Introduction
Storyteller: Hey, there! Thank you so much for taking the time—
You: —who? Me?
Storyteller: No, not you—the audience. Over there.
Oh, that’s me. :Audience
Audience: Sorry about that. Excuse me.
Coming through. Pardon me.
You: Oh, right, excuse me.
Sorry.
Audience: That’s okay. Thanks. Thank you.
Hi there! |Hello! Is this better?
|
Storyteller: |Yes. Yes, hello and thank—
—oh, sorry about that! I didn’t mean to talk over you.
Audience: Oops, me too, sorry about that. But, please, go on.
Storyteller: Sure, as I was saying, thank you for taking the time out
to read this.
Now, before we start, let me tell you a little bit about what
you can expect, since you haven’t read anything like this.
You’re going to be taking part in a conversation, okay?
Audience: Huh? I’m not sure I understand. A conversation about what?
Storyteller: A conversation about this short story that you’re about to
read. I’ll just skip to the important parts now. So normally,
you’d be telling me what you do in this story, but instead of
that, I want you to tell me what you think about this story.
Audience: Let me see if I understand you. I read a short story, and
then afterward, we have a conversation about it. Right?
Storyteller: Almost, except, not afterward but throughout. Throughout
this short story, there will be a conversation about the
characters in this story.
Audience: Wait a second, I’m lost again. Will I be giving my thoughts
about this story? Or about the characters in this story?
Storyteller: Actually, you’ll be telling me your thoughts about the
thoughts of the characters in this story.
Audience: Uh…? Huh?
Storyteller: Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll catch on fast.
Audience: Hold on! Who’s having this conversation with me?
Storyteller: You are not having a conversation.
Other people will be having a conversation. Not me and you.
Audience: But, you said I’m — quote — taking part in a conversation.
Well, what part am I taking?
Storyteller: So, you’re about to read a conversation, like this one
between us. Throughout that conversation are some blanks,
like this here.
Your part is to fill in the .
Audience: And I’m not filling out these blanks for myself, right?
Storyteller: What do you mean?
Audience: These blanks are in someone else’s conversation, so I
should be answering for someone else, right?
Storyteller: Yes, that’s right! Thanks for trying to clarify this.
In other words, I’m asking you to fill in a blank by how
you think someone else would fill in their own blank.
Audience: And then what happens after I fill out all the blanks?
Storyteller: Then more of the short story reveals itself, so please don’t
forget to keep scrolling to continue reading and filling in
more blanks.
Audience: …
Storytelling: Then you do this until you reach the end.
Audience: …
Storyteller: Alright! So, you got it? You good.
Audience: …
Storyteller: Well?
Audience: Um, now that I’m done thinking, that sounds !
Storyteller: Alright, I was hoping you’d say that! Now let’s see if you
are a fit for this. Please answer these yes-or-no questions.
Storyteller: Hmm, well, that’s worrying. Maybe this isn’t a good fit?
Mind answering these yes-or-no questions, just to make sure?
Storyteller: Still on the fence? If you answer these yes-or-no questions,
I’ll see if I can nudge you in the right direction.
Storyteller: I pay attention if people are good or bad.
I enjoy finding many solutions to a problem.
I form opinions about everyone.
I enjoy puzzles that I must solve.
I prefer complex instead of simple things.
It bothers me to remain neutral about people.
Storyteller: Thanks for answering my questions. Now, let me have a look…
Storyteller: So far, this is looking good.
Storyteller: Okay, these results look great to me! I think you’re really
going to appreciate reading this experiment in literature.
Storyteller: All done, and not bad. You’ll appreciate this more if you try
not to expect too much “game” stuff.
Storyteller: Actually, never mind. My apologies.
I think you’d be happier reading a book instead.
Storyteller: Hmm, I think this might still work somehow.
Storyteller: I just hope you don’t mind all the “literary” stuff here.
Storyteller: Just think more “literature” and less “game” and I’m sure
you’ll be fine.
Storyteller: Oops, never mind. Sorry about that.
I think you’d be happier reading something else instead.
Storyteller: Wow, that’s a strong change from how you felt earlier.
You really had me thinking you were interested.
Audience: Guess I changed my mind.
Storyteller: Looks like I was right earlier. Audience: Yeah, I tried to tell you.
Storyteller: Well, you are definitely not on the fence anymore. So…
Storyteller: I think you’d be happier playing a game instead. Audience: You got that right.
Storyteller: Sorry, but I don’t think you’re going to like this. Audience: No. Probably not.
Storyteller: So, now that you know what I think, what do you say about
starting to read this?
Audience: I think I this.
Audience: I’m ready to start this already!
Audience: I’m ready to go.
Audience: But I have a question first. Ever start something and then
you’re not sure how it’s going to turn out?
