Arthur Ponsy peered through the oven window to evaluate the manicotti. His homemade red sauce glistened under the small bulb and the mozzarella bubbled slightly.

 

“Perfect.”

 

He busied himself with the final preparations for the dinner party. He selected a Pinot Grigio from the wine cabinet and placed it on ice. Each plate lay centered on the placemat with the fork aligned on the left and the knife, its edge pointed toward the plate, on the right. A delicate napkin swan sat gracefully upon the plates.

 

The doorbell rang. Arthur heard multiple voices. The guests had arrived together.

 

“Arthur!” Edna called out when he opened the door. “It’s always a treat when you have us over.” She smiled warmly and handed Arthur a small white box with a red bow, which he recognized as a pastry box from her bakery.

 

“You’re too kind!” Arthur said.

 

Edna’s husband, Oliver, gave Arthur a warm embrace, patting him on the back with three brief strikes. Arthur reciprocated, then offered him a drink. He accepted, and the couple shuffled into the kitchen.

 

Will and his partner, Wesley, stood in the doorway frowning. Arthur assumed a serious expression and approached them cautiously. They stared at each other without saying a word, eyes intense. Wesley’s lips tightened and twitched playfully. Arthur took the cue, reached into his pocket, and produced a deck of cards with a novice magician’s flare.

 

“Gin!” Will and Wesley said, simultaneously. The trio hugged while laughing loudly. A dinner party was unsuccessful unless there was a game of gin to complete the night.

 

After the men joined the others, Arthur stood alone at the door for a moment to appreciate his life. Edna, with a glass of wine in her hand, danced lightly to the Bossa Nova music Arthur had queued on the stereo. Oliver grunted between gasps of air as he arm-wrestled Wesley on the kitchen counter. Will uncovered his legendary cheese ball and placed it on a dish.

 

Such great friends. How wonderful it was to be alive!

 

The night unfolded joyfully. The friends savored the food and wine, discussed everything from politics to art history, and settled into a game of gin after the meal.

 

“Arthur, what do you think about the use of AI in schools?” Oliver asked.

 

Arthur shared his opinion, which his friends received with enthusiastic nods. No matter what topic they discussed, the group looked to Arthur as an authority, almost as their leader. Arthur enjoyed this position, especially when they viewed him with admiration. He would do anything for them.

 

Wesley picked a card from the deck. He nonchalantly turned his hand toward Will, who tapped his fingers on the table. Wesley's nod was nearly imperceptible. Arthur smiled to himself but said nothing. He found their cheating scheme endearing. Wesley was discarding when a voice said, “All right, we’re good.”

 

Arthur jumped from his chair, startled. He looked around for the source of the strange voice, eyes wide. His friends stood up slowly, without a hint of apprehension.

 

“God, I hate this game. Why gin?” Welsey asked.

 

“I don’t know,” said Edna, “but I could go for a few more trials with manicotti.”

 

“I’ve got another gig in an hour,” Will said. “It’s been a great experience, y'all, but I gotta run.” His accent sounded strange to Arthur.

 

“What’s going on?” Arthur said. His hands shook slightly.

 

Before anyone could answer, the back wall of the dining room shuddered and retracted, followed by the living room wall. Arthur glimpsed chairs and stage lights beyond the open walls. He wrapped his arms around his chest, shielding himself from the confusion.

 

Suddenly, Oliver was in front of him. “It’s all right,” he said, warmly. “You’ve learned so much. Excellent job!” He gave Arthur a hug and patted him three times on the back before walking away.

 

A woman Arthur had never seen before walked through the open living room wall. She wore a white lab coat and large black-rimmed glasses. Arthur took a step back.

 

“That completes the trial,” she shouted. “AP-93’s programming is fully functional and ready for manufacture and distribution.”

 

She held a short metal rod to Arthur’s temple and clicked a button.