In the living-room the voice-clock sang:"Tick-tock, seven o'clock,time to get up,seven o'clock."As if it were afraid that nobody would.The house lay empty,(1)_______________________________."Seven-nine,breakfast time,seven-nine."
In the kitchen the stove ejected from its warm interiors eight pieces of perfectly 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 (2)____________________________ "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,(3)___________________________
It was raining outside, the weather box on the front door sang quietly"Rain, rain, go away rubbers, raincoats for today..."
