“Here, have a one-finger salute, Vick.” He flipped her off and signaled for the robot to follow him.

Repeating Daniel’s obscene gesture, the robot raised a polymer leg to flip her off and then followed Daniel out the door. “Up yours,” it said.

“Same to you, bugeyes!” Vick yelled.

When they reached the neighbor’s house, Daniel rang the doorbell, neatened his hair with his fingers, and then placed his thumb on the translation button of the remote. A middle-aged German man answered the door.

“Hello,” Daniel said, punching the translate button on the remote control.

“Hallo,” the robot said.

“How’s it going?” the man replied. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Oh, you speak English?” Daniel asked

“Yes, thank you for noticing. Can I help you with something?”

“I’m um, your neighbor, and this is my translation robot, and I thought it would help me talk to you and um, uh… Geez, I’m so embarassed. I’ll leave now.” Daniel turned toward away and began walking toward his house.