Dinner at Corinne and Ralph's | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Dinner at Corinne and Ralph's | Previous Challenge Entry
By JC Hummel
05/04/17
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Corrine had never won anything before and only entered the ‘Advent Technology Newlywed Competition’ at her sister, Eileen’s, urging. “Go on Corinne, it’s free to enter. Can you imagine if you won?” When Corinne got the phone call telling her she and her new husband, Ralph, were the winners of a brand-new smart home located in one of the nicest neighborhoods in town, she couldn't believe her luck. On move-in day she felt like a celebrity. Well-wishers stood on the lawn offering congratulations and the local newspaper took a photo of her and Ralph outside their amazing house.

The representative from Advent Technology ushered Corrine and Ralph inside. “Congratulations guys. Let me tell you about some of the home’s features. As you know, the house is designed by the renowned architect Renault Devereaux, and the Advent Technology Company.”

Corinne and Ralph nodded and smiled without saying a word, and wouldn’t dare to admit they had no idea who Renault Devereaux was.

“First of all, the home is eco-friendly and has a voice recognition system. It can hear and comprehend what you ask it to do. You can ask it to start the oven, light the gas fire or turn on the lights. For instance, if you want to turn up the heat you just say, ‘Jeeves, turn the heat to 70 degrees’.”
“Jeeves?” Corinne said.
“Yes, that’s the name of your robot assistant. It was chosen by Mr. Devereaux himself.” She handed them the large blue vinyl folder she was carrying. “This is for you. If you have any questions call my secretary. Good luck.”

Their phones started ringing right away with friends, family and even some strangers wanting to come by and see the house. “We can’t have everyone over at once, why don't we invite our parents and siblings and have a nice dinner party?” Corrine said.
“My Aunt Joyce and Uncle Max will have to come, too.”
“Okay, so that makes eleven people. Well this will be a first, I’ve never cooked for eleven people before.”

On the night of the dinner party all the guests arrived at once with nobody fashionably late. Ralph gave them a tour of the house, while Corrine spoke to her sister, Eileen, who had just returned from vacation.
“How was Australia?”
“Oh, Corinne the house is fantastic. Did it help with dinner?”
“What? No, of course not.”
“But I thought the house was a smart house and did everything.”
“Well it can monitor the food so it doesn't burn, but it doesn’t do the cooking. So tell me about your trip to Sydney?”
“Oh, it was great. Mom said that Jeeves makes your coffee in the morning.”
“Yes, it turns the coffee pot on.”
“Wow, you’re so lucky," she said as she walked into the kitchen.

In the living room Aunt Joyce was already getting tipsy. “I like that it’s eco friendly, but haven’t you seen those 1950s B movies where the robots take over the world?” She leaned into Ralph slightly losing her balance. “Aren’t you worried about something going awry?”
“Jeeves is not that different from what you have in your phone."
“Don’t say that you might insult him,” Uncle Max said laughing out loud.
Ralph’s mom pretended to looked concerned. “Do you think he’s listening to us right now?”
“Well of course he is,” Uncle Max said. “Hey Jeeves, what’s the weather in Dublin, Ireland?”
“The weather in Dublin, Ireland is 55 degrees,” Jeeves said.
They all cheered.

Corinne rushed over and whispered to Ralph. “I thought Jeeves would only obey our voices. “Your family is acting like a bunch of lunatics.”
“My family? Your family isn't much better.”
“Jeeves play something by Bach. No. Play some by AC/DC.” Uncle Max yelled.
Heavy metal music started blaring in the room, before Ralph had Jeeves stop.
“Can you all just settle down please.” Ralph shouted feeling very frustrated.

The doorbell rang and everyone was suddenly quiet. Ralph went to the door.
“It’s the police.”
“We got a call about a domestic disturbance,” the officer said.
“There’s nothing like that going on officer. I’m sorry if we disturbed the neighbors.”
“The call came from your house. Someone by the name of Jeeves.”
“That’s our robot assistant Jeeves, not a real person.”
The policeman raised his eyebrows. “Sir, it’s an offense to waste police time.”

They sat quietly eating dinner. “The food is wonderful Corinne," Ralph’s mom said.
“Yes,” they all agreed politely.

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