Teddy had not meant to eavesdrop. He had walked into Founder’s House to pick up a brochure. He had noticed the clerk’s awed expression and gotten curious as to what was going on. A glance into the game room had made his eyes go wide in wonder. There sitting at a table with what appeared to be a beautiful compandroid was his friend and coworker, Mason. “This must be the Marina that he had heard so much about.” Teddy thought to himself. As he watched Marina he began to realize that she was no run of the mill compandroid. Her face moved and changed like a humans. Her thoughts and feelings were hinted at through the flutter of a lash and the slight upturning of a lip. She did not have the placid face of a computer driven companion. This compandroid was alive and it was a wonder to behold. He found himself feeling dirty for eavesdroping, slightly envious of his friend, hopeful that this vision did in fact have a sister. Fearing that he would be seen, Teddy quickly moved on.

Like many, Teddy had been born at a government facility and had never known his mother. The advent of artificial wombs had eliminated the need natural child bearing. It had also been the key technological advance that enabled the coequal revolution to found their colonies that now dotted the planet. Teddy thought that he had faint memories of mother figures in the nursery, but they could have been nannybots used by the government. If the government had allowed women to dally in something as prehistoric as child rearing they would never admit to it officially of unofficially. Coequality had been meant to bring utopia, instead it created a feeling of loss that few were allowed to acknowledge without being labeled a deviant . He did not know how he would ask Mason about Marina, but he would find a way.

He had wondered if one of their coequal counterparts had grown weary of her lot and was living through Marina. While he was waiting for Mason to arrive at the cafe Teddy had discovered that Marina worked there. He had quickly and covertly used his skimmer app to determine that she was operating free of any outside influence. This made Marina an even greater wonder. The effect was amplified when she glided up to his table to take his order.

“It’s as if I were talking to a human…” he thought as he watched her walk away.

After two weeks that had been filled with surprises, Teddy awoke on his day off looking forward to a quiet day. He left his apartment to pick up the bowling balls that he had ordered from the post office. The set of two 5 inch candlepin bowling balls that he ordered featured custom colors and he did not want them to be stolen from his doorstep like the miniatures that came while he was at work. Instead he had them sent to his Post Office Box. He had received the notification of the package’s arrival shortly before he planned on crawling into bed after returning from a run that had taken his train to the western end of the line. Now that he was fully rested Teddy was looking forward to the trip to pick up his new bowling equipment. He might even stop by the comic shop on the way back. The post office was built in the art deco style that had swept through the colony years ago. The building was handsome and had been well taken care of, but there was no reason for their to be a crowd in front of it. There was no holiday upcoming. In fact, the crowd did not seem to be interested in going into the Post Office at all. Instead they seemed to be fascinated by something outside of the post office. Determined that he would not be denied the pleasure of collecting his package, Teddy pressed his way to the front of the crowd. Then he saw what had captured the attention of the crowd.

Seated in a folding chair in front of the library was compandroid with purple hair that reached down to the top of her shoulders and was worn in a messy style. She was dressed in a long baggy white t-shirt and black leggings. She appeared to be holding a sketchbook and had a large shoulder bag filled with art supplies. Teddy did not know what compandroids were capable of creativity. That was a human trait. Yet, here she was with paint brush in hand. Curious as to what the compandroid was painting and wanting to meet her, Teddy stepped forward. To his disappointment and concern another man stepped forward.

Teddy and most of the crowd recognized the man, it was Fargle. Fargle was a hired hand and temp worker on his best days. He was an opportunist and borderline conman at all times which meant that he was not trusted with much. Fargle slithered up to the compandroid, pulled a small device from his pocket, there was a burst of light, the compandroid spasmed, said something and covered her mouth, and then Fargle grabbed her bag and started to run. Teddy bolted forward and hit Fargle hard enough to knock him to the ground. After pausing long enough to grab the bag Teddy rushed up to the compaindroid.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

The compandroid looked up at Teddy with bright violet eyes that looked just as alive as Marina’s. Except there were tears around them. She looked thoroughly startled. She did not know what to make of Teddy at first.

“I… I think so. That man. He made me say something.” the compandroid sniffed.

“Fargle, is a bad man.” Teddy nodded. “I got your bag back.” he presented the bag. “Here.” he added after offering him his handkerchief.

“Thank you.” She dried her eyes.

“You got some stones! Hitting me over a doll!” Fargle grumbled as he rubbed his jaw. “I’m like Robin Hood. Robbing the rich.”

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“I’m not a doll!” the compandroid protested.

“Leave her alone Fargle.” Teddy warned.

“You go feral or somethin?” Fargle snapped, he turned to the crowd but found that most would like to continue the beating.

“I heard that you were on the edge of reverting. Makes me sick.” Fargle spat before fleeing.

“Are you hurt?” Teddy asked after turning his attention back toward the compandroid. “Here let me help you.” he added after seeing that her watercolors, brushes, pencils, and notebook had fallen to the ground.

“He didn’t hurt me. It’s just that being forced to say something and then robbed makes you feel so violated.” she shivered.

“I’m sorry about that.” he began. “Wow! This is really nice!” Teddy added after picking up the sketchbook and finding a partial watercolored drawing of the post office.

“Thank you.”

“My name is Theodore Labson, but you can call my Teddy if you would like.” He smoothed his blond hair.