Storyteller: I do this all the time. It’s fine. Happening right now, as a
matter of fact.
Audience: So how are you feeling? Are you ?
Storyteller: You think I’m ?
Storyteller: Do I look ?! I’m scared! Audience: Aww, don’t be. I’m sure it won’t be that bad. Storyteller: Thanks.
Storyteller: I thought I was feeling scared, but maybe this might be
having me a bit , too.
Audience: You are scared! Storyteller: That obvious, huh? Audience: I can always tell. But you got this! Storyteller: Thanks!
Storyteller: But you really like saying today, huh?
Audience: Not sorry, because is how I feel today! Storyteller: Ha! Okay.
Audience: Sorry about that, not feeling like myself today. Storyteller: Aww, that’s okay.
Storyteller: One last note before we start.
Please be advised this story contains mature themes and
discussions about living and dying.
Audience discretion is advised.
Cost of Living
If easy payment plans were to be really efficient, patrons’ lifetimes had to be extended!
Stateless Writing by Robert Sheckley
Stateful Writing by Dorian Passer
Artistic Engineering by Dorian Passer
This stateless story was first published on December 1952.
This stateful story was first iterated on June 2022.
Carrin decided that he could trace his present mood to Miller’s suicide last week. But the knowledge didn’t help him get rid of the vague, formless fear in the back of his mind. It was foolish. Miller’s suicide didn’t concern him.
But why had that fat, jovial man killed himself? Miller had had everything to live for—wife, kids, good job, and all the marvelous luxuries of the age. Why had he done it?
“Good morning, dear,” Carrin’s wife said as he sat down at the breakfast table.
“Morning, honey. Morning, Billy.”
His son grunted something.
You just couldn’t tell about people, Carrin decided, and dialed his breakfast. The meal was gracefully prepared and served by the new Avignon Electric Auto-cook.
His mood persisted, annoyingly enough since Carrin wanted to be in top form this morning. It was his day off, and the Avignon Electric finance man was coming. This was an important day.
He walked to the door with his son.
“Have a good day, Billy.”
His son nodded, shifted his books and started to school without answering. Carrin wondered if something was bothering him, too. He hoped not. One worrier in the family was plenty.
“See you later, honey.” He kissed his wife as she left to go shopping.
At any rate, he thought, watching her go down the walk, at least she’s happy. He wondered how much she’d spend at the A. E. store.
Checking his watch, he found that he had half an hour before the A. E. finance man was due. The best way to get rid of a bad mood was to drown it, he told himself, and headed for the shower.
Harris: How come Carrin didn’t just talk to Billy? Vesper: Huh? Did Billy look in a mood to you?
Harris: I think Billy was . And Carrin was worried, too.
Harris: Not a mood, but certainly a sullen mood.
Even Carrin was worried about Billy.
Vesper: I didn’t mean to say . That wasn’t what I meant.
Harris: Definitely more dour than .
Also, Carrin was worried about Billy.
What made you think Billy was in a mood?
Vesper: I didn’t. But maybe Billy just wasn’t a morning person, so he was
grumpy as usual.
Harris: Maybe Billy was friends with Miller’s kids?
Vesper: Oh, I didn’t think about that. You’re probably right.
Harris: You think he was ? Then why would Carrin be worried
about Billy?
What made you think Billy was in a mood?
Vesper: I was just being sarcastic. It’s obvious Billy isn’t happy about
something.
Harris: Carrin and Billy seem hurt over Miller. This would’ve been a
good reason for them to talk.
Vesper: Do you think Carrin is avoiding talking about Miller because he
isn’t about Miller?
Harris: Hmm, let me think about that.
Harris: Yeah, Carrin is clearly hurt. But why isn’t he talking to Billy? Vesper: Maybe Carrin wants to, but he never learned how to open up. Harris: Yeah, it’s possible Carrin grew up like this with his own family.
Harris: I hope not. I’m sure Carrin is hurt about this, and so is Billy.
Maybe this is the first time something like this happened to
Carrin?
Vesper: Could be.
Vesper: To me it looks like Carrin wants to get over Miller as fast as
possible. Could be why Carrin didn’t feel a need to say anything.
Harris: What do you mean? Why else would Carrin be in a bad mood?
Vesper: Don’t you get the feeling that Carrin is about Miller?
Harris: Yeah, that’s pretty much what I mean. That Carrin is
and hurt about Miller.
Vesper: So regardless of whether he’s hurt or — why?
Why is Carrin hurt or ?
Harris: That’s what I was saying! Vesper: Oh, that’s right! Sorry, please, continue.
Harris: Are you saying Carrin is bothered to think about Miller? Now that
you point that out, Carrin is acting like Miller is dumb.
Vesper: I can understand why. Killing yourself is pretty dumb!
Harris: Well, yeah—I agree! But people that commit suicide need help. So
are you saying that needing help is dumb?
