Daddy's Girl - Chapter One

Charles regretted not answering the phone.

Charles Michaelson, Head Project Engineering Manager for a pharmaceutical company called Pharmacy Red, was sitting in an executive conference room with large window panels, blue carpeting, and a long, wooden table in the middle of the room; a typical corporate conference room. Charles was sitting alone on one side of the table while five directorial managers, all working for a medical machinery company - M&T Medical Supplies- were sitting across from Charles. Their ironed, wrinkle-free suits rival the singular man’s long-sleeved, buttoned-up slate shirt and black pants with the brown dressy shoes.

Facing the executives are a few sheets of legal-size paper or blueprints for what seems to be the plan for an Android prototype.

His cell phone went off during his regional meeting with head and executive managers to promote a new product that would eliminate the need for human home care, introducing Home Emergency and Trauma Hardware Empathy Reactor, also known as Heather. Heather is designed to be programmed to perform tasks that are similar to not only home health care nurses but will provide hospice care, to act as a crisis interventionist to a patient who does not have anyone that can give a twenty-four-hour watch to a person who may be considered suicidal. While a medical doctor will diagnose the patient, they will apply the home care plan to Heather. Right now, Heather will be used only for higher prestige hospitals and doctors, but after between five-ten years, Heather will probably be purchased for private purchases.

Charles’ cell phone rang again. He is cursing at himself for not silencing his phone. Some of the head executives adjusted themselves in their chairs, uncomfortably, some scratched under their chin, bothered by the interruption. “Mr. Michaelson, your cell phone has rung twice now during this meeting; would you like to get that?” One of the executives - Steven Carr, Head Executive Sales Manager asked, irritation can be heard in his voice, obviously not too pleased that this meeting should be free of any interceptions. Charles pulled his white collar, trying to clear the sweat trickling down his neck, a little tear of nerves. Charles has never been to a meeting like this alone, so it made sense he was fumbling with his pant pocket to find his cell phone. The caller ID came up as Lake Tallion Hospital. His voice gave a nervous shake, “H- Hospital? I don’t have anyone there.”

“Would you like to reschedule this meeting, Mr. Michaelson?” Another manager asked; a concerned voice could be heard. And lose the chance to score a one-in-a-lifetime chance of building something remarkable that could change the whole future in the medical and manufacturing fields? No; Charles thought to himself. He gave a nervous laugh, declining the call. “No, no, let’s continue. I got a new phone number recently and for a while, I was getting people calling and leaving voicemails about wanting to hire me to clean cabins.” He chuckled. “I think the last person was some kind of housekeeper or maid.” Charles had to wrap up the small talk quickly. Every minute that would pass by that didn’t have anything to do with Heather, is a few hundred bucks wasted that would not be getting invested in the project. He shoved his cell phone back into his pocket.

“As I was saying,” Charles continued, “Heather will be an android, designed specifically for home health care. Each nurse or aide that would stop by will either have their unique ways of treating a patient, or worst-case scenario, there could be built-up frustration by patients with severe mental issues, and the nurse or aide will forget their training and instead, use negative ways for handling the issues, not with Heather. Heather will be programmed by the doctor, inputting the patient’s diagnosis, and will stay up to date with their care, including training that is provided by numerous medical universities and colleges, including but not limited to CNA training, medical assistant training, handling and giving medication and what to do in emergency training. Voice recognition will be added as well; if let’s say, Eleanor, an eighty-five-year-old patient is walking in her wooden floor kitchen and slips on a puddle, breaking her hip and leg with no quick access to get to the phone, Heather will be the one to advocate.”

“Now, these are just words. How do you know this is something that could be done?” A heavier man spoke, his nameplate on the table said Ethan Clauss, Head Executive Production Manager. “There are so many steps that must be taken.” Charles answered, “Of course,” He turned to his laptop that is hooked up to the projector as a black screen pops up on the wall. All of the executives turn to the wall. “As you can see, we have a sample 3D animation of this scenario and how Heather should interact.” Charles pushes play and as he mentioned earlier, there is a model of an elder woman on the floor lying on her back, attempting to roll to her side while her hand holds another. “Eleanor, you see, is struggling to stand because she is in pain caused by her broken hip.”

