Page 14 of The Delivery

“Maddy.”

“Thank you, Maddy. What would you like to call me?”

Maddy cocks her head. Her shoulder has lowered, and her arms have loosened, Mr. Fox swaying from her fist. She studies the thing-man, her brow furrowed adorably.

Then she says, “Mr. Man.”

Mr. Man nods. “ I like that ,” he says. “What do you say we all get back to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I have some cleaning to do in here.” Mr. Man nods to the goo-filled prism. And then, to Rebecca: “Would I find more towels in the linen closet?”

Rebecca somehow finds her voice. “Laundry room. Cupboard above the dryer.”

“I will do that. And I will see you all in the morning.”

“Mr. Fox is awake at night too,” Maddy says. “Want him to keep you company?”

“That is so kind, Maddy.” Mr. Man presses one hand to his heart. Or, Rebecca supposes, to the place where a heart would be. “I’d be honored.”

Maddy trudges over and offers up Mr. Fox.

Is that a wink Mr. Man makes at Maddy with one of his smooth eyes?

Maddy gazes up at him. She looks so small. “Sydney says stuffties are for babies,” she confides.

Mr. Man regards Mr. Fox with tenderness. Then he gives Mr. Fox a hug. “It seems like Sydney does not understand stuffties.”

“That’s right!” Maddy says. “She doesn’t. She doesn’t get stuffties at all.”

Mr. Man makes one of Mr. Fox’s hands wave goodnight to Maddy.

“G’night,” Maddy tells Mr. Fox and Mr. Man.

“ Thank you for having me here ,” Mr. Man tells them all.

Mark clears his throat. “Sure,” he says.

They stand a moment longer and then withdraw awkwardly.

Chapter 11

Rebecca and Mark are curled on their sides in bed, facing each other, noses almost touching, speaking in whispers.

“What did you expect?” Mark asks.

“I don’t know. Like an interface. A computer interface that interacts with our smart devices.”

“With tentacle arms?”

She gives him a playful smack on the arm. “No. Like digitally or whatever.” She leans in, pokes the tip of her nose against his. “How ’bout you?”

“A robot, maybe. Like those blank-faced ones from Japan. A robot butler.”

Rebecca sticks out her tongue. “I just thought of something gross.”

“What?”