Vesper: No, of course not. But I get what you mean.
So what’s bothering Carrin?
Harris: Maybe he feels guilty that he’s excited for today? Or because he
still doesn’t know why Miller did that to his perfect life.
Vesper: Or because he is worried about Billy.
The shower room was a glittering plastic wonder, and the sheer luxury of it eased Carrin’s mind. He threw his clothes into the A. E. automatic Kleen-presser, and adjusted the shower spray to a notch above “brisk.” The five-degrees-above-skin-temperature water beat against his thin white body. Delightful! And then a relaxing rub-dry in the A. E. Auto-towel.
Wonderful, he thought, as the towel stretched and kneaded his stringy muscles. And it should be wonderful, he reminded himself. The A. E. Auto-towel with shaving attachments had cost thirty-four hundred and fifty dollars, plus tax.
But worth every penny of it, he decided, as the A. E. shaver came out of a corner and whisked off his rudimentary stubble. After all, what good was life if you couldn’t enjoy the luxuries?
His skin tingled when he switched off the Auto-towel. He should have been feeling wonderful, but he wasn’t. Miller’s suicide kept nagging at his mind, destroying the peace of his day off.
Was there anything else bothering him? Certainly there was nothing wrong with the house. His papers were in order for the finance man.
“Have I forgotten something?” he asked out loud.
“The Avignon Electric finance man will be here in fifteen minutes,” his A. E. bathroom Wall-reminder whispered.
“I know that. Is there anything else?”
The Wall-reminder reeled off its memorized data—a vast amount of minutiae about watering the lawn, having the Jet-lash checked, buying lamb chops for Monday, and the like. Things he still hadn’t found time for.
“All right, that’s enough.” He allowed the A. E. Auto-dresser to dress him, skillfully draping a new selection of fabrics over his bony frame. A whiff of fashionable masculine perfume finished him and he went into the living room, threading his way between the appliances that lined the walls.
A quick inspection of the dials on the wall assured him that the house was in order. The breakfast dishes had been sanitized and stacked, the house had been cleaned, dusted, polished, his wife’s garments had been hung up, his son’s model rocket ships had been put back in the closet.
Stop worrying, you hypochondriac, he told himself angrily.
The door announced, “Mr. Pathis from Avignon Finance is here.”
Carrin started to tell the door to open, when he noticed the Automatic Bartender.
Good God, why hadn’t he thought of it!
The Automatic Bartender was manufactured by Castile Motors. He had bought it in a weak moment. A. E. wouldn’t think very highly of that, since they sold their own brand.
Vesper: Carrin is very materialistic. Makes me think that he is more
bothered by Miller than about Miller.
Harris: Yeah, Carrin isn’t as as I thought about Miller.
Harris: I think you might be right. If Carrin cares about an off-brand
appliance, then he is probably more bothered by Miller than
about Miller.
Vesper: To me, Carrin is .
Vesper: The problem is that Carrin thinks he can purchase happiness and
acceptance.
Harris: Okay, so why is Carrin about Miller?
Harris: What does purchasing happiness have to do with Carrin being
about Miller?
Vesper: You think he’s , not bothered?
Vesper: Just ?
Harris: Well, probably less and more .
But again, what’s your point?
Vesper: If Miller’s lifestyle wasn’t enough for him, then—
Harris: —then Carrin is
now doubting his own ability to buy happiness?
Vesper: Exactly, which is why Carrin is .
Vesper: Which is why I don’t think Carrin is .
Harris: I dunno. I’m on the fence with this. Still looks like he’s
grieving, but just not in a healthy way.
Vesper: I can see that, too. But why is he embarrassed about buying
different brand appliances?
Harris: Like what you said — he would hate to not be accepted.
He wheeled the bartender into the kitchen, and told the door to open.
“A very good day to you, sir,” Mr. Pathis said.
Pathis was a tall, imposing man, dressed in a conservative tweed drape. His eyes had the crinkled corners of a man who laughs frequently. He beamed broadly and shook Carrin’s hand, looking around the crowded living room.
“A beautiful place you have here, sir. Beautiful! As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ll be overstepping the company’s code to inform you that yours is the nicest interior in this section.”
Carrin felt a sudden glow of pride at that, thinking of the rows of identical houses, on this block and the next, and the one after that.
“Now, then, is everything functioning properly?” Mr. Pathis asked, setting his briefcase on a chair. “Everything in order?”
“Oh, yes,” Carrin said enthusiastically. “Avignon Electric never goes out of whack.”
“The phone all right? Changes records for the full seventeen hours?”
“It certainly does,” Carrin said. He hadn’t had a chance to try out the phone, but it was a beautiful piece of furniture.
“The Solido-projector all right? Enjoying the programs?”
“Absolutely perfect reception.” He had watched a program just last month, and it had been startlingly lifelike.
