Leaning back and propping her tablet on her knee, Astrid turned to the Maxxim Motors web page.  She found the Maxxim Mongoose and selected “buy.”  She ticked the boxes for all the options— all electric, all-wheel drive, deepwater blue exterior, blue and charcoal interior, custom interior with heated and cooled seats.

“Nice.”

Astrid pressed the purchase button, and the next screen was financing.  It offered options to finance through one’s bank or the company.  Astrid wanted to just purchase it outright, but there didn’t seem to be an option for that.  A window popped up with a button to press for assistance.  Astrid pressed it.  A young woman’s face appeared in a little window.

“Hi.  I’m Janice.  How can I help you?”

“I’ve selected my car, and I’m just trying to make the final purchase.”

“I’m very happy that you were able to find a Maxxim automobile that you like,” said Janice, “and I can walk you through the rest.  How would you like to finance your vehicle?”

“I have the full amount in my bank account, and I just want to transfer it over.”

“Okay, I can help you with that,” A form appeared on the screen. “Just fill out your banking information in the spaces provided.”

Astrid waved her Carpé smart watch over the screen and the information was automatically filled in.  She pressed the submit button.

“There you go.”

“It has come through and is confirmed.  Now what day do you want to schedule your delivery, Miss… um, Maxxim?  Is that correct?”

“Yes,” said Astrid.  “Astrid Maxxim.”

“Um… well, we can offer delivery any day… um… between the twenty-third and the twenty-seventh.”

“Definitely the twenty-third,” said Astrid.  “I want to be able to drive it as much as possible during winter break.”

“Okay.  I have you on the schedule for the December twenty-third, between the hours of 7AM and 6PM.  Thank you and I hope you enjoy your new Maxxim motorcar.”

“I’m sure I will,” said Astrid, before hanging up.

She sat for several minutes, imagining herself driving around town behind the wheel of her new vehicle.  She was just turning her attention back to her space station blueprints when her phone rang.

“Hello, Uncle Carl,” she answered, having seen his face on her screen.

“Astrid, why are you terrorizing our customer service representatives?”

“I’m not terrorizing anyone!  I just called to order a new car.”

“Do you have any idea how hard it can be for a regular person to talk to you?”

“I’m a regular person,” said Astrid.

“How would you feel if Neal Armstrong called you on the phone?”

“Well, I’d be surprised since he’s dead.  But I guess I get what you mean.”