people. Instead, they wrote a lot about machines with "mental" disorders.

Society was becoming increasingly mad. In Gothenburg, for example, a robot had committed "suicide" by taking itself to pieces and in Gävle another robot had gone berserk and destroyed three "innocent" computers.

"Something has gone wrong. People are not in their right senses nowadays," thought Linda.

Torsten's father, Francisco, was an enthusiastic believer in technological development. He was an expert on computers and had made a lot of money during the autumn. He thought he had found a superb solution to his son's problem.

"Don't be sad, Torsten. There is hope in a fantastic Christmas present for you, a present of a most unusual kind."

The year was 2056 and Christmas Eve eventually arrived. It was a day completely embedded in new snow and for Torsten's family it would be a rather odd Christmas.

"Merry Christmas, Torsten!" exclaimed an extremely large parcel even before he had opened it. The parcel was as large as a ten year old and had a boyish voice which seemed to tremble with curiosity and expectant happiness.

"Merry Christmas, my friend!" it said, as Torsten tore off the huge pieces of Christmas wrapping paper. "My name is Lasse and I wish you a really happy Christmas. Would you like to sing Christmas carols with me?"

Linda smiled sadly at her son. Her smile was in some way apologetic.

"The best is that you are now in control my son," said Francisco.