Robot

"It's Harlan," Sugar said, looking back at Beety in his armchair. "He's got the robot with him." "Dayam," Beety responded, springing up about as fast as it was possible for him to spring up for a thing. He threw the door open and Harlan tipped his hat. "I heard that neighbor of yours creating commotion all night; heard you trying to discuss things like two adults at three in the blessed a.m. to no avail," Harlan said with a smile. "Think we may want to put an end to shenanigans before the constables are exhausted at the thought of comin' out here." Beety shook his hand excitedly and stepped onto the stoop; Sugar drew back, not liking robots much in general. The two men went around to the common fence and activated the robot to do a perimeter scan and set deflection points; once the force field was in place (took time enough to down two full glasses of sweet tea), Harlan entered the codes to activate the path for protect, warn, and terminate as a last resort. "How did you ever get one of these?" Beety asked, impressed. "I know a guy," Harlan said, and said nothing more about it. "You two just get some sleep and maybe put your earbuds in; the robot voice in warning mode is a doozy - it'll put your hairs up." Sugar watched from the kitchen window as the robot positioned itself on the back porch with one red eye scanning back and forth. "Oughta take that thing to the Ladies Auxiliary meeting with me," she whispered (with a smirk).