Silk Flowers

Adhara was engineered by humankind over fifty years ago, and this was her first baby shower.

She scanned the room for her friend, Samantha. Her friend, Samantha, was working the room, introducing everyone. Her friendliness was her saving grace that had kept her from being replaced at the bank where Adhara worked. Her friend, Samantha, was the only human still employed at the bank. This baby shower was quickly becoming a study on human interaction. It was a large group of familiar people in a non-commercial setting.

People were strangely kind and awkward. It seemed to Adhara that they should be less

perplexed by any of her idiosyncrasies when they had so many themselves.

Adhara scanned for Samantha’s daughter, Amber, who looked up from the spread of

cupcakes, pastries, cheese wheels, and yogurt pretzels. She ran over to Adhara.

“Aunt Adhara!” she cried out as she extended her arms out for a hug. Adhara pulled her in for an embrace. Amber wasn’t calling anyone else by a family moniker like,

“Aunt.” She could feel the kicks of the life force within her dear little friend.

Adhara recognized that it was a first for Amber, Samantha, and herself. She was more

comfortable knowing that she wasn’t the only one faced with a first of some kind.

Adhara recognized most faces, but someone on the couch was facing away. Adhara walked into the room to see who this was, but when the woman looked up at her, she didn't smile. In fact, her mouth turned down slightly on one side for a second, as if the woman had held back a look of scorn or disgust.

Samantha told Adhara that Christy never smiled. Adhara wasn't sure what to read into that. It computed to her that Christy must not like her. Did Samantha not trust her with that information?

What was there not to trust? Adhara imagined what could happen when two women don't like each other. The thought was interrupted abruptly by images of puppies and flowers and people smiling. Christy never seemed to smile though. Adhara couldn't look at her. She excused herself to the patio for some fresh air. As she left and closed the door, she heard a snide voice say,

”Why would SHE need fresh air?”

Adhara rolled her eyes and thought to herself, petty. The porch was filled with pink flowers in mosaic pots with ivy trailing down. Adhara touched the delicate petals. She stuck a finger in the pot: “64 degrees with ample humidity. She wondered if

there were stones in the dirt of the plants, but she had learned it was rude to dig into plants. Samantha peeked into the room and asked,

“Is everything okay?”

Adhara replied,

“Yes, I just wanted to step outside. I think I make Christy uncomfortable.”

“That stick up her ass makes her uncomfortable.” Samantha said.

Adhara smiled and touched a flower again.

“They really are pretty flowers.” Adhara said.

“They really are.” Samantha agreed. Samantha went back into the room and Adhara followed. Samantha sat on the couch next to Christy, and Adhara sat next to Samantha. The baby games started and a poster of pictures was passed around the room. A sheet of paper was given to each attendee with the guest list for each person to match to a baby picture. Adhara was not on the list. Some guests were related and still having trouble matching the pictures to the list. Adhara crumbled her quickly completed list and shoved it in her pocket. She looked up and saw Christy smile. Christy was smiling as she talked to Samantha.

Adhara didn't know what to feel or think of this, other than that Christy was very unattractive with an equally unattractive smile. Adhara walked over to Amber to congratulate her on the baby and apologize for having to leave early. She stated that she was running low on battery and needed a nap. Amber hugged her goodbye. Samantha seemed frustrated that she was leaving, but mentioned hanging out again soon. As Adhara passed by Christy, neither woman said goodbye.

Adhara thought of that awkward strained smile as she drove home. She didn't need to see it directed at her. It wouldn't matter. She would have never chosen Christy as a friend and wondered why Samantha did.

Adhara’s house was lonely compared to the bustling home of her friend. Samantha had a husband, a daughter, and would soon have a grandson. She had two pet raccoons and a pet ferret. Samantha’s house was filled with life and noise. Adhara sat in a hanging chair in the center of her apartment and pulled the charger from a hole in the swiss cheese design near the chair’s battery pack. She closed her eyes.

Upon awakening, and looking around, Adhara noted how clean and perfect her home was in contrast to the loving mess at Samantha’s. She unplugged, climbed out of her chair, and slid open doors to her own patio. Wisteria hung off the roof slats of a wooden gazebo in the corner of her patio. The opening of the gazebo was flanked by huge urns of wildflowers. She touched the silk petals. It didn’t leave the fluffy cellular debris on her fingers like Samantha’s flowers. Quartz and topaz stones rooted down her flowers. Adhara bent down to smell the flowers knowing they had no smell. However, the action alone made her think of the sweet aroma of the other flowers. She called Samantha over for tea. Adhara had a nice collection of teas, coffees, biscuits, and other treats. Samantha filtered through the collection. Adhara lovingly prepared her drink of choice. They made their way onto the patio.

“Your flowers are also very lovely.” Samantha said.

“Thank you,” Adhara replied with a smile.

Samantha touched a petal in the same fashion Adhara had touched her flowers.

“Are they not real?” She asked.

“They are real, you’re touching them, aren’t you?” Adhara said.

“No, I mean, they are silk flowers, not real flowers.”

“They’re still real,” Adhara argued as she analyzed why it should or shouldn’t matter.“They’re not in dirt; They are fabric.” Samantha stated.

“Still real.”

“Okay, They are still beautiful.” Samantha begrudgingly agreed.