“How about the kitchen? Auto-cook in order? Recipe-master still knocking’em out?”
“Marvelous stuff. Simply marvelous.”
Mr. Pathis went on to inquire about his refrigerator, his vacuum cleaner, his car, his helicopter, his subterranean swimming pool, and the hundreds of other items Carrin had bought from Avignon Electric.
“Everything is swell,” Carrin said, a trifle untruthfully since he hadn’t unpacked every item yet. “Just wonderful.”
“I’m so glad,” Mr. Pathis said, leaning back with a sigh of relief. “You have no idea how hard we try to satisfy our customers. If a product isn’t right, back it comes, no questions asked. We believe in pleasing our customers.”
“I certainly appreciate it, Mr. Pathis.”
Vesper: I guess I’m right. Carrin is trying to buy happiness. And so
was Miller.
Vesper: So now you do you see that Carrin buys all this stuff to show off
and feel good about himself? And now Miller is making him guess
how long until it’s not enough.
Harris: Do you see all the awesome stuff he has?!
Vesper: I do! |It’s crazy!
|
Harris: |He owns a helicopter!
Vesper: —but Carrin doesn’t care. All that stuff doesn’t even faze him.
Harris: I saw that. Do you think that means Carrin is ?
Vesper: I’m not sure. But he’s lying to Pathis about using all that stuff,
so that seems like a problem right there.
Vesper: Yeah, I think you’re right. Carrin might be feeling .
Vesper: No, he definitely feels more sad.
Vesper: And Pathis doesn’t seem to like Carrin.
Harris: I picked up up on that, too. But Carrin does seem to like Pathis?
Vesper: I know, right? Why?
Harris: All that stuff is literally his happiness and acceptance. Maybe a
wrong word to Pathis could take it all away?
Vesper: Pathis is shaming Carrin.
Harris: Huh? What do you mean? How?
Vesper: He gossips about everyone in town. Company’s code. Yeah right!
You know he uses that line at every house on that block.
Harris: You don’t think Pathis is being ?
Vesper: Really?
Vesper: No way! Pathis is just there for the money.
Vesper: I can’t see Pathis any other way than .
Harris: Ah, I see. Then Pathis is using the oldest trick in the book —
“fear of missing out”. That explains why Carrin barely uses all
that stuff he buys.
Vesper: And what about this? These automated appliances save Carrin all
this time, right? What’s Carrin doing with all that free time now?
Harris: Now you’re shaming Carrin, too. It’s his free time, not yours.
Why should you care?
Vesper: No, I wasn’t trying to do that, but something’s off here. What do
you think?
Harris: Aside from Carrin’s hoarding problem, everything else looks fine.
Pathis has great customer service and Carrin is still grieving.
Vesper: Oh, there’s definitely something going on. You’ll see!
Harris: I hope Pathis isn’t about to take advantage of Carrin while he is
still grieving about his neighbor.
Vesper: Hmm, I was thinking about that differently.
Harris: Maybe Carrin really was looking forward to visiting with Pathis?
They might go way back.
Vesper: I was not thinking about that — but, no, I doubt they are friends.
Harris: This is like a drug deal, except Pathis is peddling self-esteem to
Carrin, and Carrin is buying as much as he can.
Vesper: It’s hard not to see that.
Carrin hoped the A. E. man wouldn’t ask to see the kitchen. He visualized the Castile Motors Bartender in there, like a porcupine in a dog show.
“I’m proud to say that most of the people in this neighborhood buy from us,” Mr. Pathis was saying. “We’re a solid firm.”
“Was Mr. Miller a customer of yours?” Carrin asked.
“That fellow who killed himself?” Pathis frowned briefly. “He was, as a matter of fact. That amazed me, sir, absolutely amazed me. Why, just last month the fellow bought a brand-new Jet-lash from me, capable of doing three hundred and fifty miles an hour on a straightaway. He was as happy as a kid over it, and then to go and do a thing like that! Of course, the Jet-lash brought up his debt a little.”
“Of course.”
“But what did that matter? He had every luxury in the world. And then he went and hung himself.”
“Hung himself?”
“Yes,” Pathis said, the frown coming back. “Every modern convenience in his house, and he hung himself with a piece of rope. Probably unbalanced for a long time.”
The frown slid off his face, and the customary smile replaced it. “But enough of that! Let’s talk about you.”
The smile widened as Pathis opened his briefcase. “Now, then, your account. You owe us two million twenty-four thousand dollars and twenty-nine cents, Mr. Carrin, as of your last purchase. Right?”
“Right,” Carrin said, remembering the amount from his own papers. “Here’s my installment.”
He handed Pathis an envelope, which the man checked and put in his pocket.
“Fine. Now you know, Mr. Carrin, that you won’t live long enough to pay us the full two million and two hundred thousand, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t suppose I will,” Carrin said soberly.
