Marjorie and the Robot

This week's piece comes from Breanna, and it's based on a picture prompt I do each year with my students entitled "Marjorie and the Robot".  Bree's version of this strange encounter was very popular with students.

Enjoy!

        

        This kid keeps bothering me. He is always wearing a costume of some sort, like last week he was a pineapple. I was walking home from school. It was more like running because I was late for my piano lessons. I had to cut across Jan's yard  when I heard the most interesting sound. It was like an old man trying to lift a heave idiom. After I heard that I stopped running. Followed the sound. It came from the inside of their shed. 

I was creeping over when all of a sudden the kid in a robot costume comes flying out the shed doors riding on a lawnmower. As he was riding, he sang songs like “Ring Around The Rosie” and “The London Bridge is Falling Down”. I thought to myself “what a interesting boy”. I just watched him ride around for about 3 minutes until he noticed me. When he saw me he screamed, lost control of the lawnmower and ran into a fence. He went flying off of it and it sounded like he hit the ground hard.

I started walking toward him to see if he was okay, but he shot back up and got on the lawnmower. He drove it towards me and just stopped in front of me. He asked me if I wanted a ride on it, but I denied his offer. Then I asked him why he was wearing the robot costume. He just responded by asking me why I was wearing a school girl costume. I tried to ask him other questions, but he answered them with more questions. 

Finally, I gave up and started walking the rest of the way home. During my walk noticed he was following me on the lawnmower. So I decided to take the trail in the woods that leads the beginning of my street. When I was at the end of the trail I poked my head out to check that the kid was there. Then I bolted. My backpack was flying around slapping my back and I could almost see my house. The zipper of my bag was starting to slide, revealing the white papers stuffed in my bag. It was about to fully open when I stopped and gave it a good pull that closed the bag. I got back to running, but three steps later the zipper just gave out and broke. I turned around and just stared in amazement at the white papers fluttering down to the ground. I almost didn't even notice that the robot kid was on the ground picking up my papers. He looked up and gave me a “are you going to help me” look. I bent down and started shoving the paper back in my broken bag. When all the paper was in my bag we both stood up and he went on the lawnmower and rode off. 

I was about to start walking again, but I felt bad so I placed my bag on the sidewalk and ran after him. I turned the corner and boom! I ran right into him at full speed. It sent us both flying backwards, but he had better balance than me and he stood standing. I fell flat on my back. He offered a hand to help me up. 

“I'm sorry I acted like a jerk to you.” I groaned, still recovering from the hard fall. “What's your name?” 

“M...my name?” he stuttered. I nodded with a smile.

“My name is Felix” he squeaked. 

“Well it's nice to meet you Felix, I'm Erica” I held my hand out, but he denied it. 

“Where is the lawnmower?” I asked, looking around noticing it was gone.

“I put it back”he announced. 

I asked him to take off his mask, but he said no. Then I remembered how shy he really was and how he has no friends. So, I decided I would be his friend. I patted down my skirt and pulled up my humiliating yellow socks that my mom got me for my birthday and made me wear. I convinced him to take off his mask. He had short rusty colored hair, like mine but had red eyes.

“Do you wear contacts” I asked. 

“Yes, but there colored. My real eyes are blue, sky blue.” he announced proudly. We started talking.     
         I lost track of time. When I looked down at my watch it was 4:30. I panicked and said I needed to go. He asked why and I told him. He just looked at me, laughed, and told me I need to hurry. I ran home, but before I went around the corner I screamed.   

         “ I'll see you tomorrow, right?” then I heard a faded “yes”.  I picked up my bag from the side walk and rushed into the house. Stealing glances of him in the corner of my eye.