My Brother the Robot - A Show And Tell Adventure
Posted: Friday, December 11, 2009
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
I've said it before and I'll say it again… kids do the darnedest things. When I was just a little boy one of my younger brothers became quite upset when I started attending Kindergarten. After all, we were best friends and playmates, but now I was gone every day. One day in particular he made a huge fuss as I was on my way out the door. My brother ran outside after me and started tugging my shirt in the front yard of our home as he begged me not to go to school.
"I have to go to school, Bobby," I told him.
"But, I don't want you to go" he replied, "I got nobody to play with. I miss you." That is when the tears started pouring down his four-year-old cheeks and he sobbed and sobbed.
It was about that time I had one of those lightning bolt childhood ideas that mothers sorely dread in their children. "I know!" I said, "You can come with me to school for Show-N-Tell. You can be my robot!"
"I can?" Bobby asked as he sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Sure you can, Bobby" I replied. "All the kids bring stuff to Show-And-Tell. I'll bring you, but you got to be my robot. Okay?"
"'Kay" he said.
"Alright, Robot," I commanded, "start marching."
And away we went… down the hill to the end of the street. Normally there were crossing guards posted at the corner, but on this occasion, there were none. Little did I know my little adventure with my Robot had caused me to run behind schedule and now I would be late to class.
"Robot, Stop!" I commanded, as we came up to the stop sign. We looked both ways and not a car was in sight. "Ready… March!" And away we continued on our journey to school.
Everything seemed to be going rather well as we approached the school building. I have to admit, the sensation of having my very own robot, who observed my every command, felt pretty good at the time! That is, until we got to the big double doors. Suddenly, my robot began to experience some difficulties. He was scared.
"Come on, Robot! We're almost there and we have to hurry because I'm gonna be late."
"'Kay" my robot responded.
We marched down the hallway of the school and strangely, nobody was around. Finally, we came up to the classroom and peered in through the window on the door. Class was in session and the teacher, Mrs. Fishburn, was speaking to the students, who were all seated attentively at their desks.
Slowly, I pushed open the door with a creak and Mrs. Fish burn turned and looked. "Mark!" she said with a bright smile, "You're late!"
But, suddenly, her smile turned to a most unusual expression, which at that age I didn't quite comprehend. Then she cleared her throat and said, "Hmm Hmm… Mark, who is your friend?"
"Ohhh…" I said pulling my little partner into the room, "This is my Robot. I brought him for Show-N-Tell!"
"You DID?" Mrs. Fishburn questioned in disbelief. "Well, does your robot have a name?"
"Yeah… His name is Bobby. But, I call him Robot. I know he looks like a person, but he's a robot. He can walk and talk and do all kinds of stuff."
"Oh, he can?"
"Yep!"
I then turned to my little partner and said, "Robot, say hello!"
That's when something really weird happened. My little robot's eyes got big as saucers, his whole body started shaking, and then he let out a wail and started crying uncontrollably. The teacher and all the students in class just stared with the strangest looks on their faces. I was pretty sure they were disappointed that my robot didn't say hello.
So, I turned to him and said, "Don't cry, Robot, you're going to rust."
For some reason my verbal command suddenly didn't seem to work on the robot. I was quite surprised. He just kept on crying and before I knew it, the teacher had directed him and I to the office where a phone call was placed to my mother and we were whisped away back home in short order.
Yep, kids do the darnedest things don't they?
It was about that time I had one of those lightning bolt childhood ideas that mothers sorely dread in their children. "I know!" I said, "You can come with me to school for Show-N-Tell. You can be my robot!"
"I can?" Bobby asked as he sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Sure you can, Bobby" I replied. "All the kids bring stuff to Show-And-Tell. I'll bring you, but you got to be my robot. Okay?"
"'Kay" he said.
"Alright, Robot," I commanded, "start marching."
And away we went… down the hill to the end of the street. Normally there were crossing guards posted at the corner, but on this occasion, there were none. Little did I know my little adventure with my Robot had caused me to run behind schedule and now I would be late to class.