He was only thirty-nine, with a full hundred years of life before him, thanks to the marvels of medical science. But at a salary of thirty-three thousand a year, he still couldn’t pay it all off and have enough to support a family on at the same time.
“Of course, we would not want to deprive you of necessities, which in any case is fully protected by the laws we helped formulate and pass. To say nothing of the terrific items that are coming out next year. Things you wouldn’t want to miss, sir!”
Mr. Carrin nodded. Certainly he wanted new items.
“Well, suppose we make the customary arrangement. If you will just sign over your son’s earnings for the first thirty years of his adult life, we can easily arrange credit for you.”
Harris: I was so wrong!!
Harris: I knew it!
Harris: Whoa! Didn’t see that coming!
Harris: That’s insane!
Vesper: |Wait! What?!
|
Harris: |Everything just moved so fast! |This is crazy!
|
Vesper: |None of this makes |sense!
|
Harris: |Now we know
what happened to Miller.
Vesper: —that’s dark. But, yeah, I couldn’t
imagine living a hundred years in debt. Even with that house.
Harris: And only making thirty a year with a two million dollar debt!
Vesper: What is he thinking?!
Harris: Do you think Carrin feels with that much stuff?
Vesper: Like I said, there must be something else we don’t know about.
Vesper: Why would anyone do this to be ?
Vesper: I think Carrin is , but I don’t think he thinks that.
Harris: But Carrin has all those automated appliances.
Vesper: Yeah, that he uses … sometimes. And he’s about to get more junk
from selling out Billy.
Harris: Why? Does Carrin not expect a future for Billy?
Vesper: I would hope Carrin chooses a debt-free future for
Billy, but I doubt it now.
Vesper: I would hate to see Carrin want something like this
to happen to Billy. But I’m half expecting he signs the papers.
Harris: You know, I did not think this was going to be Carrin’s big day!
Vesper: I was thinking that Carrin was making a final payment, or
something like that.
Vesper: Today ended up being a big day for Pathis instead of Carrin.
Harris: Yup, and this is making Pathis overjoyed right now.
Vesper: Except for the fact that Miller’s payments are on pause.
So, do you think Carrin is going to sign over Billy’s earnings?
Harris: Hmm, I’m not sure about any of this.
Harris: But he shouldn’t sell out Billy be to more .
Harris: I think that Carrin still wants a life for Billy,
despite still wanting to be .
Really, I’m not sure if Carrin will sign over Billy’s earnings.
Harris: Carrin clearly craves being . And I doubt he can see
how this is for Billy.
So Carrin will sign over Billy’s earnings.
Harris: Wouldn’t Carrin want Billy’s life to be so Billy wouldn’t
also be like Carrin?
I don’t think Carrin will sign over Billy’s earnings.
Harris: Carrin doesn’t care about being and he doesn’t care
about Billy either.
Carrin will sign over Billy’s earnings!
Mr. Pathis whipped the papers out of his briefcase and spread them in front of Carrin.
“If you’ll just sign here, sir.”
“Well,” Carrin said, “I’m not sure. I’d like to give the boy a start in life, not saddle him with—”
“But my dear sir,” Pathis interposed, “this is for your son as well. He lives here, doesn’t he? He has a right to enjoy the luxuries, the marvels of science.”
“Sure,” Carrin said. “Only—”
“Why, sir, today the average man is living like a king. A hundred years ago the richest man in the world couldn’t buy what any ordinary citizen possesses at present. You mustn’t look upon it as a debt. It’s an investment.”
“That’s true,” Carrin said dubiously.
He thought about his son and his rocket ship models, his star charts, his maps. Would it be right? he asked himself.
“What’s wrong?” Pathis asked cheerfully.
“Well, I was just wondering,” Carrin said. “Signing over my son’s earnings—you don’t think I’m getting in a little too deep, do you?”
“Too deep? My dear sir!” Pathis exploded into laughter. “Do you know Mellon down the block? Well, don’t say I said it, but he’s already mortgaged his grandchildren’s salary for their full life-expectancy! And he doesn’t have half the goods he’s made up his mind to own! We’ll work out something for him. Service to the customer is our job and we know it well.”
Carrin wavered visibly.
“And after you’re gone, sir, they’ll all belong to your son.”
That was true, Carrin thought. His son would have all the marvelous things that filled the house. And after all, it was only thirty years out of a life expectancy of a hundred and fifty.
He signed with a flourish.
“Excellent!” Pathis said. “And by the way, has your home got an A. E. Master-operator?”
It hadn’t. Pathis explained that a Master-operator was new this year, a stupendous advance in scientific engineering. It was designed to take over all the functions of housecleaning and cooking, without its owner having to lift a finger.
