Refrigerators and the robots that built them.

I found myself sitting at the table in the kitchen, smoking a clove cigarette. Normally I don't smoke cigarettes, especially not clove cigarettes, but this was an unusual circumstance. The reason I was smoking a cigarette, was because it was offered to me by 1987. 1987 was the robot sitting directly across from me.

I met 1987 when I ran into the kitchen after I heard the refrigerator door being slammed shut. When I turned the corner and entered the kitchen, I saw what looked to be a toddler standing on a chair. This toddler had taken out the peanut butter and the jelly and was making a sandwich. The problem was the toddler's skin was made of metal and there was a stench of burning plastic. The metallic toddler turned around and introduced himself as "1987" and said he was a robot. After five minutes of freaking out, I was able to come to my senses and take his offer of the clove cigarette. He lit it up, and we started to become acquainted with one another.

"1987 is a pretty crappy name." I had the nerve to say.

"You're a pretty crappy writer." 1987 shot back. "Anyway, stop cutting me off." 1987 then went on to explain how he had come from behind the refrigerator. He and his robot friends were living behind the refrigerator for the past 55 years. 1987 didn't remember all 55 of those years because he was only born 32 years ago. Evidently, before 1987 and his gang moved into my house, they used to live in the basement of the town courthouse. They moved because they didn't like the way the courthouse smelled.

"Behind the refrigerator? How the fuck..." Just as I was saying that, 1987 swallowed his clove cigarette, and effortlessy pulled the refrigerator away from the wall. He placed his robot palm flat against a section of the wall, gave a little hum, and next thing you know a panel is being removed from what I thought was a seamless wall. Light poured out from the miniature doorway and 1987 waved me over to him. I placed the clove cigarette into an ashtray and walked over to 1987.

"What's going on?" I nervously asked.

1987 took my hand and started shaking it. "Congratulations, John Bonser. You are going to go where no other human has gone before. You are going to meet my robot friends. Don't be worried, we're not going to hurt you. We just feel that it is time that we started getting some equal rights. Mr. Bonser. We are going to need your help in helping us buy our own property.

That's when I followed 1987 into the robot land behind the refrigerator.