wondered where E had gotten his whimsical personality. He sure hadn’t learned it from his serious-minded creator.
Inside, Chris stumbled over a small, red-wrapped package. He set down his hardware bags and picked it up, noting that it had come from a video-shoppingcompany. TV shopping, Chris mused. Maybe Melanie had a few human qualities after all.
A voice from the back room drew Chris’s attention. “E, cut that out!”
Chris smiled. Einstein was up to his usual tricks. Stuffing the small package into his jacket pocket, he walked down the hallway to see what was happening. The door to the back room was ajar. Melanie was sitting at the monitor screen with her back to the door, sorting through a tangle of wiring. Apparently Einstein’s digital hearing was better than hers for she gave no indication she’d heard Chris approaching, or even that she knew he was in the house.
Einstein’s monitor flashed. Chris was too far away to read the small lettering, but he was close enough to hear Melanie’s response. “You’re incorrigible. I am not—repeat
not
—going to buy you a new CPU cabinet. There’s nothing wrong with your old one.”
The screen changed. Chris bent closer, making out the words
shiny black detailing
. He started to read more but was distracted by the low, rich sound of laughter. Melanie. Melanie was laughing!
“Detailing? E, you’ve got to stop listening to those Daytona bike-shop commercials. Trust me, the board members aren’t going to like you any better if you show up at their meeting looking like a Harley.”
Chris could feel the gentle smile in her words. This bright, lively woman was as different from the restrained scientist he knew as day from night. Even her voice sounded different—warm and sweet, with just the hint of a lilt. Intrigued, he stepped closer.
Einstein’s monitor turned sulky green.
Bet Chris would get me cabinet.
Bet I would
, Chris thought. Einstein was quite a little con artist. Chris suspected Melanie would fall for E’s line as easily as he would. He was wrong.
“Now look here, E, I don’t want you telling Chrisabout this cabinet nonsense. You know how hard he’s working to get you those new parts. He’s been wonderful and we should be grateful for all his help, not bothering him with trivial requests.”
Chris blinked. Wonderful? That surprised him. She’d never seemed the least bit impressed by his efforts. A lukewarm thank-you was the most she’d ever offered. Apparently she’d concealed her appreciation. But why?
Einstein’s monitor again drew Chris’s attention.
Need cabinet, he stated. Look dorky.
Melanie put the coiled wiring aside. “You do not look ‘dorky.’ And even if you did, it wouldn’t make any difference. It’s not what you look like that matters. It’s what’s inside you that counts.”
Circuits and wires?
“No, you goof. It’s your soul. It’s all the hundreds of parts and programs that make you the very special being that you are.”
Like your brain patterns and personality traits make you and Chris special?
“That’s right. Everyone is special in his or her own way. Of course, Chris and I are very different people.”
But still special
, Einstein asserted.
You’re special because so smart. Chris is special because ***?
She answered without hesitation. “Chris is special because he makes other people feel special.”
He’d expected her to say “because he’s a hard worker,” or “because he knows the computer industry.” She might even have said “because he’s Duncan Sheffield’s son.” No surprise there. But she’d seen through his obvious talents to the underlying reason for his success in business. She was right. He liked making people feel special. He liked the warmth in her voice when she’d said it.
Why am I special?
Melanie lifted her hand and brushed her fingers across the screen. “Oh, E, dear E. There are so many things about you that—”
Not asking you. Know you. Asking
Inside, Chris stumbled over a small, red-wrapped package. He set down his hardware bags and picked it up, noting that it had come from a video-shoppingcompany. TV shopping, Chris mused. Maybe Melanie had a few human qualities after all.
A voice from the back room drew Chris’s attention. “E, cut that out!”
Chris smiled. Einstein was up to his usual tricks. Stuffing the small package into his jacket pocket, he walked down the hallway to see what was happening. The door to the back room was ajar. Melanie was sitting at the monitor screen with her back to the door, sorting through a tangle of wiring. Apparently Einstein’s digital hearing was better than hers for she gave no indication she’d heard Chris approaching, or even that she knew he was in the house.
Einstein’s monitor flashed. Chris was too far away to read the small lettering, but he was close enough to hear Melanie’s response. “You’re incorrigible. I am not—repeat
not
—going to buy you a new CPU cabinet. There’s nothing wrong with your old one.”
The screen changed. Chris bent closer, making out the words
shiny black detailing
. He started to read more but was distracted by the low, rich sound of laughter. Melanie. Melanie was laughing!
“Detailing? E, you’ve got to stop listening to those Daytona bike-shop commercials. Trust me, the board members aren’t going to like you any better if you show up at their meeting looking like a Harley.”
Chris could feel the gentle smile in her words. This bright, lively woman was as different from the restrained scientist he knew as day from night. Even her voice sounded different—warm and sweet, with just the hint of a lilt. Intrigued, he stepped closer.
Einstein’s monitor turned sulky green.
Bet Chris would get me cabinet.
Bet I would
, Chris thought. Einstein was quite a little con artist. Chris suspected Melanie would fall for E’s line as easily as he would. He was wrong.
“Now look here, E, I don’t want you telling Chrisabout this cabinet nonsense. You know how hard he’s working to get you those new parts. He’s been wonderful and we should be grateful for all his help, not bothering him with trivial requests.”
Chris blinked. Wonderful? That surprised him. She’d never seemed the least bit impressed by his efforts. A lukewarm thank-you was the most she’d ever offered. Apparently she’d concealed her appreciation. But why?
Einstein’s monitor again drew Chris’s attention.
Need cabinet, he stated. Look dorky.
Melanie put the coiled wiring aside. “You do not look ‘dorky.’ And even if you did, it wouldn’t make any difference. It’s not what you look like that matters. It’s what’s inside you that counts.”
Circuits and wires?
“No, you goof. It’s your soul. It’s all the hundreds of parts and programs that make you the very special being that you are.”
Like your brain patterns and personality traits make you and Chris special?
“That’s right. Everyone is special in his or her own way. Of course, Chris and I are very different people.”
But still special
, Einstein asserted.
You’re special because so smart. Chris is special because ***?
She answered without hesitation. “Chris is special because he makes other people feel special.”
He’d expected her to say “because he’s a hard worker,” or “because he knows the computer industry.” She might even have said “because he’s Duncan Sheffield’s son.” No surprise there. But she’d seen through his obvious talents to the underlying reason for his success in business. She was right. He liked making people feel special. He liked the warmth in her voice when she’d said it.
Why am I special?
Melanie lifted her hand and brushed her fingers across the screen. “Oh, E, dear E. There are so many things about you that—”
Not asking you. Know you. Asking
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