Baby Bots'R'Us

It's 2028...You are positive of that...or are you?

You distinctly remember falling sleep in the midst of watching the - "We refuse to procreate, no more baby bumps" revolution on television.

But now it's morning. You awaken drowsily, stretching your languid limbs and yawning into a glorious day. You arise from the bed, stick your feet into unusual and extremely comfy bed slippers...and focus your eyes...but everything looks - how to describe it... awfully futuristic...you blink three times for clarity. Nope...it's still there.

The bedroom looks like a self-adjusting sanctuary: seamless walls, concealed storage, floating furniture..."umm, hello"!

"Hello You, what can I do for you today". Echoed from the walls.

What the ...where am I? You wonder.

"Who is speaking...and what is this room".

"I am Klara, the voice of your home".

You pause a moment...digesting this new addition to the already absurd and surreal day. Ok, you have a house, and it has a voice!

"Oh! Ok. Please explain the layout of the room, it's strange...I'm not sure that I'm awake". You mumble, while wondering why your home would have an audible voice. You have always imagined your space being able to to speak...metaphorically - but not out loud. You don't remember purchasing a Smart Home.

"But of course. Your bedroom has AI‑driven climate and sleep systems, programmable ambient light, and interactive surfaces that shift from calm retreat to immersive sci‑fi environment. There are Continuous, curved walls with no visible seams, hardware, or cabling. Everything is hidden—storage, wiring, even vents— perhaps to maintain a clean, uninterrupted geometry.

A futuristic bedroom in the 2060's feels less like a room and more like a living organism—quietly adaptive, sensorial, and almost ritualistic in how it cares for you. The core idea is seamless surfaces, hidden technology, integrated lighting, and smart systems that respond to your body and mood".

Spookier and spookier!!!! You whisper.

Lost in the wonder of it all, you are suddenly startled by the emergence of a rather preppy robot-person, who announces in a perfectly articulated voice that...

"Ah. Good morning. I see that you are awake. Today is the day that You and Nexia-57 will be choosing your Baby Bot... and I am sure that you cannot wait".

Startled - you instinctively reach for your robe.

"Who, or what are you"? You ask in puzzlement.

"I am your robot assistant, Val 2000".

"Oh my God". Had You died and been resurrected in Robotic Heaven.

"Ah, a new arrival...they did not inform me of that. Just a moment...I need to reset your cognitive awareness bandwidth". Val 2000 sounded quite efficient businesslike and irritating.

"You need to do what now". You sputter, backing away from the thing.

But it's too late. The She-Bot clamps a wristwatch on your hand and your mind spins backward...then forwards.

"What did you mean by, "Today is the day that You and Nexia-57 will be choosing your Baby Bot... Who is Nexia-57".

"Oh dear, they have got to prepare new neophyte mothers-to-be before they drop them all unknowing into this Simulation".

"What in Heaven's name are you babbling about, robot lady"? You ask, annoyed.

"Human women no longer produce babies in the normal way. That plan was decided and enacted years ago. Now they opt to purchase little baby bots from Baby Bots'R'Us stores.

"Huh". You stand squinting like an idiot. "Baby Bots'R'Us stores"?

"What year is this"? You ask.

"It is the year 2062"!

"2062. Are you crazy". You think back...You were just in 2028. How did you get here?

"Time travel. It is now a reality". Val answered as if anticipating the next question.

Val 2000, reached out and flicked her finger against your head...You feel a tiny pinch.

"Much better". Val beeped.

"Just click the red button on your watch, it will all be explained".

You turn on your virtual display on your wristwatch without a second thought as to how it works. Your mind somehow knows. The screen pops up. You give the verbal command to search the archives for when women had finally decided to not have human babies anymore.

You watch the on-screen avatar smile, acknowledging your request. She begins to speak...

"The unprecedented shift in as late as 2025 saw global demographics where seniors aged 65 and over outnumbered children aged 5 and under for the first time in recorded human history. This demographic inversion was a result of falling birth rates and increased longevity, leading to a significant increase in the number of older adults. The U.S. Census Bureau's report highlighted that this change was retroactively dated to 2012, marking a significant correction in fertility projections. The global population of people aged 65+ was projected to grow from 852 million in 2025 to 2 billion by 2060, accounting for a substantial portion of the global population growth during that period. This shift is expected to have profound implications for economies, pension systems, and healthcare systems, necessitating urgent policy responses to adapt to the changing demographic landscape".

You remember studying and writing about how this had been a turning point for women the world over. But your mind is remembering it in the present.

There had been a revolution. Young people worldwide were opting to not procreate.

"No more producing young ones, no more reproduction...no more multiplying. No more despoiling our bodies for the sake of longevity". The placards had read.

Women had made up their minds...and there had been no turning back

...Now there are Baby Bot Emporiums everywhere...all priced to fit into everyone's budget...Still, no baby bots are superior or inferior due to prices.

You don't see it, but something strange has happened with your eyes. They changed color just for a moment...Val had reset your memory with just a tiny touch of her finger.

You suddenly feel like you had been here forever.

"Today is the day that You and Nexia-57 will be choosing your Baby Bot... and I am sure that you cannot wait". Val 2000 announced as if she had just spoken for the first time.

You smile... Thinking of the happy moment to be. The baby bots are designed to self age, bond and interact as the journey progressed.

Nexia-57 arrives. She is beautiful and you know that you have always know her.

Yet, something nags at your subconscious...something you cannot quite grasp. There is a memory...vague but persistent... of tiny feet that once brought laughter, love and awe.

.