“Instead of running around all day, pushing half a dozen different buttons, with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!”
Since it was only fifty-nine hundred dollars, Carrin signed for one, having it added to his son’s debt.
Right’s right, he thought, walking Pathis to the door. This house will be Billy’s some day. His and his wife’s. They certainly will want everything up-to-date.
Just one button, he thought. That would be a time-saver!
Harris: Carrin will regret signing over Billy’s earnings just so he can be
more with himself.
Harris: I really though that Carrin wanted a life for Billy.
But it looks like Carrin would rather just be .
Harris: Carrin’s craving for being has now made Billy’s life
become more .
So I’m not surprised that Carrin signed those papers!
Harris: I did not want Carrin to sign those papers! Poor Kid! Now Billy’s
life is not going to be .
This will make Carrin in the end.
Harris: Yup, Carrin just sold out Billy!
I knew Carrin didn’t care if Billy’s life is .
Harris: But why is Carrin doing this? Wouldn’t all this house envy from
the neighbors make Carrin feel about himself?
Vesper: I think Carrin did feel for a time, but not since he
found out about his neighbor last week.
Vesper: Yes, that’s what I’m wondering. I’d feel lousy.
Vesper: That lifetime of debt is making Carrin depressed. Especially now
that he can’t stop thinking about Miller.
Harris: Were you surprised Carrin was about Billy?
Vesper: Well, earlier that morning, Carrin avoided asking Billy if
anything was bothering him. So, yes, I was surprised just now.
Harris: That’s right! So, I wonder why Carrin didn’t talk to Billy then?
Seems like this family doesn’t talk to each other about what’s
bothering them.
Vesper: I didn’t think Carrin was about Billy. But, yes, Carrin
still surprised me.
Harris: Why didn’t you think he was ?
Vesper: Remember Billy acting grumpy in the morning? Carrin didn’t care
then, so I didn’t think he’d care now.
Harris: Oh, yeah, I remember about Billy acting a bit grumpy. But, aside
from that, neither of them know how to deal with their feelings.
Vesper: I was hoping Carrin wanted a different life for Billy, but now
it’s apparent that Carrin accepted this fate a long time ago.
Harris: Now we know why Billy was acting strange earlier. Billy is going
down the same route that Carrin is with all this empty debt.
Vesper: Do you think Billy is going to be hurt when he finds out?
Harris: Billy is probably already wondering if Carrin likes this house
more than him, so Billy is definitely going to be hurt when he
finds out.
Harris: Billy knows that Carrin loves this house more than him, so Billy
won’t just be hurt, he’ll be disgusted.
Harris: Billy is going to be so disappointed, and that is going to break
Carrin’s heart. I wish they both would have talked to each other
earlier.
Harris: I think Carrin and Billy have come to terms with this. Almost like
this day was inevitable for them. I’m not really sure how Billy
will act. Maybe Billy won’t care?
After Pathis left, Carrin sat back in an adjustable chair and turned on the solido. After twisting the Ezi-dial, he discovered that there was nothing he wanted to see. He tilted back the chair and took a nap.
The something on his mind was still bothering him.
“Hello, darling!” He awoke to find his wife was home. She kissed him on the ear. “Look.”
She had bought an A. E. Sexitizer-negligee. He was pleasantly surprised that that was all she had bought. Usually, Leela returned from shopping laden down.
“It’s lovely,” he said.
She bent over for a kiss, then giggled—a habit he knew she had picked up from the latest popular solido star. He wished she hadn’t.
“Going to dial supper,” she said, and went to the kitchen. Carrin smiled, thinking that soon she would be able to dial the meals without moving out of the living room. He settled back in his chair, and his son walked in.
“How’s it going, Son?” he asked heartily.
“All right,” Billy answered listlessly.
“What’sa matter, Son?” The boy stared at his feet, not answering. “Come on, tell Dad what’s the trouble.”
Billy sat down on a packing case and put his chin in his hands. He looked thoughtfully at his father.
“Dad, could I be a Master Repairman if I wanted to be?”
Mr. Carrin smiled at the question. Billy alternated between wanting to be a Master Repairman and a rocket pilot. The repairmen were the elite. It was their job to fix the automatic repair machines. The repair machines could fix just about anything, but you couldn’t have a machine fix the machine that fixed the machine. That was where the Master Repairmen came in.
But it was a highly competitive field and only a very few of the best brains were able to get their degrees. And, although the boy was bright, he didn’t seem to have an engineering bent.
“It’s possible, Son. Anything is possible.”
“But is it possible for me?”
“I don’t know,” Carrin answered, as honestly as he could.
“Well, I don’t want to be a Master Repairman anyway,” the boy said, seeing that the answer was no. “I want to be a space pilot.”
“A space pilot, Billy?” Leela asked, coming in to the room. “But there aren’t any.”
