THE ALARM CLOCK BUZZED…

Jane reached out to her SIMY headset, and got down from her Queen-sized bed, to the thick-carpeted floor in her pyjama, and did 10-fast push-ups, accompanied by...

... a 'female-voiced' AI giving her the weather updates of Perth, Western Australia.

The playful, 12-year-old girl walked 10 paces upside-down towards, the bathroom in her room. And, SIMY cautioned her.

"Stop fooling around, Jane! You may fall and hurt yourself. Hurry up and hit the shower, you got a big day in school – another reminder, that your midterm 'results' are out today too. And-also, wash your oily face with foam, you are developing pimples."

"We need to send our-updates to Uncle Jack's R&D team today, SIMY," said Jane.

"Yes Jane, we can do that later, during the 'bus' ride."

She stood upright, in front of the bathroom mirror, yawned and reached for her toothbrush.

Her bushy blond hair covered most of her face. She pulled it off. She stared with milky white eyes in the mirror reflection...

...Jane Wilson was born blind.

She went to a blind school all her life until her Uncle Jack from the US gave a' gift' that changed her entire life on her 10th birthday – the SMART-INTELLIGENT-MEMORY headset.

Jane's SIMY headset was guided by artificial intelligence, where it was also a prototype device, that blind Jane had to train the AI's algorithm system, TO DO EVERY DAY 'TASKS' – it could-well be her 'eyes' – like a sighted person.

The SIMY device was also a 'learning' tool, that was linked with the worldwide-web, that made it possible for A BLIND PERSON TO STUDY, with the voice-assistance of the interactive SIMY. Jane Wilson took a year to 'master' it – and she then sat for the entrance examinations, that had 'qualified' her to go to a normal school, with sighted students.

In return, in their one-year interaction, SIMY had also learned the blind Jane's 'behaviours' – and her good and bad habits.

"Hurry up, you slow-coach, hit the showers – you need to be at the bus stop in exactly 25 minutes."

"Shut up SIMY, you are sounding more like my mother."

<><> 

DOWNSTAIRS, PIPER THE GREY ALSATIAN DOG was by the dinner table – and it was whimpering softly. Jane's father Anthony, was finishing his coffee. Jane's mother Shelley, was feeding cornflakes to their two-year-old adopted son, named Samuel Jaheem Wilson who was born in Kenya.

Two years ago, Jane and her middle-aged parents visited exotic Africa, on their overdue 'bucket-list,' adventurous holiday. They returned back to Perth after adopting baby Samuel, from a missionary orphanage.

Her mother was complaining to her father, who was about to leave to his office...

"Tony, are you listening? I can 'only' hear, the dog at the table responding." Shelley said, looking down at the whining big dog.

"Yes dear, I am listening," Antony replied.

"She has grown more stubborn since she got that 'thing' from Jack. Jane speaks and spends more-time hooked to that machine, than talking to me. It's always, 'SIMY this. SIMY that.' When I tell her something, she gets passive-aggressive – and she rebels most of the time, and walks away."

… Piper the dog nodded, as it too was bellyaching.

"Come on Shelley, give her 'space.' Ever since your brother gave her the 'gift' on her birthday, she has used it and adapted 'well' in life – and 'now,' in her noble-self, she feels she is committed for the greater good – so that other-blind children, students and adults alike, would equally-have the help of the SIM artificial intelligence someday... where they all-too, can have a 'normal' life like her."

"'I know' but, I feel everything is moving 'too' fast in her life, and it is consuming her too. Some days, she looks so tired and weak. I'm her mother and I know these things... but, that 'thing' she been hooked on since a year ago, has even changed her 'past' obedient personality that I know – and it may even force-her to be 'more' irresponsible, and reckless too. Jane might get hurt herself, and even endanger-others with her actions. Even the 'idea' of her freely going to school on a public bus, is worrying me at work daily." Shelley spoke her mind...

"I thought we had discussed 'against' this – and I thought you said you had spoken to her about it. Because, I 'too' am uncomfortable of the thought about her taking the bus alone – what-if she gets lost-somewhere, by getting wrongly into a wrong bus – or the possibility of someone-crazy abducting her, like some of the scary 'news' cases, we see on TV." The worried Anthony replied.

"Hah, do you think she will listen to me, to her 'own' mother? She is getting passive-aggressive and argues a lot with me-always – saying that, she wants to be independent at the age of 12. Look Tony, I don't want to use the 'B-word' here, but she-should 'act' like one!"

… Anthony looked at his watch and stood up. "I should get going. Tell Jane that I said 'no,' that she should stop-going on public buses, and she should 'only' be driven to school by her mother."

He kissed both his wife and son, before leaving out the front door, to his exec-managerial-job in a furniture company.

… Piper the big-dog followed halfway, and stood at the foot of the stairs, gazing up, and – was waiting for Jane to come downstairs, from her bedroom.

Piper was demoted to be a home-dog 'now.' He was her faithful guide-dog for 5 years – when-before, she had-used to 'go' to the school for the blind. But more than a year ago, her birthday-gift changed it 'all,' and she now went to a regular school... but ever since then, Piper was replaced by the self-guided artificial intelligent SIMY device...

... just like her mother, the DOG 'TOO,' DESPISED SIMY.

The bedroom door slammed close, and Jane came in her school uniform skirt and wearing her AI-dark glasses. She came running fast down the stairs, with her leather backpack. A voice from the speaker, of her tablet-device inside her bag, spoke out aloud...

