Summary

The story opens with the house "waking" up for the day. The "voice-clock" announces the time and continues to announce each scheduled activity – "seven-nine, breakfast time, seven-nine." The house continues to work in the kitchen that makes a breakfast of toast, eggs, and bacon for four people – presumably two adults and two children (coffee and milk for beverages).

As the day continues, the house announces reminders of the date (August 4, 2026) birthdays, anniversaries and due bills. The voice-clock moves on to remind everyone that it is time to be off to work and off to school. Still the house is empty. The weather box announces the rain and the garage prepares by opening its door. By eight-thirty, the kitchen cleans itself. At nine-fifteen, the voice clock announces that it is time to clean and tiny robot mice (coming out of burrows in...