Hello there once again R.L. Stein Story Club members, I'm Ivy, the ghostiest host,

and keeper of those strange and spooky tales from the hidden vault of R.L. Stein.

Today is another chilling tale.

This technological terror fest story club members might make you come apart at the seams.

It's one I call Smart House.

Pal will keep you out of trouble.

Mr. Allen said, be in bed by 10 when we return.

Good night, kids.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen left for the award ceremony dinner.

Jason and Nissa Allen were home alone. Well, not quite alone. Pal, the personal automated lifestyle

program, kept everything in the house running smoothly. The Allens lived in a smart house that was

completely automated. All the temperature controls, home security alarms, interior and exterior illumination, hot and cold running water,

even the entertainment center, were all handled by the artificial intelligence program.

But Pal was much more.

He had been programmed to understand human emotions and needs.

He often knew what the Allens needed before they needed it.

For example, Mrs. Allen liked her cup of espresso brewed a certain way each morning and listened

to the New York Times.

Mr. Allen wasn't a coffee drinker, but instead liked fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and four

poached eggs for breakfast not a problem for pal in fact pal enjoyed its

interactions and existence with the allans the complex PAL program was still in

its prototype stage but once perfected Powell was designed to be in every home that

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