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"Please identify yourself," said the bland, computerized voice of the house systeuest," I said

"Rebecca Atherton, guest," said Becks Her words were alia Carolyn Mason

The light above the door blinked several tiainst its records I was allowed to bring guests home--had been since I was sixteen--but I hadn’t done it very often Part of me was even ludicrously afraid the house would soe’s phantoured out how to test her for viral aet nervous before the house said, "Voice print and guest authorization confirmed Please read the phrase on your display screen"

Words appeared on my screen "Ride a ck horse to Banbury Cross to see a fine lady upon a white horse," I read The words blinked out

On the other side of the door, Becks recited, "Jack be niht above the door began blinking again She cast lance, which I answered with an equally nervous s around ht have hoped Every time she touched me, it was just a re utterly insane

The light over the door changed froht hands on the testing pads," requested the house I did as I was told, slapping ainst the coolbit intofollowed alht above the door began to flash, alternating red and yellow

"Isn’t this fun?" I asked, with forced levity

Becks glared She was still glaring when the light stopped flashing

The door hissed open "Welcome home, Shaun," said the house "We hope you’ll have a pleasant visit, Rebecca"

"U to ed, sh the open door

The kitchen hadn’t changed since Georgia and I lived with the Masons The floor was still covered in the same off-brown linoleum, and the walls were still papered in the sas from the UC Berkeley student newspaper--printed on actual paper, although it was hee to open it, grab a snack, and go up tointo that kitchen was like walking backward through ti I had to worry about hether the new T-shirt designs incost

A part of ia was alive, and not just a voice in hostly hand on my arm