SCS Contest Winner: Isabelle’s Little Idea – By the WackyWombat!

SCS Contest Winner: Isabelle’s Little Idea – By the WackyWombat!

Isabella shot a quick glance at the kitchen, before stealthily crawling across to the living room. Jane was sitting at the table, doing ‘Adult Stuff’, and she wanted to know what that was. Sure, she was only six, but she was learning new stuff from Sir Froggington every day, she could be helpful. After she made it to the couch she slowly peeked over the top, just enough to see the table.

“Issi… what are you doing?” Jane asked, without looking up.

“I’m being stealthed, so I can figure out what you’re doing?” the girl replied, without moving from her position.

“The term is stealthy, little one, and I’m helping Evelyn prepare a list of supplies needed for her school.”

Isabelle blinked, “What’s a school?” she asked, popping up and throwing her arms over the back of the couch.

Jane sighed, “It’s a place where kids come to learn, like you do with your frog…”

“Sir Froggington,” Isabelle corrected.

“Yes, Sir Froggington. She’s planning on providing food as an incentive, and I’m just trying to decide if we can give them anything else.”

“She has bears, lots of bears.” Isabelle replied, pointing at the garage. “She could give everyone their own bear.”

“It’s not that simple, pipsqueak,” Jane replied, looking up with a smile. “Those are special bears, and she can’t give those away.”

“Boo! Why not?” Isabella asked, as she climbed over the back of the couch and jumped down into the kitchen. She pulled one of the kitchen chairs out, with a little bit of difficulty, before pulling herself up to sit. The little girl’s head barely cleared the top of the table, but she could still look Jane in the face from that position. “Bears, and foxes, and mooses, protect the people around here. I’ve seen it! Why can’t she give them to other people?”

Jane smiled a little, she needed to in order to prevent herself from laughing at Issi’s serious face. “They could be dangerous in the wrong hands. That’s why Evelyn has taken so many precautions with them. If you can think of a really good way to give bears to the kids, without it being dangerous, I promise I’ll run it by Evelyn and the others. Deal?”

“Deal!” Jane watched the little girl roll out of her chair, land on all fours, then take off at a full run heading towards her room. “So much like Evelyn at that age,” she whispered with a small smile. After a second she turned back to the tablet, and resumed reviewing her notes.

~~

At the other end of the hallway Isabelle skidded to a halt in front of her bedroom, threw the door open, and sprinted towards the figure at the far side of the room. The three-foot-tall frog-shaped robot, with a top hat and monocle, watched her approach with interest. “What may I help you with today, Miss Isabelle?”

“I need to figure out how to convince Jane and Teddy to give bears to other people!” the girl said, panting slightly. “Need to help other people!”

“You mean the combat robots doing patrols around the premises?” the frog asked, with one raised eyebrow. Isabelle nodded excitedly. “I don’t think that’s possible, they’re far too dangerous!”

“Boo! That’s what Jane said. If everyone had their own bear they could hug them anytime they wanted, just like I do whenever Teddy brings hers home.”

The frog paused, “Wait, you just want them to hug? Not for the protection part?”

“Protection is good! They keep everyone safe, so I’d like it if we could do that for other kids, but just having a huggable would be good too!” The girl sat on her bed thinking for a moment, then picked up her plush frog and held it out. “Bears this big might be good too. I know Mr. Frog makes me feel safer, but bears are better.”

Sir Froggington’s head spasmed slightly, then the bot stepped forward, moving much smoother than before. “Am I to understand that you want to provide security stuffies to the kids around the neighborhood?” he asked.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“You’re not Sir Froggington, are you,” Isabelle replied, eyes narrowed. “You’re Teddy’s imaginary friend. What happened to Sir Froggington?”

Nyx laughed, “Very perceptive, I am indeed Evelyn, aka Teddy’s, AI, Nyx. Don’t worry about Sir Froggington, he’ll be back, good as new, once we’re done talking.”

“About bears?”

“Indeed. I was slightly intrigued by your suggestion. As you know Evelyn tends to be protective of the people around here, and I have no doubt she’ll want a way to keep an eye on those kids once she opens the school.”

Isabelle smiled, “Teddy likes everyone!”