The silent company, row on row of waiting robots, made to look like humans so they could do human’s jobs. Made to stand outside on the lots to prove their strength against weathering. Ugly metal robots, cute, human-looking androids, the robot salesmen with their hoarse voices, and, good-natured, back-slapping, their shrewd appraisal of the robots you wanted to sell, their easy, phony praise of their own stock.

The hopeful robot owners walking, peering, testing, hunting for a bargain, hoping for a steal, arguing, laughing, growling, complaining, moving from lot to lot, searching from face to face, the hungry-dollar look in their eyes...

HE KID and Marie were detained on the sidewalk in front of Infinite Money MacNoonan’s lot by an arguing pair. An old lady pleaded with a Robot dealer. “I can pay next week. Please lemme have my robot back. I’ll keep up the payments, honest. Mister."

“No.”

"Mister, look, I ain’t young. I can’t earn much as scrubwoman. I got to have the dough my robot makes.”

“Them as can’t keep up the payments loses they robot. Lady.”

The dealer went off and the old woman stood on the sidewalk on Robot Row, weeping. It’s tough to lose your last robot in your old age. When you’ve paid those rough payments so long.

The Kid looked at Marie with that lecture look, but she hurried him along.

At Honest Harry’s lot a young couple stood transfixed, silent as the robot they faced. It was obviously their first robot. Eyes shone, lips gleamed. Dreams of better living pyramided.

“Rock and roll,” said Marie. “Up and down. Trouble and joy— it’s the Row and life, too, Kid.”