The Last Human Customer

Mr. Lin opened the door slowly. Nine placed the tea where he could reach it. The note contained messages from the library's reading group. He read each one twice.

When he asked again about a favorite song, Nine did not invent a feeling. It played the tune he requested most often. "This is the one I know best," it said.

The café manager later added a community delivery service. It required consent, proper routes and a charging plan. Nine's unusual trip became an ordinary task that other units could safely perform.

Three weeks later, Mr. Lin returned at eight twelve. "You saved my table," he said. Nine had, though there was no reservation. It placed two cups on the counter: one for him, and one for the friend he had brought.