Summary

The story “I CAN SPEAK! TM” is written in the form of a letter. Rick Sminks, a sales associate at a company called KidLuv, Inc. is writing the letter in response to Ruth Fanigilia, an unsatisfied customer who wants to return a product that she purchased from KidLuv, Inc. The product that she wishes to return is called ‘I CAN SPEAK!’. It is an electronic device designed to be worn by babies and to simulate speech. It becomes clear in Rick’s letter that Ruth was under the impression that the device would actually translate her infant son’s thoughts into speech. However, the machine only simulates speech and is programmed to emit specific phrases based on people and objects that it senses around the baby. Rick offers to allow Ruth to exchange her I CAN SPEAK! for a newer, more advanced model that...