"Robot, Stop!" I commanded, as we came up to the stop sign. We looked both ways and not a car was in sight. "Ready… March!" And away we continued on our journey to school.
Everything seemed to be going rather well as we approached the school building. I have to admit, the sensation of having my very own robot, who observed my every command, felt pretty good at the time! That is, until we got to the big double doors. Suddenly, my robot began to experience some difficulties. He was scared.
"Come on, Robot! We're almost there and we have to hurry because I'm gonna be late."
"'Kay" my robot responded.
We marched down the hallway of the school and strangely, nobody was around. Finally, we came up to the classroom and peered in through the window on the door. Class was in session and the teacher, Mrs. Fishburn, was speaking to the students, who were all seated attentively at their desks.
Slowly, I pushed open the door with a creak and Mrs. Fish burn turned and looked. "Mark!" she said with a bright smile, "You're late!"
But, suddenly, her smile turned to a most unusual expression, which at that age I didn't quite comprehend. Then she cleared her throat and said, "Hmm Hmm… Mark, who is your friend?"
"Ohhh…" I said pulling my little partner into the room, "This is my Robot. I brought him for Show-N-Tell!"
"You DID?" Mrs. Fishburn questioned in disbelief. "Well, does your robot have a name?"
"Yeah… His name is Bobby. But, I call him Robot. I know he looks like a person, but he's a robot. He can walk and talk and do all kinds of stuff."
"Oh, he can?"
"Yep!"
I then turned to my little partner and said, "Robot, say hello!"
That's when something really weird happened. My little robot's eyes got big as saucers, his whole body started shaking, and then he let out a wail and started crying uncontrollably. The teacher and all the students in class just stared with the strangest looks on their faces. I was pretty sure they were disappointed that my robot didn't say hello.
So, I turned to him and said, "Don't cry, Robot, you're going to rust."
For some reason my verbal command suddenly didn't seem to work on the robot. I was quite surprised. He just kept on crying and before I knew it, the teacher had directed him and I to the office where a phone call was placed to my mother and we were whisped away back home in short order.
Yep, kids do the darnedest things don't they?
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Thank you for the light article, it was a pleasure to read and I do look forward to reading additional articles authored by you. RRThank you Robert!I hope to see more articles by you soon also!Mark
So Mark,Tell us the end of the story. What did your mom and dad do upon returning home?Love you,MichelleHi Michelle,I wish I could remember but that was a long, long time ago. If I remember, I'll let you know.MarkYou don't remember or you just don't want to share???Love you,MichelleWell, my Dear,That was about half a century ago. I really don't remember. If I remember you'll be the first to know.Love you too!Mark
What a hoot! Was your mom distraught when she couldn't find him? Thanks for sharing a giggle... MarijoHi Marijo,I don't remember. Wish I did. Seems there was something said about not bringing my little brother places.Thanks for your comments.Mark
Isn't it amazing how our mind can retain those memories from so long ago... and sometimes forget what we did last week! LOLHi Ella,Didn't I already answer this??? Just kidding. You know the older I get the less I seem to remember today and the more the memories from childhood coming flooding in. Good to hear from you.Mark
delightful. I wish I had seen it.Hi Jim,Some how I'm under the impression you might have done the same thing when you were a kid.Mark
I always wonder how REAL our memories actually are. How much they alter over time, and in some cases, did they actually occur at all, maybe they were part of an intense dream that seemed real.Hi Jonny,This one was real, sure enough. But, there are parts of my life that are rather vague. I do know what you mean though. Thanks for your comments.Mark
Thank You. I really enjoyed it.Thank kyou, Curtis.Hope you have a great holiday.Mark
Too funny. I like the way you tell the story Mark. Thanks for sharing.Thanks OGM,Hope all is well with you. Wishing you the best.Mark
Having 3 children of my own. I understand completely. That was a great story and one that shows the innocent love of children. Thank you.Thank you for your comments, Robert. Happy New Year to you.
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