Unrequited Love

The author prefaces his confession, citing good intentions despite harm brought to innocents.

The narrator spots his neighbor’s android daughter, Roberta Robinson, on her way to school.  He walks alongside her and asks about her attending class despite knowing more than her peers.  Roberta professes to enjoy her lessons and tutoring the other students, especially her friend Julianne.

Julianne, a human girl, shuffles past the narrator’s house.  The man introduces himself as Roberta’s neighbor and offers to be Julianne’s friend.  Julianne explains that she and Roberta are to be given puppies, hers a robot and Roberta’s a terrier.  The author finds himself filled with discontent, thinking of the dwindling number of children and the shrinking sphere of humanity.

The narrator watches Roberta and Julianne from a distance and formulates a plan.  He notices the arrival of Roberta’s spirited dog, Rover, and Julianne’s imitation Dalmatian, Robber.