The New Toaster: Chapter 1

The toaster aisle at Sears was nothing if not extensive. Eric was overwhelmed. The four slot, toasters, the "smart" toasters, the extra large toasters that could fit a full 16-inch pizza; they were all there. Toasters in every color, every shape, every size. A whole world of toasters, waiting to be taken in, waiting to serve. Or possibly to destroy.
This was Eric's problem. He could see everything about these toasters, but there was one thing not written on the box. He could not look into their souls. How was he to find a toaster that would be kind and not cruel? He decided to ask a salesperson.
"So you want to find out about the souls of toasters?" asked the confused and disgruntled salesman.
"Yep."
"I'll go get Vlad, he's our anthropomorphic toaster specialist."
Could it be? Sears had finally hired an anthropomorphic toaster specialist? They actually read what was put in the suggestion box? Things were finally going well for Eric.