“Well, if they were real, like you consider real, they would grow old and ugly like your friend, Christy.” Adhara stated coldly.

Samantha’s eyes narrowed over the rim of her cup. She sat the cup down and looked Adhara in the eyes.

“Not everyone will stay as plastic and fake pretty as you and your flowers, Adhara.” She said harshly.

“Unfortunately.” Adhara replied thoughtlessly.

Samantha furrowed her brow.

Adhara saw lines on Samantha’s face, two of them, above her nose. There were also lines on the sides of her eyes branching out towards her hairline. Her skin had mis-shapen freckles and spots. Adhara noticed these were also on Samantha’s hands. Samantha was growing old.

Adhara hadn’t noticed because it happened so gradually. They saw each other almost everyday at the bank.

“Stop staring, it’s not nice.” Samantha reminded Adhara.

“I’m sorry.” Adhara said.

“I’m going to buy you some real flowers.”

“Why?”

“Because you will have other guests, and you will want to impress them.” Samantha said.

Adhara felt a wave of emotion. She tried to think of small animals and sunshine. Nothing.

“You can invite me too.” Samantha added

“Yes, I’d like that.” Adhara said.

Samantha’s phone rang. Adhara excused herself to the kitchen to give her friend space and quiet.

Samantha wasn't at work the following day. She called in on account of her daughter giving birth. The bank was lonely without Samantha. Adhara looked around. She worried Samantha may get fired if she calls out too much. Androids don’t get sick, don't have children, don't have grandchildren. Adhara grabbed a broom and dustpan to sweep the lobby. It seemed a useless task. Everyone used the window.

She approached a large Calla Lily. The pot had stones instead of dirt. The pistol was yellow plastic. The plant would never need water, nothing at the bank did when she was gone.

Adhara’s work load seemed to triple even after Samantha got back. The new baby kept Samantha’s family up all night, and Samantha was in perpetual lag. Adhara did not want the bank’s CFO to notice. However, she did want Samantha to notice and to acknowledge her help. A “thank you” would be nice.

Samantha seemed to turn down every invite. It was a month, and Adhara had not seen the new baby.

“Did Christy see the baby yet?” Adhara mumbled.

“Come again?” Samantha asked.

“I didn’t intend to say that outloud.” Adhara said.

“I don’t believe that.”

“Why not?”

“It seems so human to have a slip like that.”

“I’m practically human.” Adhara assured.

“Okay.” Samantha said but coldly.

“She hasn’t. No one has.” Samantha added.

Adhara sighed.

“You don’t need to be jealous of her,” Samantha said,

“She’s not going to take your place as my

friend.”

“You’re the only friend I have ever had.” Adhara admitted.

Samantha put her hand on Adhara’s shoulder.

“This happens to humans too.”

“I’m your only friend?” Adhara asked.

“No, but that doesn’t make you less of a friend.”

“I think you’re the only friend I need, Samantha,” Adhara said, “I don't want any more.”

“If you don’t make new friends, you will deprive others of the wonderful experience of having you as a friend.” Samantha assured, “besides, some people are wary of the technology that animates and characterizes you, but they will not stay fearful once they get to know you.” Samantha continued.

“They wouldn’t?” Adhara asked.

“No, I think they would get more excited about the future of robotics.”

“Why, won’t we just take more jobs?”

“What if you do; what if you cure more genetic disorders, cure illnesses, perfect renewable energy?” Samantha asked.

“I don’t do any of these things. I work in a bank.” Adhara said flatly, then added, “I wish I were doing those things.”

“You’re doing great just by being you.”

“At least I'm not doing what my great grandmother had to do.” Adhara made a hand gesture to her mouth to simulate fellatio.

Samantha laughed.

Adhara smiled.

“I want to see the new baby.” Adhara admitted

“Come over at seven.” Samantha invited.

Adhara untied the deflated baby shower balloons from the mailbox. It was obvious the family had been very busy in this time of life. Amber answered the door with the baby in her arms.

Adhara had never held a baby. She had a shudder of circuitry as Amber placed the baby in her arms and directed her hand to support the tiny head with the knitted blue cap. Adhara stared at it in awe for a moment and then delicately handed it back to Amber.“Isn't he beautiful?” Amber asked

Adhara nodded.

“Front door, snap an interior picture” Amber instructed her home.

Amber grabbed an extra copy of the picture off the ice box.

The picture showed the baby reaching towards Adhara.

Adhara moved the picture side to side to watch the baby reaching toward her again and again.

“That copy is for you.” Amber said graciously.

Amber led Adhara to the patio where Samantha was waiting.

Samantha had purchased a small gazebo similar to the one at Adhara’s home.

Silken wisteria hung from it just the same.

“Are they real?” Adhara asked.

“I bought them didn’t I?” Samantha retorted with a playful smile.

Samantha gave Adhara a hug and directed her to sit at the gazebo.

“It all looks magnificent.” Adhara said.

“I think so too. I've got something for you.” Samantha lifted and handed over a pot of gardenia.

Adhara breathed in the sweet sultry smell. She touched a flower petal softer than silk.

“I’ll think of you every time I water this.” Adhara admitted.

“I’ll think of you every time I don’t water these.” Samantha replied with a smile as she pointed at the perfect purple petals spiraling down with its green leafed rope of silk around the new gazebo on her patio.