Alice Monologue

The whirs from the appliances filled their home like any normal day. The washing machine dinged when it was done; the microwave gave out a horrid screech when the time finished; the television mumbled incoherently in the background. The couple in the house went about their morning routines as they did every morning; she brushed her hair and did her makeup, while he cooked breakfast and waited for the bathroom to be available. To them, it was a typical Tuesday morning. “Alice!” He called from the kitchen. “The toaster isn’t working! Is no toast okay for this morning?” She sat in the bathroom for a second and thought. The salesman assured her this toaster was one of the finest on the market to date. It had no reason to not be working. Alice

She entered the large building and approached the returns desk, something she has grown familiar with. The woman behind the desk looked up at Alice and smiled. “Another toaster?” The woman knew why Alice was there, the two had become acquainted in the past year. Alice placed the toaster on the counter and looked at the woman. “Just because I like you, I’ll call Bill up and ask him to get you a new toaster, for free. I’ll convince the higher ups that you need it,” the woman was standing now, her arms crossed over the counter as she leaned towards Alice. “This is an outdated version. You need the best of the best. It’s a little pricy, but I should be able to get you a discount, if not an entirely free model.” Alice was intrigued. The best of the best? She only purchased her last toaster a week ago, had something new already been

“I’ll buy it if I get the discount Sharon mentioned.” Bill nodded his head and pulled out a box from under the display. “Allow me to escort you to the checkout then.” Together, the two brought the new toaster to the front of the store, Alice paid for it and left for work, happier than when she left the house. Upon her arrival home that night, Alice plugged the new toaster in and prepared a cup of tea. She sat in the living room that night, tea beside her, reading the instructions for the new toaster. Her phone sat beside her tea, the toaster app was downloading as she read. The television was on the news station and The Tech Rabbits were still the center of