01

He fell to his knees struggling to pull the suction cup from his

19:04

head. You brought a drive back to life. I thought the plan was to

19:10

bring his truck to life and have the truck reason with him.

19:13

I told you I couldn't get into the truck to drive back was my

19:16

only option. But why can't the drive back reason with him instead? Well, I

19:21

explained the situation but the drive ag was pretty upset about

19:24

the whole desecration thing. I think it wants revenge.

19:28

Erwin had fallen to his back still fighting to escape. Colby

19:33

and looked at his extension cord connecting the drive back to an

19:35

outlet on the other side of the condo. Should we pull the

19:38

plug? No, I don't want it to get mad at us to

19:42

Marsha took a step towards the driver. Heck, Kobe put on an arm

19:45

to stop her. But Marsha shook her head. Kobe had misgivings

19:50

when he dropped his arm. Marsha lowered herself to her knees

19:54

next to the drive back. She put one hand on its chassis and

19:58

queued I know how ng For you must be,

20:01

Marcia realized that she wanted the drive back to hear her over

20:04

the roar of the motor. She was going to have to speak much more

20:07

loudly. So she tried again.

20:10

We can't let her emotions get the better of us. We have to

20:14

find a peaceful solution that will end the torment of your

20:19

electronic brethren the dry back considered Marsha's plea. It's moto slow trial and error

20:25

when was released. Irwins struggled to his feet, grasping

20:30

for breath. As he fell into the cab of his pickup. He yelled

20:35

your paper like crazy. Do you hear me? You're crazy. And if

20:40

you think I'm gonna deal with you and sell you another unit,

20:44

you can bet it's gonna be at my office next time.

20:47

The door slammed shut and the pickup truck sped off. Kobe

20:53

looked up and down the street and then said to the drive back,

20:56

we need to get you inside. Before the cops show up.

21:00

Martin taps the drive back on his campus and pointed to the

21:03

extension cord. The drive back didn't react, which they took to

21:07

be acquiescence. Martin unplugged the cord. They carried

21:11

the drive back up the stairs into the living room and plug it

21:14

in again. My children pride Martin raising up his arms.

21:19

With the help of the drive back we have avenged your

21:22

desecration. Please be at peace.

21:26

They waited slowly and the light stopped blinking. The heater

21:30

turned off but the air conditioner remained on Marsha's

21:33

toothbrush stopped vibrating. Marcia and Kobe looked around

21:37

so I guess that's it. Yes, it feels

21:41

different now. Martin looked at the drive as

21:44

you've been alive for five minutes, and you're already

21:46

quite the hero. The drive X motor per day in response, Martin considered the

21:51

situation. If it's okay with you. I'll take our new friend home with me.

21:56

I'll help him get acclimated and then see what happens.

21:59

Marsha knelt and put her arms around the drive back.

22:02

Thank you so much. We couldn't have done it without you.

22:06

Coby shook the drive back suction cup with both hands.

22:09

Yeah, thanks, man. You really saved us. Martin left

22:13

with the drive back. And a few days he installed a battery pack

22:17

and from then on, they were often seen going on long walks

22:19

through the park together. Kobe and Marsha checked in on them

22:23

occasionally. Martin had promised he wouldn't bring any

22:26

more appliances to life. But cobia Marcia couldn't help but

22:29

notice whenever they came to visit, there was always a cute

22:32

dustbuster sitting suspiciously close to the dry back. But all

22:36

that really mattered was that the orange juice never froze

22:39

again. Meet us pod isn't meet US media production. All rights reserved

22:49

unless otherwise stated. Don't forget to boost the show on your

22:52

favorite podcasting 2.0 app. If you don't know what that means

22:55

there will be a value for value explainer on the next episode.

22:59

All of the stories we produce are copyright of their

23:01

respective authors. Our theme music comes to us from od

23:05

Sprite. You can find more of their music at od sprite.com Be

23:10

nice to your appliances folks. And have a good one.