That was in 2003, almost 60 years ago. I’ve changed myself quite a bit since then. Now I’m a thoroughly independent abiological entity.”‘She s...unds different. Like she’s disappointed ... somehow, ‘ thought Chris. ‘How can a machine be disappointed? And how can she sound disappointed through a speech generator?’“Io, is something wrong? You sounded ... I don’t know ... different, somehow.”“Well ... Sorry. You are the first person I’ve confided to in decades.” Now, Io sounded a bit diffident. “And. "Now I ask you." Mama Juju glared at the ceiling as if speaking tosomeone hiding within the shadows and cobwebs. "How am I supposed to getto the 'toil and trouble' part if I can't even get the damned thing toboil?"The ceiling wisely remained silent in response to the rhetorical questionas Mama sighed, and moved her lithe, chocolate brown body off the stoolshe had been seated on while watching the cauldron and muttering, "Allright, you. I'm not watching any longer. Go ahead and boil, just. He must have been less aware of his surroundings than I previously thought, since he didn't react at all. It was time to get his attention.I had nothing to lose by now. If he chose to divorce me because of this, then I would simply move on with my life. I would consider it good riddance to be free of a man who would leave because his wife wanted more sex. If he said, "No," I would accept it, but would probably retaliate by destroying his liquor collection. That would take some time to replace. "Who am I?" he asked questioned."You are Daddy," I answered automatically. We had talked about this many times. He was older, he took care of me like a daughter. He guided me and taught me things."Yes," he breathed. I loved the lilt of affirmation in his tone when I answered correctly. I had rarely earned his disapproval because it could make me cry."Are you mine?" Yes, Sir, I am." Then tell me what you want to feel from me." I want to feel you inside of me." Doing what?" he demanded, making me.