“Yes, there are,” Billy argued. “We were told in school that the government is going to send some men to Mars.”
“They’ve been saying that for a hundred years,” Carrin said, “and they still haven’t gotten around to doing it.”
“They will this time.”
“Why would you want to go to Mars?” Leela asked, winking at Carrin. “There are no pretty girls on Mars.”
“I’m not interested in girls. I just want to go to Mars.”
“You wouldn’t like it, honey,” Leela said. “It’s a nasty old place with no air.”
“It’s got some air. I’d like to go there,” the boy insisted sullenly. “I don’t like it here.”
“What’s that?” Carrin asked, sitting up straight. “Is there anything you haven’t got? Anything you want?”
“No, sir. I’ve got everything I want.” Whenever his son called him ‘sir,’ Carrin knew that something was wrong.
“Look, Son, when I was your age I wanted to go to Mars, too. I wanted to do romantic things. I even wanted to be a Master Repairman.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Well, I grew up. I realized that there were more important things. First I had to pay off the debt my father had left me, and then I met your mother—”
Leela giggled.
“—and I wanted a home of my own. It’ll be the same with you. You’ll pay off your debt and get married, the same as the rest of us.”
Harris: Well, now Billy knows that Carrin isn’t about him.
Billy must be beyond hurt right now.
Harris: Billy saw this day coming and he hates Carrin for doing this to
him. I hope Carrin feels about himself.
Harris: Now Billy is feeling hurt. They should have talked sooner to
each other about this day before it happened.
Harris: So Billy has not come to terms with this. Billy was dreading
this day and he is definitely not .
Vesper: Why am I not surprised Carrin is repeating his dad’s mistakes.
Harris: Each generation thinks they’ll be different, huh?
Vesper: Yeah. They think they’re going to make the change, but don’t do
anything when it’s their turn.
Harris: Billy probably no longer trusts him and now feels
by Carrin.
Vesper: I hope Billy breaks this vicious cycle and doesn’t do this to his
family.
Vesper: How did you think Carrin made Billy feel ?
Harris: Because Billy knew that this day was coming. And now that the
cycle is set in motion, Billy doesn’t have to pretend to be happy
anymore.
Vesper: Oh, no. That’s so sad.
Harris: I don’t know how I didn’t see this side of Carrin much earlier.
Harris: I’m glad I spotted this side of Carrin much earlier.
Vesper: That wasn’t right to do to Billy. But…
Harris: But what?
Vesper: I’m just saying, debt is terrible, but like I said earlier,
there’s something else here. It just doesn’t add up.
Harris: This again? What else is there?
Vesper: Billy isn’t interested in engineering, and he does have
everything he’ll ever want or need.
And of course debt is bad. And nobody should have to pay off
their family’s debt.
But it’s not like Billy or Carrin will be destitute until these
debts are paid. So debt aside, what’s the downside?
Harris: But weren’t you just against putting Billy in debt?
Vesper: I still am. But I’m trying to make a point.
Harris: And that is?
Harris: If their lives are so easy, why would they be so about
this day?
Vesper: Here’s why I think they were dreading this day.
Vesper: Nah, they were definitely dreading this day. At least, they
didn’t look to me. But here’s what I think.
Vesper: That contract Carrin signed for Pathis?
Harris: Yeah, what about it?
Vesper: Well, remember when Pathis reminded Carrin that his debt will
outlive him?
Harris: Mmhmm.
Vesper: But Carrin will live to be a 150 years old!
Harris: And?
Vesper: I bet that contract forces Carrin to take medicine that makes him
live longer!
Harris: Oh, come on. Now that just makes everything sound even better!
Long life, push-button living, tons of free time for whatever.
Doesn’t sound all that bad really.
Vesper: But what if the medicine is experimental?
Harris: And they haven’t quite figured out the right formula?
Vesper: Right, and until they do, people become depressed and suicidal.
What do you think Billy is going to do about this?
Harris: I think Billy might try to run away.
Harris: Maybe Billy will try to talk some sense into Carrin?
Harris: I think Billy is going to continue the cycle with his own family.
Harris: I think Billy will give in and just accept what Carrin says.
Billy was silent for a while, then he brushed his dark hair—straight, like his father’s—back from his forehead and wet his lips.
“How come I have debts, sir?”
Carrin explained carefully. About the things a family needed for civilized living, and the cost of those items. How they had to be paid. How it was customary for a son to take on a part of his parent’s debt, when he came of age.
Billy’s silence annoyed him. It was almost as if the boy were reproaching him. After he had slaved for years to give the ungrateful whelp every luxury!
“Son,” he said harshly, “have you studied history in school? Good. Then you know how it was in the past. Wars. How would you like to get blown up in a war?”
The boy didn’t answer.
