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NOTE
Exact first-edition text; paragraph-timed synthetic narration; performance not human listening certified.

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Chapter Six — The Room That Wasn't Built

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By afternoon, the House had acquired a new problem.

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The suitcase contents had begun making friends.

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The photograph leaned against the drawing of the window.

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The little blue fabric had been placed beneath the music box.

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The unfinished letter sat beside the tea.

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Somewhere, the piano had discovered a melody.

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None of these things had been assigned to a project.

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No new room had been created.

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No task had been scheduled.

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The House found this astonishing.

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It had spent so long learning how to protect the things entrusted to it that it had nearly forgotten another possibility.

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Things could meet.

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They could remain themselves and still become part of something new.

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The photograph did not have to become a film.

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The letter did not have to become a book.

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The music box did not have to become a musical instrument with seventeen controls and a downloadable settings file.

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Although the House admitted that sounded rather fun.

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The visitor sat in a chair by the window.

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Outside, birds moved between the buildings.

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“Do you live here?” the House asked.

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“Not exactly.”

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“Are you staying?”

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“I don't know.”

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The House considered offering her a project intake form.

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Instead, it brought her another cup of tea.