"In the future, “We will have to get used to living with robots.”, read in a press article. But he didn't quite believe it. Robots will never be like people, meditated. It's not that he was a radical technophobe, But he was always a little reluctant to include certain technological advances in his life.. And not so much because I despised the supposed advantages that these brought to our lives., as by that consumerist air that surrounded everything related to the already relatively new industry of gadgets digital. What bothered him most was the apparent obligation that implied having to purchase the latest device that had become fashionable.. Of all his friends, He was the last one to buy a mobile phone, the last to go from the first models (the ones with buttons) to those called smartphones, the last to install fiber optic Internet, the last to change the old tube television for a plasma one, the last to go from CD to mp3 and, from there, to the unbearable Spotify lists, the last to buy a Thermomix, and he knew that he would be the last man on Earth to switch from gasoline to electric cars.
Es, for all these reasons, what, when they tried to convince him to buy one Roomba, twisted his nose, remembering and telling yourself, “I have experienced this before”. "Yes, man. Yes it is very practical, fuck", one of his friends told him. He resorted to the usual strategy and tried to deny the biggest. That with his old vacuum cleaner he already managed. What, although I was five years old, Why would he change it if it still worked so well?? and his friends, “Throw away that crap.”. Why are you going to be bending over if this does it all alone??”Although the new arguments were very sound, This time I was sure he wouldn't give in.. But when the package arrived at his house on his birthday, couldn't do anything. Aware of their historical stubbornness, his family had conspired to give him, between everyone, the blessed device. “And now what do I do?”?”, it was said. “Shall I return it?”?"He didn't dare.
When he took it out of the packaging, He did not find its circular shape particularly attractive.. The book that accompanied it only had a few instructions for its operation.. It didn't have many buttons: on, cleaning position at one point and another to be placed on the battery charging base. Although it was not one of the most advanced models, had an hourly programming option. The first time he connected it, He did it in the living room because he considered it the largest place in his house.. Once it got going, the pot began to spin on itself, as if he had woken up from a long period of hibernation and was wondering, “what happened?, Where am I?"Once it seemed like I had established certain coordinates, started his work. Rotating its brushes in the shape of blades and accompanied by that noise it made when vacuuming., the Roomba began to study the terrain. When faced with an obstacle, crashed into him, turned around and started in a new direction. At first, he felt a little disappointed. The device did not seem to follow a very precise order and had to be rescued several times, when it got caught in the television's power cord or when it got stuck under the skirt of one of the sofas. After several comings and goings, rather random, all over the room, the device stopped. He had finished his task. Not very confident, He picked it up from the ground and opened his deposit. Quickly, changed his mind, well, to your surprise, discovered that a considerable ball of dust was lodged there. He touched the terrazzo floor with his hand and, in the absence of a light pass of mocho, He considered it to be acceptably clean.. He twisted his mouth into an expression of agreement and looked at the device., what seemed to wait, patient, your next order.
He repeated the operation in other rooms, checking in each case that the result was optimal. It is true that there were some corners that, for your disposition, they were left out of their brushes, but that was, definitely, a minor inconvenience. It happened just as they had told him. Somehow, Not only did it save some effort, It also allowed him to take advantage of his time on other domestic matters or any other matter that claimed his daily interest.. After the first hesitant steps, he began to gain confidence with the machine. As you became familiar with its operation, He liked to schedule it at certain times. He was careful to clear the space so that the device did not catch on anything and he went for a walk confident that, upon returning, I would find the house cleaner and, therefore, cozier.
It was from the second or third week, when something started to change. What at first seemed like an erratic wandering, began to show a certain logic to his eyes. Although chaotic, I did not rule out that there was some kind of order in that movement from corner to corner. In its soft slide across the floor, He also began to glimpse a certain grace. Sometimes, He was hypnotized watching her spin around herself.. Even, began to appreciate in some movements something similar to an intention; subtle, It's true, but very real. That's how it was that time, after reviewing one of the rooms several times, told him, impatient,” bueno, Let's see when you finish". So, as if I had heard him, The machine left through the door and headed down the hallway., moving away from him in a gesture that seemed provocative. another day, upon returning from his morning walk, found her, like waiting for him, when opening the door, in the hall of his apartment. Chance? Embarrassed, I take it to the charger and leave it resting there..
These types of situations began to become more and more frequent. One morning, he tripped over her at the foot of the bed, when getting up. They both looked at each other, as expected, studying each other. Had she connected herself?, it was said. He didn't give it any more importance. On another occasion, He thought he understood that I was following him around the house.. He tested her and took a sharp turn towards the bathroom.. The machine left behind him. At first, he got scared. What if that robot was aware of itself?? But that was impossible. He repeated the test and the thing followed him again.. Worried, I search on the Internet, but he did not find any similar case that would help him solve the mystery.
From there, as he accepted what was undoubtedly a rarity (Maybe there was a programming error.), These types of situations were repeated. But that other day came when, after reviewing several rooms, the machine stopped one meter away from him while he was making paella in the kitchen. "Hello", he said, distracted. The machine seemed silent, but, after a second, made a slight beep. Had I answered? He got a little nervous, but then he reconsidered. "But, “let’s see”, it was said. “Suppose it is like this. Let's imagine for a moment that this junk, somehow, thinks and acts for himself. What can you do to me? Besides, even if this is true, If you continue leaving the house just as clean, What does it matter to me??”, concluded. one afternoon, I was listening to the radio and, absently, He began to tell her about the news of the day.. From there he went on to talk to her about his problems with his ex-wife and his children.. Other, He found himself telling her about the possible difficulties with work if the professional quarantine situation lasted for many months.. The machine seemed to always listen to him. only from time to time, made one of those beeps, as if indicating that it was still there. When he realized, He found himself returning home earlier from his walks so as not to leave her alone.. Later, He discovered that he couldn't fall asleep if he didn't leave it at the foot of the bed., next to his sneakers. But, When he had no choice but to recognize that something extraordinary was happening, he found himself calling her “her” if, in your head, he was referring to the device in the third person.
Could you call that love?? No. But, what was it then?, it was said. Was there anyone in the world who listened to him like ella? Was there anyone else you knew who was more attentive than you? ella to your companionship needs, understanding and support? He did not dare to answer. And so, for a while, he felt very happy. He cared little since the government will not lift the happy State of Alarm. He wouldn't feel so alone anymore..
But every pure love story like this, always ends up running into some problem. So, One morning he woke up and didn't see her next to him.. He looked for her everywhere. Seeing that it did not appear, he called her out loud. At last, He found it in a corner of a room he used as a storage room., under some boxes. She was turned up, totally gutted. When he saw this image, he was horrified. But, Who could have committed such a crime?? He picked up the pieces and tried to put them together, but, although he was crafty, The circuits were burned out and there was nothing he could do to return them to their original state..
An investigation has been launched. After gathering several pieces of evidence, everything points to the old vacuum cleaner as a possible culprit, but not sure. One day, He cornered him in a closet and subjected him to scrupulous interrogation., but the bastard hasn't said anything yet. GERARDO LEON
