Friend Me by John Faubion Page B

you’ll be very happy with the result.”
    â€œI’m beginning to think so too. And even though I know you’re not a real person, I must admit I feel like I’ve been talking to a real person all this time. It’s kind of spooky.”
    â€œYou’ll get over it.” Jane laughed.
    â€œI’ll say good-bye for now.”
    â€œGood-bye for now, Rachel.”
    Jane’s image faded from the screen and was replaced with the word PROCESSING. A green progress bar pulsed underneath the word.
    Rachel turned to her laundry pile. There were plenty of shirts to fold and socks to roll. As she worked she thought about all the effort she had put into this virtual friend experiment. Even if it didn’t turn out in the ideal sense Jane had presented, it still might be fun. It didn’t cost any money—she hadn’t given her credit card number away—so no harm done.
    She had such a good husband and he worked hard to provide for the family. She walked through the steps of the disagreements they’d been having. She had said the wrong thing, then Scott had reacted in the wrong way. They could work it out. She wanted to call him at work and tell him what she’d been doing, but he’d told her many times interruptions at work were frowned upon. When he had time he often called her during his lunch hour. It was lunchtime now, but he had not called. Shewondered what time he would be home tonight. She wanted to have a good supper ready for him when he walked in the door.
    She picked up her cell phone and texted him. “Let me know when u r coming home 4 supper if u can.”
    She heard a ding sound from the living room. An e-mail had arrived. Was it already time to hear back from Jane? Rachel hurried back into the living room and looked at the screen. Jane was there, tapping her finger at the bottom of the screen and looking coyly impatient. Rachel picked up the microphone. “Are you done already?”
    Jane brightened at the sound of Rachel’s voice. “Yes, all done. And what’s more, my job as introducer is about done. Rachel, are you ready for me to introduce you to your new friend Suzanne?”
    Rachel felt her stomach tighten.
    This is not real. I know this is not Suzanne .
    â€œYes, Jane—I’m ready.”
    Jane’s image began to fade and as Jane dissolved away Rachel heard a familiar voice.
    â€œAre you ready for this, Rachel?” Suzanne’s face, wearing the same happy smile she had worn at Rachel’s wedding, appeared on the screen. She seemed to force her eyes open, as if she’d been asleep for a long time and had just awakened.
    Rachel could hardly believe her eyes. It was so realistic. Suzanne’s face turned, muscles moved. Her hair rose and fell against her shoulders as her head swung to face Rachel directly.
    â€œHi, Rachel. I’m . . . I’m back.”
    â€œSuzanne?”
    The image on the screen smiled again, the familiar grin Rachel had known and loved for the better part of her life. It truly was the face of her old friend.
    â€œIt’s me, in the flesh.” Suzanne’s eyes crinkled as the corners of her mouth turned up. “That’s supposed to be a joke,” she said with a chuckle. “They teach us some things to say in the beginning to kind of, you know, break the ice.”
    What should she say? Could she really treat this, this image on the screen like a real person? Like her dead best friend?
    Was this really going to be the same as hanging a picture on the wall? Or was she trying to bring the dead back?
    â€œCat got your tongue? They told us to expect that. Let me help. How’s Scott? Did he get that job he was after? I have a lot to catch up on.”
    Scott? What would he think? Maybe she shouldn’t even tell him about this. She’d been afraid he wouldn’t approve. Would he think spending too much time at home, alone with the children, had sent her