CHAPTER TWO
The following day was the same as usual for Penny. As it was summer vacation, she was home during the week, but as per usual, her parents were busy at their Employment Agency and a Vicky-bot was overseeing her during their absence. Both of them were in the kitchen. Penny was washing dishes while the Vicky-bot was 'supervising' her.
"Twerpette-Unit", the Vicky-bot was snarling as it pointed a flame-thrower at her, "when all dishes have been washed, then commence polishing my exterior. Failure to comply will result in incineration of more dolls, followed by you personally".
Penny rolled her eyes and continued to wash up in the kitchen. From their vantage point – disguised as bugs – Brendan and Timantha were looking down at their godchild slaving at the Vicky-bot's direction.
"Not too much we can do… as usual", Brendan grumbled.
"Don't I know it", Timantha replied, "and unfortunately, Penny also knows that while the Vicky-bot has her in its optical sights, she can't wish herself out of the situation".
"I bet that she would rather be dressed as Xena, using her broadsword to 'reprogram' that Vicky-bot though", Brendan comented.
Over at the Turner Residence, Wanda and Cosmo were having the same conversation - except for the Xena bit - while watching the Vicky-bot over there overseeing Tammy and Tommy doing chores.
"I suppose that the bright side of this is that we get a break from granting wishes", Cosmo commented as he watched Tammy and Tommy working.
"I'm sure that Tammy and Tommy would love to hear that from you, Cosmo", Wanda replied dryly.
"Well, they could have used their cloning devices and let their doubles do the dirty work", Cosmo pointed out.
"The problem with that though was that when they woke up this morning, the Vicky-bot was already here", Wanda replied, "remember?"
"Remember what?" Cosmo asked.
Wanda just shook her head and resumed watching her godchildren being 'supervised' by the Vicky-bot. Wanda hoped that Timantha and her godchild Penny would be having a better day…
"This really bites", Penny grumbled under her breath as she applied metal polish to the chassis of the Vicky-bot, "not exactly whata warrior princess would be doing".
"Less talk and more polish, Twerpette-Unit", the Vicky-bot ordered. Sighing, Penny continued her chore.
Unlike Tammy and Tommy – who had been taken by surprise at their Vicky-bot's arrival – Penny did have a chance to activate her clone, but she remembered the last time that she did so.
"Come on, Penny", her doppelganger pleaded, "just once in a while, can't you spare me from the Vicky-bot?"
Penny had promised her double that the next time the Vicky-bot came, she would do the chores instead. Now – while applying more polish – she was having second thoughts about making that promise, but she didn't want to come across as a word-breaker, so here she was.
Watching her doing the Vicky-bot's doing, Timantha felt a rush of anger at Penny's parents. While she knew that adults had not all that much time to spend with their children, it still seemed unfair that Penny wasn't seeing all that much of her parents except at breakfast and dinner times, even during summer. It reminded her of when she was ten-year old Timmy, and his neglectful parents...
"Settle down, Timantha. Please", Brendan whispered. He had noticed Timantha's expression.
"Penny deserves better than this", Timantha muttered, "and I feel so helpless not being able to intercede".
"She can't risk making a wish. You know that", Brendan gently pointed out, "and I feel pretty bad for Penny as well. But we have to keep a low profile".
"I really need to drop in and have a few words with Mark Chang sometime", Timantha grumbled, "after all, it was his expertise that got these Vicky-bots made in the first place!"
"Ah, remember that he's a human adult now", Brendan said, "and as such, you just can't drop in. He doesn't know you as Timantha, and that would get both of us yanked back up to Fairy world and thus losing Penny for good".
Timantha nodded her understanding. She wished that New Timmy Turner had known about the Vicky-bots twelve years ago when he made his final wish for Mark Chang to be human. Still, who would have guessed that Mark Chang's technical know-how, and Vicky Flannigan's lotto winnings would end up coming together with those automated children torturers? Hindsight was always twenty-twenty.
