Conky's Birthday Surprise

Synopsis: It is Conky 2000's birthday. Everyone decides to throw Herman's robot a swinging robo-fiesta that his memory banks will never fail to retrieve. However, he has a very secret wish. He wants feet just like how Pepper has her own feet now.

Chapter 1--Planning for the Big Day

The skuttlebutt around HQ was Conky was about to have a milestone birthday.   

‘What does he want though ?  What do you give a zillionaire ?’, Adam wondered.  

‘Oh, easy.  I overheard him admiring the fact that I had legs and could move around freely.   A column is all well and good but maneuverability goes by the wayside.’, Pepper mentioned.  

‘Pepper, that’s brilliant !   Billy could easily upgrade him and it wouldn’t take long to do at all.’, Alpha agreed.   It was an ingenious plan. Plus, it would help him learn fighting moves to keep himself in perfect harmony with the rest of the team, all of which were bipedal rather than monopedal like him.   It would be a little tricky to do but Billy would have to do the update at night when Conky least expected it. The rest of the day would be planned much like other parties they had enjoyed. This one would include nostalgia from the heydey of Herman’s Playhouse days as well as cartoons from each decade beginning with the Roaring 20’s when they were first released to the public.    

Conky had been away on business while Magic Screen and Yvonne helped tend to the younger twins, Gadgette and Gizmo while the quadruplets were at school.   The two godmothers didn’t mind. They had become quite good at mothering and it brought out the best in them, especially in their imaginations.

‘Hey, I hear papa’s having a birthday tomorrow !’, Gadgette squealed jovially.  

‘I was thinking grandma, grandpa, great grandma and great grandpa could come and celebrate and get to see the new and improved Conky.  Plus they haven’t met mama yet.’, Gizmo added. SICO was away at work as well, even though she didn’t have to be. She preferred to earn money independently even though she and Conky supported each other.    Screen agreed. The whole 2000 family would make their appearances tomorrow, she’d simply make the calls and everything would be set.

Chapter 2--The Strangest Dream

The night before Conky’s birthday anniversary he had an unusual dream.   He felt as if he could walk, dance, sway, wiggle, bend up and down, touch his toes (and he had never had toes before) and zip at the speed of sound.   Now he could catch up to Pepper, whom he had always admired for her rapid movement.   

'Hey, Pepper, wait for me !', he said.

'Hi, Conky, I like your new feet !', she said.   Conky figured that Billy had been the one to outfit him with the newest technology.   Using the legs proved to be a bit wobbly and he swiveled and swayed ever so slightly.

‘Woah, hold up !   You gotta get used to your legs.  First you lead with your dominant foot.   Are you a righty or lefty ?’, Pepper asked.    Conky was a southpaw, so of course, he stepped out with his left leg.   First it was a little unusual but over time, he began to understand the mechanics of how legs actually worked and the functionality of having a tush to sit on.   He laughed.

‘Who would’ve thought a tush is useful !’, he chuckled.

‘Yes, and a mighty fine one it is !’, SICO remarked, patting him on it.   Conky blushed the deepest shade of red a robot ever could. In order to impress her, he wanted to try running alongside Pepper.  

‘Just be careful, it isn’t so easy as you think.  Pace yourself.’, she warned. But Conky was a quick study.  In no time he had the art of running, dancing, squatting, bending, stretching and every other imaginable motion that could be done with knees involved down to a science.    

Chapter 3--The Bot of the Day

Everyone had planned Conky’s surprise birthday bash so well that he was clueless that they had remembered it.   He was forlorn and thought everyone had forgotten until the entirety of HQ lit up and he could see video of his entire life up to the present moment being montaged on a giant silver screen.

‘I did a bit of editing here and there.   Herman and Yvonne did most of the work but Reba put in the music.   She’s incredibly talented.’, Magic Screen gushed. Conky could feel a bit of oil leaking from his lacrimal glands.   

‘Aw, sugar gears, you’re verklempt.   It’s ok, it’s your day !’, she said, lovingly.  

There was a huge ice cream cake that had a splendid photograph of the entire gang hamming it up for the camera, pizzas and wings galore, snacks and veggies for healthy alternatives.    There was even mochi ice cream for those who couldn’t tolerate dairy well and it was just as delightful.

Every present Conky received was better and more practical than the last.

‘I thought the legs we fashioned for him were enough.’ Zach whispered.

‘Conky needs to know just how much he is appreciated.  I know it’s just a gesture but it’s the thought that counts.’, Kim chimed in.   Aisha nodded. All their presents had come from the heart and Conky was well aware of that.   At long last, it was time for the bot of the day to stand up and give a speech. The audience was wrapt, waiting for pearls of wisdom he had to dispense.   'I also wanted to give you a present too, Conky. Remember that one time I peeled an orange and I give you a section?', Herman asked Conky.

'I remember that event vividly !', Conky remarked. 'You asked me to take two of them to Floory and Chairry. When I went to the stairs so I could give Floory his section, I couldn't climb up.'

He began to shed some oily tears.  

‘Now you can, buddy. ‘, Herman said with a smile and a pat on Conky’s metal back.   Conky wiped his eyes and cleared his throat.

‘It’s because of all of you now that I am the bot you see before you.  I am a changed bot due to your friendship. I know that we will see many incredible, unbelievable, unreal adventures in the future, but for now, let’s get back to partying !’, Conky said.

‘I second that !’, Bulk said, clinking a flute full of fake champagne against his friend’s flute and both drank merrily.    NAO and his friends were diverting themselves in a ball bit and the youngest twins of the android family were astonished and dazzled by all the colors, music and glitter this party had to offer.

Epilogue

The end of the party had come and the clean up had been done for the evening.    Conky and his friends had moved to the basement to watch more home videos and reminisce.   He had memory banks sharper than any tack in existence. It wasn’t that he needed to see the movies again but that he enjoyed being around his buddies and their laughter.    Screen yawned. Projecting all this content had made her unbearably sleepy. Stretching and yawning, she excused herself to the recuperation chamber and went to sleep for the night.   The others snuggled up in their sleeping bags, dreaming of the joys and delights that the day would bring them, whatever they would be. Their sleep was sound and comfortable and their dreams were plentiful, filled with the merry promises of tomorrow.

The End