A speech bubble appeared by the modeled woman displaying the text, ‘Heather!’ Another model appeared, wearing what appeared to be traditional grey scrubs with white tennis shoes, similar to what CNAs could wear in nursing homes. The model also has brown hair, tied to a ponytail with green eyes. ‘Yes, Mrs. Jefferson!?’ The text is displayed next to Heather. “As you can see, the tone of Eleanor’s voice alerted Heather, indicating in her program that Eleanor is not okay at the moment.” “How is that? An android isn’t able to understand the tone or pain of the patient.” Ethan argued.

“How right you are, if Heather is built as a simple android. Heather will be installed with sensors that will be able to read thermal images, as well as pick up heartbeats, and facial recognition to recognize and understand the patient and if they are happy, sad, angry, frustrated, or sick. Normally, I wouldn’t have other emotions in the system, but because Heather is also going to work with patients with mental illness, it would be wise for her to read those expressions too.” Charles countered, turning his direction back to the video. “Heather will also be able to read where physical pain has started.” A new thought bubble appeared next to Eleanor, ‘My hip hurts!’ The Heather model moved her head slightly up and down, ‘It appeared you have re-broken your hip.’

“Heather said rebroken; the doctor programmed Heather to read Eleanor’s diagnosis with her broken hip the first round. After using her thermal reading, Heather was able to identify the sudden diagnosis of the second time the hip has been fractured. Wait, here comes the best part!” Both thought bubbles disappeared and a new one appeared next to Eleanor, ‘Heather, call 911!’ Heather raised her left arm, and part of her forearm split open like an elevator door. Displayed is a panel with a round speaker with a red button that says in white Arial font text ‘911’.

"Shall I dial 911 for you and speak on your behalf?" The dialogue bubble appeared like it was advocating for the android. Another text bubble appeared for Eleanor, and everyone reading the word, "Yes."

Heather then presses the button, informing 911 of the emergency.

"Heather, when given the correct information of diagnosis, address, emergency contacts, etc, will be the most valuable being that can be trusted in the healthcare world. Say goodbye to the lack of nurses in demand and say hello," The screen disappeared from the presentation to display a concept art of Heather with brown hair and blond hair pulled in a ponytail, wearing grey scrubs and white tennis shoes, "The Home Emergency and Trauma Hardware Empathy Reactor, or for short, Heather!"

The room has gone silent, the corporate men all turn to face each other before five sets of eyes turn back to Charles. Charles concluded the presentation, “Did I forget to say Heather is customizable? The patient can design Heather however they may want. Short hair, long hair, blond hair, brown hair, and so on, so forth.” The man who sat in the middle, CEO Andrew Myers, stares down at the inventor. "If you may, please step outside while we discuss... the possible future of your creation."

The hours have passed by very slowly. The meeting took place at 10 am sharp, Charles spent an hour in the conference room, it was just past 1 pm. He thought everyone must have gone to lunch, it is the lunch hour, of course. People need to eat too to recharge their energy. Charles was sitting in the main lobby, the front desk receptionist sitting at a half-oval desk, the same wood just like the conference room.

Nothing like his Doordash of a McDonald's double quarter pounder to fill Charles’ hunger. He was not expecting to get lunch at his own expense. Well, that is another item to get reimbursed for, however, it will be a field day for Accounting, though.

The anxious anticipation caused Charles to completely forget about checking his cell phone to see if he received any messages. His wallpaper displayed his young daughter in her sky-blue sundress, her curly brunette hair swayed by the wind and that contagious smile that brings everyone joy. Charles was doing this for Heather, his daughter. The notification displayed showed the hospital called twelve times and left the same number of voice messages. Plus, twenty text messages from Gwen, Charles’ sister-in-law. The phone from the receptionist area rang, disrupting Charle’s concentration. As quick as she answered and responded to the caller, she gently hang up the phone and said, “Mr. Michaelson, Mr. Myers is ready to see you.” Charles thanked her and placed his cell phone in his pocket.

He never checked his messages or his voicemails.

He will regret not answering that phone call.