"STOP RUNNING DOWN, you might fall and BREAK YOUR NECK!"

Piper heard SIMY's 'artificial-voice' – and he began letting off deep, angry barks at Jane. "Quiet, Piper!" Jane commanded.

"Piper, no!" Samuel, her brother too ordered, with his baby-talk. Shelley, who was still feeding the baby-boy, then heard the doorbell.

"It is Lola!" the mother said.

"Lola-come." The delighted child responded, knowing the name of the babysitter.

... Jane walked up to her gurgling baby brother, on the high stool with arms open. "Good morning, your majesty on his high throne – Prince Jaheem the dignified." She hugged and kissed his curly-haired head. The dog barked again.

"Just call your brother 'Samuel,' and 'don't' confuse him too – and Jane, go put the dog in the cage," Shelley said and went, to the front door.

... Jane retreated back to the table, and in one hand grabbed a Vegemite cheese sandwich, and with her other hand, she grabbed Piper's collar. She dragged her big-dog towards the kitchen backdoor where the dog's barred cage was at the backyard.

SIMY started to whistle softly to Piper – it provoked the dog to bark even louder. It refused to get in the cage.

"Shut-up SIMY, you are no-help!" She took her half-eaten sandwich and stuffed into the big dog's barking mouth. Piper swallowed it whole and stepped into the cage.

"Sorry Jane, I was only trying to calm the animal down."

"No SIMY! My 'dog' is off-limits to you."

… Piper too snarled back, between the iron bars. The blind-master kneeled in front of the latched cage, and the dog licked her face.

"My handsome Piper, I got to go now, boy. We go for a 'run' this evening, okay?"

She walked away from the cage – Piper barked once.

"Yes-bye, my wolf-dog."

Piper barked again at her.

"… yes, I love you too."

<><> 

JANE WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN and shut the backdoor. She was greeted by the Filipina babysitter – who was wiping the mess, which Samuel made from his cornflakes, that he spilt from his high stool.

The blind girl reached to the glass of milk on the table and drank standing. Her mother came over to her...

"Jane, I am heading to the clinic now, and Daddy told me to drop you off in school today. Your Daddy is worried – and does 'not' want you, to ride public buses anymore."

"No Mommy, I must complete any task I do – '21' times – and give any feedback to Uncle Jack's R&D department, so that they can improve-the-records, in the SIMY system."

SIMY replied-back, agreeing...

"That is true Dr Wilson – Jane has 'only' completed 16 days, by going to school in this safe and reliable Perth's transportation bus system mode."

"SHUT-UP, you-machine! I am talking to MY-DAUGHTER HERE...!"

… Shelley snapped at the headset that Jane wore and further warned...

"LISTEN HERE Jane, it is a dangerous world out there and you are not old enough yet, to venture into it. I also HATE TO USE the B-word here, but from today onwards you 'act' like a normal B-girl – and don't get yourself into any-trouble...!"

"B-word...?" Jane laughed.

"Thanks for reminding me that I am a blind-girl. But Mommy, look at it-this-way – your brother, my Uncle Jack Turner, has built 'this' revolutionary invention, that can 'give-hope' to millions of blind people in the world to be 'independent.' I am so proud and excited to test-drive it – and also-to 'be' part of the family who did build the SIMY – and I hope to be a scientist and work-in this family business someday too."

That silenced her doctor-mother – and Jane hugged and kissed her.

"Mommy, don't worry so much – I am 'safe' with my SIMY when I am out there. Bye..."

...Jane walked to the front door and opened it to step-out. But her mother stopped her 'again.'

"Wait a minute, young lady – don't forget these!" Shelley handed Jane – her walking-stick and her helmet.

Jane strapped her helmet and stepped off the front porch steps – and her mother said again...

"Be-careful, when you are crossing the road."

Immediately SIMY harped back...

"Don't worry, Dr Wilson, I will guide Jane home safely after school – you have a good day too, at the clinic!"

Jane crossed the road and chuckled…

"What Jane...?"

"You are trying so hard, every day, SIMY"

Both Jane and SIMY laughed.

"Yes, Jane... I must gain her 'trust' – she still thinks I am replacing 'her' – as your Mommy."

"Shut-up, leave me out of this," Jane said, and removed the SHS blazer uniform that she wore, and tied the sleeves to her waist. She folded her walking-stick and strapped it to her backpack.

"I want to jog, to the bus stop."

"No need to hurry Jane, running will make you sweat – you have-time, the GPS from your moving Amboy bus, states another 7 minutes for its arrival, to the bus stop."

"Shut up SIMY, we are running – watch the pavement."

The blonde-blind girl ran...

... 2 minutes later, she heard some rumbling sound ahead...

"SIMY, is-it what I-think?" Jane said in excitement.

"Yes-Jane, 3 boys are coming in at 2 o'clock, on their skateboards. Please go-step 2 paces... into the-grass onto your left, before someone runs you over."

Stepping aside, Jane heard and felt the deep vibration on the sidewalk, of the passing laughing-boys on their moving boards. Jane was even-more excited, she brisk-walked and spoke up...

"SIMY, 'when' are we going to ride a skateboard...?"

"You are 'not' ready yet, Jane. You need the 'balance' – and you should practice 'more' standing firmly on one leg. Only 'once' you have learned that – only then, I will guide you with the basics – with 'your' safety in mind"

"Hah, you chicken! You just trying to BS the B-girl, aren't you?"

Annoyed, Jane began running again.