"Alright, Toby," Arthur said, pulling out his credit card. "Let's see if this smart machine can outsmart my dog's mud puddles."

Toby laughed. "Not quite. It sends a ping to your phone when the cycle is done. No more forgotten, soggy clothes smelling like mildew because you got distracted by the game."

Arthur paused. He had, in fact, forgotten a load of towels just last Tuesday. He looked at the price tag, then back at Toby. "Is it reliable? I don’t want to see you again in two years."