Duncan looked around.  Where had he gotten everything.  Truth was, he didn’t really have a whole lot that wasn’t simply functional.  He lived pretty simple.  “Well, I bought what I could - what was available that was on any use.  Most of what I bought was raw materials.  The rest I made from scratch.  I am something of an inventor.  But I think you gathered that.”

He looked at Adeline.  “You are still wondering how the microwave works.  I once read a source (wikipedia) that described the process incorrectly.  It said the radiation made the water molecules rotate.  That is incorrect.  It excites the rotational energy of the hydrogen oxygen bond.  Take the two atoms in a molecule of water.  Think of the various ways that can move relative to one another.  They can move back and forth together - translational energy.  They can move back and forth - vibrational energy.  And they can rotate on the bond in opposite directions - rotational energy.  Metals are essentially metal nuclei in a sea of electrons.  When microwaves hit the metal is scatters and drives off energy in the form of an electrical arc and heat.”

He stopped and looked at Adeline.  “In layman’s terms … the microwave makes the water in food hot.  The heat energy gets transferred to the rest of the food.”  He laughed.  “I used to teach a little.  I had real skills at putting a class to sleep when I wanted to.  But I also took student who had failed repeated times and helped them excel.

“I am afraid you can’t tell anyone what I have here.  I really shouldn’t even let you see the microwave.  Or the lights that turn themselves on.  Or the self-opening doors.  But what I am about to show you blows all that away.

“I said I was going to measure you for clothing and shoes.  Uhm … I have a chamber - a small room that maps the topology of a subject … uhm … by bouncing rays of light off its surface.  Uhm … coherent light.”  He struggled for a moment, then brightened.  “Death rays!”  Then he winced.  “But really really weak ones that can’t actually hurt you - except for your eyes.  You’ll need to wear a special pair of sunglasses.  Even without them you’d be fine - especially if you just shut your eyes.  But the … uhm .. light will measure your topological … uhm ..” He blushed and gestured up and down at her body.  “Anything you wear will alter the mapping and make you look … bigger.  The clothes that get designed won’t fit right.”

His eyes avoided Adeline’s.  He cleared his throat.  “Oh .. and I will see what I can come up with to write on.  I’m sure a chalkboard won’t do.  I am something of a writer myself.  Uhm … questions.  My turn I think?  Besides writing, what sort of interests do you have?  Hobbies and the like.”