"Well, maybe Mom and Dad can chat to him then", Timantha replied, "after all, he knows them".
"The next time you see them, perhaps you can ask them. Anyway, let's keep tabs on Penny, just in case that Vicky-bot steps over the line", Brendan reminded her.
Timantha nodded. Thus far, the Vicky-bot had only resorted to threats. It hadn't yet resorted to the shock-collars that the one at the Turner Residence used to keep Tammy and Tommy together. It did however incinerate a couple of Penny's dolls as a pointed threat. Penny had cried at the apparent loss of those dolls… until Timantha POOF-ed them back to normal later on.
After a couple of hours of watching Penny doing other chores – vacuuming and toilet cleaning – the Vicky-bot sent Penny up to her room and locked the door behind her.
"Are you all right, Dear?" Timantha asked as she and Brendan POOF-ed back into fairy form.
"I am so tired!" Penny said, "that Vicky-bot really knows how to tire me out!"
"That's the whole idea", Brendan replied, "it keeps you quiet, plus it serves as a warning that if you don't settle down, it'll be coming in to work you some more".
"And it really bites not being able to intervene, Honey", Timantha added, "I hate seeing you suffer like this".
Despite her tiredness, Penny walked over to Timantha and hugged her. Timantha held Penny in her arms, not speaking while Brendan looked at them both. Finally, Penny broke the hug.
"You two have been more my parents than my own", Penny said quietly, "They are out so much, I hardly know them any more".
"They do love you, Honey", Timantha replied, "but they are so busy doing their work and earning money, they don't have much spare time any more".
"It makes me want to get those You-doo dolls back", Penny said, "that doll tea-party we had was the first time that I could remember that we actually did something together I liked".
"Uh, remember what I said about them being dangerous, Honey?" Timantha asked.
"I haven't forgotten, Timantha", Penny replied, "it just seems so unfair that even though I have you both, there are still times when even you cannot help".
"Believe me, Penny", Brendan said, "we feel the same. The only thing I can say is that Tammy and Tommy know exactly what you're going through".
"Well, I'd call them if the Vicky-bot hadn't cut off my phone access", Penny grumbled, "and since they probably have a Vicky-bot at their house now, there wouldn't be any point. I bet that Tonya doesn't have to worry about a Vicky-bot though".
"With Big Daddy and Mama Cosma watching over her, I don't think that she has anything to worry about, Honey", Timantha replied.
Penny nodded. Timantha's grandparents had a pretty tough reputation, though from what Tonya Buxaplenty had mentioned, they were actually very considerate with her, although Big Daddy did have to POOF back to Fairy World from time to time to check up on his 'legitimate business'.
"Anyway, Brendan", Penny said next, "while we're on the subject of family, how are your parents doing?"
"They're fine, Penny", Brendan replied, "they have been with their latest godchild for the last couple of years, and things seems to be okay. Sorry I can't tell you more than that. DA RULES, you know".
Penny nodded. Walking over to her bed, she sat down on it and looked up at her fairy godparents. Then she looked at her bookshelf.
"You know", Penny said, "one of the nice memories that I had before my parents got too involved with their work was that they would read stories to me. I'd sit on Mom's lap while she read fairy tales. It's sad that they don't take the time to do even that any more.
Timantha thought about what Penny said, then she raised her wand. With a POOF, she changed herself into her human adult form, and then walked over to the bookshelf and picked up a book titled "Tales from the Brothers Grimm". She then turned to face Timantha.
"If you like, I can pull Mom duty for you, Honey", Timantha offered. Penny smiled and nodded.
So, for the next half-an-hour, Penny sat on Timantha's lap while Timantha read some of the stories in the book to her, while Brendan POOF-ed up snacks for them to eat. Brendan nodded with approval at his wife while she read.
Yes, Brendan thought, Timantha really would make a good mother...