“My name is Bellflower,” she began in a daze and seemed as if in deep thought. Teddy began to worry that the human behaviors had been an illusion.

“Zounds!” she blinked “Please, call me Belle.” she continued after returning to herself and looking up at Teddy with a timid but earnest smile.

“Belle, I wish that we could have met under happier circumstances, but it is nice to meet you.”

“Yes.” she nodded after standing up. “But we have met and I am happy for that.”

As the two scrambled to pick up the few remaining items that had fallen from her bag, Teddy noticed a small figurine hanging from the bag’s zipper. It was a chibi style figurine of a woman with long blonde hair in a wedding gown wielding a magic wand.

“Are you a fan of Guardian Bride?” he asked.

“You know about her?” Belle gasped.

“I have seen the books and trinkets in the local book shop.” he admited.

“Which one? I am behind.” she asked excited at the prospect of catching up.

“Past Times. I shop there myself.”

“Lucky me!” her eyes sparkled. “A gentleman and a scholar.”

Teddy was amazed that he had done as well as he had. He had no idea how to communicate with actual women, but so far he had not made an idiot of himself. However, he currently felt like they were putting on a stage show for the crowd. Belle behaved like a human, and anyone would have been shaken by her experience with Fargle. His bowling ball could wait.

“Belle, would you like to get some coffee or a warm drink?” he ventured.

“Yes!” she nodded.

As they approached the crowd they were met with sympathetic expressions. The crowd parted and some wished them well. Others condemned Fargle. They walked down the street toward the cafe. Unlike most normal compandroids Belle glided along gracefully. He had to slow his pace to match hers. That was natural because Teddy had longer legs. When they reached the cafe they entered the patio and found a cozy place to sit.

“This is a nice place.” Belle observed after the chair and art supplies had been stowed.

“The food and drinks are good. The people are nice too.” he replied.

“Thank you again for coming to my rescue.”

“I’m sorry that you had a run in with Fargle.”

“Do you know him?”

“EVERYONE knows Fargle. You have to know of him. He’s the town swindler. Knowing of him is a matter of self protection.” Teddy explained.

“Now I know of him… I’m lucky you were there. People are more important than things, but I do like my art bag.”

Teddy found talking to Belle to be fascinating and so different from talking to the guys. Was this what had been given up in the name of coequality?

“Teddy!” a soft feminine voice interrupted them.

Both looked up and found Marina standing by their table. She seemed happy to see her boyfriend’s friend dining with a date. Marina and Belle had a family resemblance but they were different. Marina’s features were more delicate while Belle had a slightly more upturned nose and subtle dimples. Both had a pale cream complexion and fine brows. Both wore the same gold heart shaped necklace too. Belle glanced between Teddy and Marina with a questioning expression. Then turned her attention toward Marina. Both seemed surprised by the other’s existance.

“You are like me!” Marina proclaimed happily. “It’s nice to meet you.” she continued.

“Gosh!” Belle gasped. “We have the same necklace.” her hand instinctively reached for the gold heart shaped pendant that hung around her neck.

“Is it like mine exactly?” Marina removed her necklace and showed her the back of it.

“It is. It says the same thing.” Belle nodded.

“What do you suppose it means?” Marina mused.

“Maybe it is our last name.” Belle replied.

“You think so?”

“I do.”

“Marina Angel and Belle Angel. I like it! The Angel sisters!”

“So much is happening…” Belle exhaled.

After reviewing the menu Teddy ordered tea and Belle ordered Cocoa. Marina brought the drinks and added two large sugar cookies. With a smile Marina glided away from the table and the couple found themselves alone in their nook. Teddy was almost as overwhelmed by all of the new experiences as Belle. He wished he had the confidence that his friend Mason appeared to have. All he could do was put his best foot forward and hope desperately for the best.

“She seems to like you,” Belle observed.

“Marina is nice. She is my friend’s girlfriend. I think that is what it is called. At least the books say so.”

“Good for her.” Belle brightened.

“You have a talent for art. Are you an artist?” he ventured.

“Arts and crafts are my hobby. I’m really good at them. I’m not sure if I could compete with professional artists though.” she began happily. “I don’t think I think in a way that lets me pass off shapeless blobs as the greater meaning of life.” she continued after sipping her cocoa.

“Me either. I think that artists whose work looks like the paint can exploded are greater salesman than artists. What were you painting today?”

“The post office. I watercolor sketch sometimes. Would you like to see?”

Teddy happily accepted the sketchbook and began to look through it. The pages contained drawings of local buildings. The lines had a variation and warmth to them that betrayed a human touch that left him spellbound. The colors and brush strokes had been applied using a discerning eye.

“You should offer these as postcards.” he observed.

“You think so?” her eyes grew wide.

“I do.”

“This has been a good day after all. I think I am glad I found myself here.”

“Me too.” Teddy admitted. “Not that I would wish getting robbed on anyone. I am glad that I got to meet you.” he clarified.

“What are your hobbies?” she leaned forward.

“I bowl, do some tabletop gaming, and read books and some comics,” Teddy replied.

“Do you read to your compandroid?” Belle pressed.

“I don’t have one.”

“I’m single too. Would you like to exchange numbers?” she ventured after retrieving her smart phone.

“I would.”