The following day Teddy walked back to the post office. He was about to open the door when a car pulled up and the driver called to him. He turned and found Maximilian Calvert, the station master beckoning to him. The station master was fading toward stout, had thinning hair, and was his boss. Dreading that his heroics of the previous day had caught up with him, Teddy walked down to the waiting car. Calvert seemed serious, but not angry.

“Mr. Labson, do you have a minute?” he asked.

“I do.” he replied.

“I just got my car from the shop. I need a second opinion on the work, do you mind riding along?”

Teddy eyed the car over. It was a licensed locally built Citroen 2CV similar to Masons. If Teddy was going to be fired, at least Calvert was being civil about it. After agreeing to ride along he got in the car and shut the door. Calvert put the car in gear and stepped on the gas.

“I know that you did not see me, but I was at the post office yesterday.” Calvert stated after shifting gears.

“You were?”

“I was. I saw what you did to that carpetbagging scoundrel that is generously called Fargle. In my opinion you did the railroad proud when you knocked that thief on his backside.”

“Made the railroad proud?” Teddy questioned.

“What kind of representative of the railroad would you be if you stood by and ignored someone being robbed?” Calvert turned onto a side road. “The little vermin sent a deputy counselor to visit me about my ‘feral employee’” he added.

“I did not think he would do that.” Teddy admitted.

“I told that bureaucrat that I had been present and witnessed my employee stop a robbery. If that was considered feral than I myself must be rabid.”

“You said that?” Teddy asked in surprise.

“I did. I have noticed the changes that are happening in town. Changes for the better. Just don’t become a vigilante ok?” Calvert stated as he rolled to a stop in front of the Post Office.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I don’t plan on adding brawling to my hobbies.”

“Good man. I believe this is your stop.” Calvert replied.

****

Not immune to the simple pleasure of girl talk Belle had sought out Marina. When she had first found herself in Madison she attempted to talk to the other compandroids and found that the spiritless automatons were not up to the task. Meeting Marina had made her feel less singular. She had viewed the blue haired compandroid as competition when she had called Teddy out by name, but had been pleased to learn that she was seeing his friend. Now the two sat in the living room of Marina’s apartment sipping tea. Belle was dressed in a wide necked extra long t-shirt and leggings. Marina was dressed in a feminine wrap dress she had made herself. Both had been surprised to learn that they both lived in the Thistle Gardens apartment building.

“It’s nice to have friendly neighbors.” Marina poured tea.

“It is. The building is nice, even if there are not many people living here.” Belle observed.

Belle sipped her tea and thought. She doubted that she would forget what that fiend had made her say.

“I heard that some cad tried to rob you. Was it scary?” Marina pressed.

“He did not lay a finger on me.” Marina began. He held this light before my eyes, it flashed in crazy ways, and then I spoke against my will. I said something strange.” she continued.

“Did you list and a make and model number?”

Belle looked at Marina and could readily tell that she was confiding in someone who understood what it meant to be a pioneer. She looked at her with understanding.

“ANGEL-B” Belle confessed.

“I’m ANGEL-M. We ARE sisters.”

“Who forced you?” Belle pressed.

“A woman who thought I was being used by a human women who wanted to go ‘primitive’. It was very degrading.”

“I remember covering my mouth in embarrassment. But then I remember looking up and seeing the thief running away with my bag. Then Teddy stepped forward, knocked him down, and returned my bag.”

“There are good people too. We must treasure them.” Marina nodded.

“Marina, do you think there are more of us?” Belle asked.

“Perhaps. We should keep an eye out for our ‘sisters’.”

“If they are out there, I hope they meet nice people like Teddy.” Belle sighed.

“Or Mason.” Marina added.

“We are lucky.” Belle nodded.

“To be able to chose how we live. Work, date, not date. Not be forbidden from wanting a traditional relationship. We are lucky indeed.” Marina topped off her tea.

“I can see why some would want to take over our lives.” Belle shuddered at the thought. “Even if only for a while.”

Conversation came to a halt when Belle’s smart phone rang. She happily proclaimed that it was Teddy and quickly answered the call. It was clear that the conversation and relationship was progressing nicely. After a few minutes Belle said goodbye and floated back to her apartment carried by the words of the caller on the other end. Inspired by her visitor, Marina picked up her phone and called Mason.