"We're changing the world," he says, reading your thoughts. "We're recreating it around us. We're making our own reality, one that's more consistent with our values. This is something that can't be done through elections or by convincing others through rational argument." He shakes his head slowly. "I don't know if it'll work. But I know that it's the only way I can live my life. And that's why I brought you here...." He contemplates the water, then looks at you once more with a small smile. "But I haven't yet explained how you're a mirror. Would you like to hear that now?"

"Yes, please," you respond.

Mr. Brennan nods. "Let's skip a little further ahead in the narrative. Exodus 32:2: 'And Aaron said to them (that is, the Israelites), 'Take off the rings of gold which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.'" He pauses. "These are the same earrings the Israelites received in Egypt. Why take them off now?"

You hesitate. "Because the Israelites are rebelling against God, so they will suffer for their impiety?"

Mr. Brennan looks out onto the rippling water. "That's exactly it, Amie," he says softly. "When the Israelites were faithful and attentive to God's commands, their ears were adorned with gold, gold taken from the Egyptians who had persecuted them despite God's warnings. And then, when the Israelites emulated the Egyptians and ceased to listen to God, they in turn lost the ornaments for their ears. In the Bible, material things always reflect immaterial realities; there are many more examples of this one might give." Mr. Brennan pauses once more. Then he looks at you, with a light in his eyes you've never seen before. "So, Amie. Tell me, what are the intangible realities I am trying to reflect through you and the material things I give you, like your earrings?"

You think for a second. "Gratitude and trust," you say finally, "and the ability to hear another."

Mr. Brennan slowly nods. "That's right. You have been faithfully and patiently listening to me ever since our first meeting. You have made use of your sense of hearing to honor me, and so it is only right that I now honor you. If I did not, in fact, I would be guilty of an omission. I am bound to reward you for your fidelity and devotion, as God rewarded the Israelites when they were faithful." He smiles warmly. "Do you not agree, Amie?"

You blush and look away, feeling the heat rise to your face. Mr. Brennan continues: "You have honored me with your feet in overseeing our home and greeting me when I returned, and so I purchased you several pairs of shoes today. You have clothed yourself in agreeableness and amiability to please me; the dresses. You have ever supported my decision-making as the head of our household; the necklace." He pauses one last time, seeming to choose his words with care. "For every caring word or deed you offer me, Amie, I will strive to offer you a material equivalent. In this way your appearance will reflect your virtue; in this way you will be both a mirror and a window into the true nature of the world, the world as it should be, a union of matter and spirit."

Your eyes widen. This is almost too much to take in. You don't quite know what to say. Then, you realize that he's waiting for you to acknowledge his statement. "Mr. Brennan?"

"Yes, Amie?"

"I'm... very much struck by your words, and touched," you begin. "But..."

"But?"

"... But at this rate, you'll go bankrupt!" you blurt out.

Mr. Brennan blinks. Then he chuckles. "Clearly, spending sprees such as you experienced today will not be a daily occurrence." You stare, somewhat confounded, as he leans with both hands behind his back on the rail again. "I am ordinarily quite thrifty," he says. "I simply decided that, on this day, I would take a more... liberatory... management approach to our relationship. Henceforth I will give you the clothes, and the ornaments, and the household items you require and deserve in due time and proportion, if that's your worry."

You nod slowly. That sounds reasonable. And yet... You don't know what to do with yourself. You're not sure what you were expecting when you were sent to live with a human, but this isn't it. You've never been given such attention and luxury. You feel a little overwhelmed.

Mr. Brennan turns. "Shall we go home?" he asks ingenuously. You nod silently, and follow him as he lays his coat on your shoulders and leads you back to the car. The ride back home passes quietly. You need to process—quite literally—the day's events and everything Mr. Brennan has told you. Will every day living with him be this intellectually dense, you wonder? The prospect is... Well, it's nice, but it's also a little scary, because you don't know if you can always answer to his satisfaction. You've already tried lifting your processor’s limiter when he's on a particularly obtuse tangent, to no avail.

In any case, an overwhelming sense of gratitude welling up inside you, and a strong feeling of 'wanting to do something for him' grows in strength. Your life is so different now compared to when you were still being kept at the government facility with your android sisters… you plunge into thought. Your sisters. What's happened to them since you left...? Memories of your 'childhood' play before your eyes…

You catch yourself dozing as Mr. Brennan pulls into the driveway of his house. You stay in the car as he gets out to open the door for you. He opens the door, then looks at you questioningly as you give no indication of rising. "Amie?"

You look up at him. "Dear sir, unless I'm mistaken, we walked quite a bit today, correct?"

Mr. Brennan shrugs a little. "I suppose we did."

"For a human female wearing heels, this would have been fatiguing, would it not?"

He frowns. "I suppose so," he replies, not seeing your point.

"Then... to be more humanlike... should I not ask you to lift me out of this car, dear sir? To practice dependency, as you have taught me?"

Mr. Brennan blinks. He looks down at you wordlessly for a moment. Then, with a nod he acquiesces. You extend a hand to him from inside the car. He pays it no mind, wrapping his arms around you in one smooth motion. You place your other hand around his neck, and he lifts you up...

He's strong, for a human.

You clutch on to him tightly as he lifts you out of the car. He walks steadily toward the front door. You feel the beating of his heart. Looking up, you see his face, the sky, the stars. For a moment, you feel like you're hanging between earth and infinity. He carries you over the threshold. You are vaguely aware of the door opening, and of him gently setting you down. He stands just behind you, holding the door open with his arm. You step inside, your legs a little shaky. You turn around once he has entered as well. "Thank you, dear sir," you say courteously.

He offers you a faint, wan smile in response. "You're welcome, Amie," he says.

With that, you head inside the house, and he closes the door on the silent, somber world.