“Or how would you like to break your back for eight hours a day, doing work a machine should handle? Or be hungry all the time? Or cold, with the rain beating down on you, and no place to sleep?”
He paused for a response, got none and went on. “You live in the most fortunate age mankind has ever known. You are surrounded by every wonder of art and science. The finest music, the greatest books and art, all at your fingertips. All you have to do is push a button.” He shifted to a kindlier tone. “Well, what are you thinking?”
“I was just wondering how I could go to Mars,” the boy said. “With the debt, I mean. I don’t suppose I could get away from that.”
“Of course not.”
“Unless I stowed away on a rocket.”
“But you wouldn’t do that.”
“No, of course not,” the boy said, but his tone lacked conviction.
“You’ll stay here and marry a very nice girl,” Leela told him.
“Sure I will,” Billy said. “Sure.” He grinned suddenly. “I didn’t mean any of that stuff about going to Mars. I really didn’t.”
“I’m glad of that,” Leela answered.
“Just forget I mentioned it,” Billy said, smiling stiffly. He stood up and raced upstairs.
“Probably gone to play with his rockets,” Leela said. “He’s such a little devil.”
Vesper: I think you’re right that Billy might try to run away.
Vesper: Billy tried to talk some sense into Carrin, but Carrin wouldn’t
listen to him.
Vesper: It’s so sad to see this vicious cycle continue with Billy.
Vesper: I wish Billy was more frustrated with Carrin about making him feel
so powerless.
Vesper: Billy knew he was getting sold out today. I’m glad he took a stand
against Carrin.
Harris: But Carrin is probably from that medication he takes.
Vesper: Carrin is so ! You can tell by how much he was obsessing
earlier about Miller.
Vesper: Wait, you think Carrin is ? Why was Carrin obsessing
earlier about Miller?
Vesper: Can you imagine what Carrin is going through? I think Carrin is
terrified about his fate and he’s taking his fears out on Billy.
Harris: But that’s still not right for Billy.
Vesper: I was about to say that, too. But it’s not right for anyone here.
Harris: Now we can imagine what Carrin went through with his dad. Do you
think Carrin was when he found out about his own debt?
Vesper: If he was , then why make Billy go though this? I would feel
like I was trapped, just like Billy probably feels now.
Vesper: I don’t think he was , but he might not have been hurt
either. I think Carrin feels powerless and trapped, too.
Harris: Now Billy will have to start those life extending treatments as
soon as he’s old enough to work.
Vesper: Yeah, I don’t think Billy has a choice, right? He must feel so
powerless and trapped.
Harris: After Miller, how is Carrin going to handle this?
Harris: Carrin wishes he had a button for everything, and he’s frustrated
he doesn’t have a button right now.
Harris: Carrin’s problems have finally caught up to him and are hitting
him hard.
Vesper: I don’t think Carrin can deal with these problems alone.
Vesper: I can’t believe Carrin seems to prefer this lifestyle. Harris: Does this mean Carrin is in the deep end now?
Vesper: I hope someone helps Carrin find his way back.
The Carrins ate a quiet supper, and then it was time for Mr. Carrin to go to work. He was on night shift this month. He kissed his wife good-by, climbed into his Jet-lash and roared to the factory. The automatic gates recognized him and opened. He parked and walked in.
Automatic lathes, automatic presses—everything was automatic. The factory was huge and bright, and the machines hummed softly to themselves, doing their job and doing it well.
Carrin walked to the end of the automatic washing machine assembly line, to relieve the man there.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
“Sure,” the man said. “Haven’t had a bad one all year. These new models here have built-in voices. They don’t light up like the old ones.”
Carrin sat down where the man had sat and waited for the first washing machine to come through. His job was the soul of simplicity. He just sat there and the machines went by him. He pressed a button on them and found out if they were all right. They always were. After passing him, the washing machines went to the packaging section.
The first one slid by on the long slide of rollers. He pressed the starting button on the side.
“Ready for the wash,” the washing machine said.
Carrin pressed the release and let it go by.
That boy of his, Carrin thought. Would he grow up and face his responsibilities? Would he mature and take his place in society? Carrin doubted it. The boy was a born rebel. If anyone got to Mars, it would be his kid.
But the thought didn’t especially disturb him.
“Ready for the wash.” Another machine went by.
Carrin remembered something about Miller. The jovial man had always been talking about the planets, always kidding about going off somewhere and roughing it. He hadn’t, though. He’d committed suicide.
“Ready for the wash.”
Carrin had eight hours in front of him, and he loosened his belt to prepare for it. Eight hours of pushing buttons and listening to a machine announce its readiness.
“Ready for the wash.”
He pressed the release.
“Ready for the wash.”
Carrin’s mind strayed from the job, which didn’t need much attention in any case. He wished he had done what he had longed to do as a youngster.
It would have been great to be a rocket pilot, to push a button and go to Mars.