“Marcus, get your behind out here this instant!”

No response.

“Marcus, don’t make me come in there! I will shut that thing off!”

“Mama…”

“What’d I tell you about holoplay before your chores were done?”

“I did my chores!”

“You’re telling me you got all that endoshielding clean already?”

“Mostly…”

“Uh huh. Mostly? Boy, you ain’t getting no dessert tonight.”

“Mama, it’s okay, I got Siggie working on it!”

“What? What? …Marcus baby, Siggie is a janitorial bot. You can’t use him on endoshielding. The stupid thing barely keeps the floors clean, you know that!”

“I’m sorry, mama.”

“Marcus, look at me. You gotta understand, you can’t just get lazy like that! Now that… now that daddy’s gone, baby, you’re the man of the house. I need you to take things more seriously now, okay?”

“Okay, mama.”

“That’s a good boy. Do you remember what’s so important about the endoshielding, Marcus?”

“It keeps us safe.”

“From?”

“From the sun. It’s hot outside, mama. Real hot.”

“That’s right. I’m proud of you, son.”