I was standing in the baby department of K-Mart, with Sunbeam, my newly named baby bot, sleeping in a tote bag. It was the biggest bag I had, and Sunbeam seemed happy enough. I was thinking on what I'd need for her. I still didn't know if Sunbeam was male or female or both, but she looked feminine.
Picking up a 10 pack of onesies, I thought about if she would need clothing. Better safe than sorry. I grabbed another packet and threw them both in. I started trawling through the isles grabbing everything I might or thought I needed.
Shirts, pants, hats, little socks, booties, mittens, jackets, jumpers, a tiny snow suit, blankets, a crib matress, waterproof matress covers, crib, a bag of washable diapers, a diaper bag, diaper pail, changing pad, washcloths, little towels, nightlight, car seat, reclineable stroller with a sunshade, changing table, baby carrier, playpen, sunshade for car windows, rattles, toys, teddies and a mobile to hang above her crib. I knew I would have to spend all of my savings on this, but I didn't mind.
Now here came the hard bit. Feeding. What did I do? What did she eat? Did she eat? Thinking about it, appliances ran on electricity. Did I plug her in somewhere and leave her recharge? Cars ran on fuel, so did I just give her petrol when she was hungry? Just to be safe, I threw 4 bottles, a few bibs, a nursing pillow and milk storage containers in the trolley.
With a nervous smile, I looked at the young man behind the register, who looked bored, as I brought the trolley around and put everything on the conveyer belt. I left the heavy things, like the pram and cot in the trolley though. I stood there awkwardly as he scanned everything, when, I felt a slight movement in my bad. With horror, I realized Sunbeam was awake. I quickly reached into it and gave her my hand to play with. I felt her bend my fingers this way and that, bending all the joints, not to hard, to see which ways they would go. She started to coo and giggle at my hand, making me smile. Cashier still looked at me funny.
"Ma'am?" I was shocked out of my happy stooper when I saw him waving a hand infront of my face.
"What?" I said lamely.
"I said cash or credit. Are you okay ma'am? And Is your baby in a bag?" He looked wary now.
"Uh, cash." I stuttered before hardening. "Yes, I'm fine and I decide what to do with my baby, not you, so yes she is in a bag." I quickly paid and took the trolley to my car, practically throwing it all in the boot and backseat in my haste to leave. I didn't want him calling the cops or child services on me.
On my way home, I swung by a petrol station and filled up a 10 litre jerry can. Better safe than sorry right?
It was the 4th day I had been Sunbeam's mother when I decided to bathe her. I filled the laundry sink halfway with warm water. She was robotic, but she must have been advanced, and what kind of advanced robotic race isn't water proof? There was only one way I was going to find out, and so I gently eased her into the water. She stared at it for a while, but there was no sparking or smoking and she didn't seem to be in pain, which I was infinitely thankful for. What I was also thankful for was the fact that she didn't... soil herself? Meaning, I didn't have to change any diapers.
Wetting a washcloth, I gently rubbed it over her back, watching her reactions. She was fascinated by the water, splashing it with her hands. I laughed as she giggled softly, and continued to clean her. She didn't look or smell dirty, but I wanted to make sure she was clean. I kept water away from her head though, as her 'eyes' seemed more like bare filament from a light globe, and I didn't want to hurt her or electrocute myself. She giggled and laugh when I flipped her and held her above the water so she could see her reflection. It was adorable.
A little regretfully, I pulled her out and wrapped her up before pulling the plug. She made the cutest pouting face when I did, it was impossible not to smile at her.
"You can't stay in there all day, can you?" I asked her, knowing I wouldn't get a reply. "Mumma's going to take you to a park once your dressed." She may be a baby, but she knows that the word 'park' means outside playtime. Sunbeam loves it outside. I'm always careful when I take her anywhere. I dress her in long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes gloves and a hat, so she looks like a normal toddler, and take her to parks where no one else is.
"Hmm, today I think is a yellow day, huh." I said to the towel clad toddler-bot on my hip. In response, she gigled and held onto my offered hand.
Dressing her was easy and hard at the same time. I didn't have to do a diaper, which was good, and getting her shirt and pants on was easy, but her gloves, shoes and socks was when she always grabbed my hands or kicked. I was thankful that, even though she was not organic, she could still heal. On the first night I had her, her leg had healed by itself. It also a lifesaver that she drank petrol from a bottle. She slept at night to, so I guess she had to eat and sleep to maintain and regain energy.
"Ok, so are you gunna help out mummy today?" I asked as I laid her down on the change table. She just kicked and giggled. Taking it as a no, I sighed and began to wrestle her clothes onto her. Today was a yellow day, meaning she wore a yellow shirt, brown pants, yellow gloves and white shoes.
When I was finally done, I was panting slightly and she was dressed. She was still smiling and giggling like mad though, so I couldn't be mad at her. With a light laugh, I put her on the ground, grabbed my keys and the folded up pram and we were off.
