Poll Master 3000 Saved Our Family Vacation

Eyes glazed I viewed my relatives through the steam of a venti coffee double sugar, hoping the tremble at my knees is from jitters and not latent instability although we've stood here in front of the Best Holiday Quality 8 for almost an hour. Just about the time the twins pulled at my sisters hands with both headed in opposite directions and my kid sister's infant began to wail, I met my husband's gaze.

"Launch?" he asked.

I nodded yes, while my mother-in-law's voice rose three times louder. "Lunch? We're not ready for lunch, we haven't even decided on breakfast." She flipped open her Upad, a universal media access device and shrieked. "Look at the time. If we don't get to breakfast quick, we'll have to eat lunch and then we'll be too late to do anything."

"What?" Granddad cupped his hand around his ear.

"What what?" My mother-in-law lifted her hands to the sky.

The bang followed by billowing smoke as the Poll Master 3000 disk shaped computing device rose into the air prevented further chat. Thank goodness military secrets always have practical applications twenty years after they're invented. Family vacations were almost as bad as war and who better to provide tactical mission advice?

My husband had a smug smile on his face. All family members' gazes lifted to the sky following the flashing lights of the miniature UFO lookalike, then everyone's hands scrambled for their pinging Upads wherever they were carried.

We all found places to sit, some inside on leather recliners, others outside on the lobby steps, or in the front seat of their car. We all tap-tapped at our Upads, entering our desired destinations and madly shooting bullets at everyone else's choice because Poll Master makes any decision making process fun. Between blasting away Granddad's McVIPenny's and my sister's CerealsRUs, I noticed the hum of the electric wires and took time to fluff my husband's hair.

He smiled. "You noticed?"

I froze. Had I? I cocked my head, squeezed close one eye.

His lower lip trembled. How many days had it been? I offer him a sip of my coffee delaying.

Someone blew away my choice of text hiking below sea. Well, that was that. Maybe my husband and I could slip away later in the week. Without any choice in the decision making process any more, I flipped open the marriage counselor and calendar apps, marking them private viewing only. What had I missed?

My husband lowered his eyes, and then zing, a message marked private flitted before my eyes, then slowly unrolled. He wanted a rendezvous for two, with me and him and someplace private. Dared we? "I don't know, we have a duty to our family", I typed.

My husband maneuvered his way to my side, let his finger run the circle around my Environment Protection Suit. Ooh, shivers. I shrugged then smiled.

His message back read "We have a duty to ourselves. Keep us satisfied, everyone is happy." It was an awfully inconvenient sentiment, but then the Poll Master 3000 took charge.

The decision for water slides among educational live sea life below an ice cap mockup sealed the day's events. Engines from our cars started, and then the vehicles lurched into motion, all lining up right at our feet. Robots rushed from the hotel to the cars, delivering forgotten and much needed supplies of sun protection, snacks and music.

I grabbed my husband's arm and pulled him back from the crowd. They ceased to notice us as they scrambled onboard. Keeping perfectly still, we saw ourselves climb aboard, my mouth dropping open.

My husband's leer turned my face red. "What?" I asked.

"Don't worry. Poll Master 3000 is in charge, thank heaven for virtual reporting. It copied us and now we're forever or for just three hours, whichever you prefer, free for a little time to ourselves.

"No children? No parents? No work?"

He hesitated, eyebrows drooping with his disappearing grin. He shrugged.

My spirits took a dive, should have known nothing could be perfect, especially a robot.

"Work's on hold, but you know the boss."

I grimaced. "Yeah I do, work twenty four hours a day and he's still not pleased."

My husband lifted my chine with a finger. "C'mon, it's not that bad. Let's go. Poll Master 3000's in charge and we better get a move on."

I smiled as he kissed me lightly on the lips. Then feeling breezy and bluesy at the same time, I took his hand and found Poll Master 3000 had anticipated my response because we walked straight into one of the most gorgeous sunsets I've ever seen.