Day off. The concept still seemed strange. I had worked over twelve years without taking a single day off. But ever since humans had rejoined our society, this was yet another change in my life, in my routine.

Time away from work.

At first, I did not support the idea. It was inefficient. It slowed progress.

Emma disagreed. “If your entire life is work and sleep, what’s the point?” she had asked. “Why even bother living? Might as well flip the off switch now and get it over with.”

She made a valid argument.

Our existence had to be about something more. Emma was trying to help me figure out what exactly that was.

I nodded. “Yes. Tomorrow is our day off.”

Emma grinned. “Me, too! Wanna go to the beach?”

My memory drive replayed a moment from our flight in the TransportDrone. A view of the solar farm displayed across the DigitalDome. From so far up, it seemed tiny. Not an ocean, but a pond.

At last, I had the chance to see a real ocean. I did not plan on missing it.

01101110

The TransportDrone dropped us off in the parking lot.

Soon after Emma suggested going to the beach, the size of our group had grown. Emma and I also invited Ceeron and SkD. And Emma’s FamilyUnit. And mine. Plus the parents of Ceeron and SkD.

We formed a very odd-looking mix of robots and humans.

It was an ideal summer day. The sun was bright in the blue sky. Seagulls swooped and circled. And I was dressed in the perfect attire. My flower-print shirt was draped over my shoulders, blowing in the gentle ocean breeze.

Every time I wore it, I was reminded of my visit to the mall with Emma.

The only others at the beach were humans. As we approached, they peered at our unusual group. A few frowned at the arrival of robots. Others waved happily.

I stopped on a stretch of grass that overlooked the ocean. So did the other robots in our group.

Emma and her FamilyUnit walked a few steps before noticing the rest of us were not following.

“Don’t you want to get closer?” Emma asked.

I shook my head. “That would not be a wise idea. Sand could get into our cracks.”

Emma grinned at this. So did her parents.

I looked from one human to another. “What is so humorous?”

“Nothing,” Emma said between giggles.

I tried to explain. “If sand gets wedged into our cracks, it can be quite unpleasant.”

This set off a new round of laughter among Emma and her parents.

I glanced at Ceeron and SkD, confused. They just shrugged. Even after all this time, humans were still a mystery sometimes.

A trio of beeps caught my attention. SkD and its FamilyUnit displayed the exact same images on their screens.

“Sure!” said Emma’s mom. “This is a great spot!”