Grandma Robot Page 8

  Karen rubbed the back of her neck and agreed, “Before long she’ll be too rusted to move out of that chair.”

  “Why didn’t you call me before she got this bad?” Amy demanded.

  Karen shrugged. “I just thought this was the way you programmed her to end up.”

  “Not to age. She was never supposed to do that. Look at that granny dress and apron. The outfit sure suit her, but I'm sure that wasn't the uniform we sent for her to wear. She’s no good to us the way she looks. We’ll have to build another robot and start over.”

  “Have any of the other robots changed their age like this one?” Karen asked innocently.

  Amy eyed Henie as the robot's head wobbled back and forth on her shoulders. “No, they have been turned back in, and they're just the same as they left. I don't understand this at all.”

  “I'm guess something went wrong with the computer programing in this one,” Karen surmised.

  “Could be but from the look of her now, this robot isn't worth fixing,” Amy declared.

  Henie's eyes rolled around, and her head flopped onto the table with a resounding plunk as metal hit formica.

  “Well, if you don’t want to bother to haul her back to the lab, I’d be willing to keep her until she quits working completely. First thing in the morning, she has enough energy to do the breakfast dishes. That's some help to me.”

  “You’re welcome to her, but you have to figure out how to get rid of her later on. I sure don't want her back at the lab for all the other techs to see my failure,” Amy admitted.

  Karen grimaced and looked at the floor. “I'm sorry about this not working out for you, Amy.”

  Hearing the regretful tone in Karen's voice made Amy remorseful. “Listen, I shouldn't have been ranting and raving at you. It's not your fault the robot failed. You were a good sport to try this experiment because I asked you to do it.

  I feel awful for picking on you just now. I have to get back to the lab, but let me know when we can get together for that movie. It and dinner out will be my treat.” With that said, Amy walked back across the living room to the door. She turned to look at the room. “Such a quaint house. It suits you. Now that I know how to find you, you'll have to give me a tour when we have time.” She winked at Karen and left.

  Karen stood watch at the living room window until Amy's car was safely out of sight. She came back to the kitchen. “Henie, she’s gone. You can sit up now.”

  “Good. What a relief. So I’m a bucket of bolts, am I?” Henie declared huffily, wiping the hair over her shoulder.

  “Hey, it worked, didn’t it? You sure acted the part when push came to shove,” Karen teased.

  “I heard her say she'd be back to visit. What are we going to do with me when she comes back?” Henie worried.

  “You can hide out in the attic. You fit right in there, besides, no one but me and you go to the attic,” Karen said.

  “Good thinking,” Henie said.

  Karen chuckled. “I'll never forget the condition you were in when I came back in the kitchen with Amy. For a moment, I wondered if you really had imbibed like Amy said.”

  Henie narrowed her eyes at Karen. “From now on young lady, show a little respect for your elders if you want me to stick around.

  In the old days, I was never inclined to drink. Now I can't imbibe, and you know it. Further more, call me Henrietta or Grandma. No more of that Henie business. I always hated that nickname.”

  Karen squinted at the robot. Now that Henie was staying, she sounded as if she was in charge. Then again hadn't she been all along? Karen leaned over and gave Henie a hug. “I’d like to call you Grandma.”

  Henie smiled as she patted Karen's hand. “I’m, glad. Now be a dear. Run upstairs and get my connection to charge my battery. I don't think I'm strong enough to walk. When you come back, I'll tell you all my ideas about how to liven this place up. First, we need chickens.”

  Wishing she had ear plugs, Karen rushed out of the room with Henie's voice following her up the stairs.

  About The Author

  Hello! I'm Fay Risner. I go by booksbyfay online. For several years, I wrote short stories and entered them in contests. Now I'm in the process of turning the short stories into novellas like Grandma Robot.

  You will find my list of books in the front of this book. I have a mixture of genres. Changing genres gives me flexibility as a writer. All my books are designed to offer some humor along with the serious moments. I write in 12 or 14 font to make my books reader friendly, and all my stories are suitable for any age group.

  My husband and I live on an acreage with chickens, goats, rabbits and cats. We enjoy raising a large garden and flowers. For fun, we go fishing in the summer.

  If you have time to write a review for any of my books, please do that for me to help other readers find my books.