R & D
It was another bright morning. The noise emanating from the kitchen indicated that Rachel was busy preparing the breakfast and the usual medications for the day.
Doris,
a petite elderly lady, appeared in the doorway, “Good morning, Rachel!” she
beamed.
“A
very good morning to you Doris. How did you sleep?”
“Quite
well thank you. Those pills you gave me last night, the yellow ones, weren’t
they just the ticket!” replied Doris.
“That
is good to know, and here is your breakfast”. Rachel motioned with her hands at
the kitchen table. “Oh yummy!” Doris responded, rubbing her palms together in
glee. Rachel being her usual attentive self, “It’s another fine day today,
perfect for a walk around the garden. Would you like to do that after your
breakfast?”
“Of
course! Don’t we do that every day?” Doris answered quizzically.
“Yes,
you are right, we do that every day, but it’s what you enjoy the most, and
that’s always the way to start the day”, responded a grinning Rachel.
Doris sat down at the gleaming marble-white kitchen table. She picked up her fork, began to tuck into the scrambled eggs that Rachel had placed in front of her.
Rachel
turned away and took a moment to look out of the kitchen window. She gazed at a
small Robin that had popped it’s head out through the hedge before it quickly
darted into a Hawthorne tree.
“Hmm… lovely, lovely! Proclaimed Doris as she quickly finished off her eggs.
“Glad
you approve!” said Rachel handing Doris a cup of tea before turning away then
turning back to check Doris’ plate. Swiftly Rachel picked it up, rapidly washing
it in the sink. She was efficient, kept everything looking like something out
of show-home.
The countertop
was sparce, with only a couple of high-end appliances in a colour scheme of
white and silver. Their appearance was as if they’d never been used or even switched
on before.
Doris looked up at Rachel with wonderment at the speed in which she had cleaned up the kitchen, “What time is it now?”
Rachel
answered with a hint of authority in her voice. “It’s time for your walk!”
Doris
mischievously responded, “Don’t you mean OUR walk?”
Rachel
was a great help to Doris, never impolite, always ready to assist her and take
care of her, never faltering to respond to Doris’ needs when asked. She had the
look of a very tall, slim, but sturdy old-school Matron, with added steel-rimmed
glasses, and constant smile. What Doris admired most in Rachel, was her
cheerfulness, her resilience, and good manners.
Rachel took Doris by the hand and led her out of the kitchen through the backdoor, into the sunny greenery of the spring garden. A butterfly fluttered in their direction, followed brazenly by a large Wasp. Releasing her grip from Rachel, with a swift whip of her hand, Doris batted the insect away.
“What
a nuisance, get out, out!”
“I
thought you enjoyed the creatures in your garden?” Rachel asked. “Not all of
them!” Doris proclaimed.
A
sparrow had perched on the small rickety wooden bench that seemed to have lived
in the shady corner of the garden for eons. It caught Doris’ eye.
“I
like birds naturally” Doris explained, “They’re my favourites”.
“I saw
a Robin earlier, in the Hawthorne tree. Do you like Sparrows?” asked Rachel.
“That’s
a bird, isn’t it?” Doris said as she began to list birds one after the other,
“Owls, Finches, Doves, …”
Rachel walked along-side Doris as she continued to name birds, followed by animals she loved, “Hedgehogs, Squirrels, Toads …”
“You
like living things, don’t you Doris, apart from wasps?” Rachel’s smile never
changing.
Doris
replied, “Yes of course, I also like you too don’t I, my best friend!” Doris
hugged Rachel, trying her best to squeeze her arms around her tall, thin
companion, and almost tripping over. “That’s why I love you… umm…”. Doris
looked confused as she seemed to have forgotten her friend’s name. She stopped
walking. Rachel stopped too.
Doris
continued, “you’re always by my side, you’re always around to help when I need
you, always with me.” Doris hesitated then asked, “Who are you?”
Rachel
looked at Doris for a second and replied in a calming tone, “I’m R.A.C.HEL, your
Robot Assistant, Carer and Help.”
“Oh
yes,” said Doris, “of course you are.”
