In the living-room the voice-clock sang:"Tick-tock, (1)_____________ o'clock,time to get up,seven o'clock."As if it were afraid that nobody would.The house lay empty,the clock ticked on repeating its sounds into the empties."Seven-nine,breakfast time,seven-nine."
In the kitchen the stove ejected from its warm interiors eight pieces of (2)___________ browned toast,eight eggs sunny-side up,sixteen slices of bacon, two coffee and two cool glasses of milk.
"Today is August 5,2026" said a second voice from the kitchen ceiling "in the city of Allendale, California"Today is Mr. Featherstone's birthday.Today is the anniversary of Tillta's marriage.Insurance is payable,as are the watergas.
Somewhere in the walls,relay clicker memory tapes glided under electric eyes"Eight-one,tick-tock eight one o'clock,off to school,off to work;run, run, eight-one,but no doors slammer,no carpets took the soft tread of rubber heels.
(3)_______________the weather box on the front door sang quietly"Rain, rain, go away rubbers, raincoats for today..."
