Come on, you guys,  he said in the Speech.  All I m asking for here is a little cooperation 

 No surrender!  shouted the remote.

 Death before dishonor!  shouted the DVD player.

Kit covered his eyes and let out a long, frustrated breath.

From the kitchen came a sudden silence, something that was as arresting to Kit as a sudden noise, and that made him look up in alarm. His mother had been cooking. Indeed, she was making herarrozcon polio , a dinner that visiting heads of state would consider themselves lucky to eat. When without warning it got quiet in the kitchen in the middle of that process, Kit reacted as he would have if he d heard someone say,  Oops!  during the countdown toward a space shuttle launch: with held breath and intense attention.

 Honey  Kit s mom said.

 What, Mama 

 The dog says he wants to knowwhat s the meaning of life .

Kit rubbed his forehead, finding himself tempted to hide his eyes.  Give him a dog biscuit and tell him it s an allegory,  Kit said.

 What,life 

 No, the biscuit!

 Oh, good.You had me worried there for a moment.

Kit s mother s sense of humor tended toward the dry, and the dryness sounded like it was set at about medium at the moment, which was just as well. His mother was still in the process of getting used to his wizardry. Kit went back to trying to talk sense into the remote and the DVD player. The DVD player blued the TV s screen out again, pointedly turning its attention elsewhere.

 Comeon, just give each other a chance.

 Talk tothat thing  You must have a chip loose.

 Like I would listen!

 Hah! You re a tool, nothing but a tool! I entertain!