Flip Side: The Meeting

"We know how you feel, but there's nothing we can do at the moment."

Mum's wrist-phone beeped.

"Hi, dear. I'll be home a bit early tonight. Something's come up ..."

"I know," said Mum. "It's the houses. They've shut our children inside."

"Yes, it's a strange thing, but don't worry. Probably a computer glitch, or maybe a virus. The experts will fix it soon. I'll see you in about twenty minutes. Bye."

"Bye."

"I'll go to the shops down at the corner," said Mum to us. "Call me if anything happens."

"Yes, Mum."

Zanelle and I left the living room and went through the house. We tried giving Maid 1000 as many commands as we could think of. Taps on, taps off. Heater. Music. Change channel. Cleaner on. Curtains open, curtains close. Picture change. Wall pattern change. Lighting dull, alter hue, brighten ... everything worked perfectly. But when we tried to open the windows they stayed shut.

"What's wrong with you today, Maidy?" asked Zanelle.

"I am functioning at 100% efficiency," said the computer.

"Run a self-diagnostic, please."

"Processing. Please wait a moment. Self-diagnostic complete. All systems functioning 100%."

"Why don't you open the gate for Mum?"

"I don't want to."

"But you aren't allowed to decide whether you want to do things or not," I said. "You're not programmed to think for yourself."

"I am now," said the computer.

"If you don't open the door, we'll have to break it down!" I said.

"I cannot allow you to do that," said the computer.

"But you can't stop us."