I will die of hunger before then, Nita said to herself. Die horribly. Then she glanced at the refrigerator again. Aha, Nita thought. She went to the wall by the doorway into the dining room and picked up the receiver of the kitchen phone. She dialed. The phone at the other end rang, and after a couple of rings someone picked up. Rodriguez residence… Behind the voice was a noise that sounded rather like a jackhammer, if jackhammers could sing. Kit How d you beat me home My last-period study hall was optional today… I was finished with my homework so I went home early. What s up I was going to ask you that, Nita said, raising her voice over the racket. Is your dad redoing the kitchen or something She heard Kit let out an exasperated breath. It s the TV. It s acting up again Nita said. Kit s last attempt to use wizardry to repair his family s new home entertainment system had produced some peculiar side effects, such as the TV showing other planets cable channels without warning. Neets, Kit said, it s worse than just acting up now. I think the TV s trying to evolve into an intelligent life-form. Nita s eyebrows went up. That could be an improvement … Yeah, but evolution can have a lot of dead ends, Kit said. And I m getting really tempted to end this one with a hammer. The TV says it s meditating…but most things get quieter when they meditate. She snickered. Knowing your electronics, you may need that hammer. Meanwhile, I don t want to talk about your TV. I want to talk about your refrigerator. Uh-oh, Kit said. Uh-oh, something inside Nita s house also said, like an echo. She glanced around her but couldn t figure out what had said it. Weird Kit, Nita said, I m dying here. You saw what lunch was like today. Nothing human could have eaten it. Mystery meat in secret sauce again. Fridays are always bad in that cafeteria, Kit said. That s why I eat at home so much. Don t torture me. What s in your fridge There was a pause while Kit walked into his kitchen, and Nita heard his refrigerator door open.