If I'd just kept myself together I wouldn't be in this mess.

I guess there is a reason people have a thing called 'common sense', eh? Apprently mine doesn't set in until after I punch the school bully and surf down the roof of the school to the other side on a plank of wood. It had to be the stupidest thing I'd ever done, yet I was oddly satisfied.

"Ready to meet your maker, Mr. Hawkins?"

Said the robo-cop holding my shoulder. I'd seen plenty of robo-cops in my day, and I'm nine, but I've never met one with a sense of humor. Must have screwed up his programming in the factory where they make these things.

"Yes, Mr. Whatchamacallit."

I joked while rolling my eyes. He, or it, looked offended.

"I am a First Class Robo-Cop 4.21, Mr. Hawkins. I am much more than a simple "Whachamacallit", and keep that in mind."

Ok. Now they have feelings. Whoopee.

"Oh, sorry Mr. Robo-Cop, sir."

I aplogized without any true meaning. I just didn't want some stupid hunk of metal getting me in more trouble than I already am by telling my mom that I insulted him.

"Quite alright, young lad. You knew no better the difference between my superior tecnology and that of a whachamacallit."

Said the robo-cop. Whatever is up with this guy I wasn't going to ask. When he knocked on the door to the Benbow, the rinky-dinky little inn my mom had owned since before I was born, I couldn't help but feel guilty. Ever since my dad left last year, I'd felt cold inside. Now I just hated seeing my mom cry, especilly because it made her look older than she really was. But I couldn't stop myself from getting in trouble. It just...came naturally, now. Her friend, Doctor Doppler, or just Doc, kind of tries to fill in as a father figure, but the dude is the biggest dork on the planet and trips over his own words even when he isn't nervous, which he is a lot.

"Coming!"

Oh no, my mom's voice.

It didn't take long for the door to be opened by her. She was wearing her same apron and hat-thingy for her hair to keep it out of the food as she always does. She looked tired and worn, her eyes were kind of sunken in by now. She'd been running the inn all alone since Dad left (not like she didn't before; but then we had some extra cash from his job and he would be around sometimes to help). Of course I helped every day, but I had school and she kept telling me to go outside and make friends because I'm still a kid and shouldn't have to worry. Her face turned down in a sad, tired frown.

"What is the problem, officer?"

She asked hesitantly. I knew she'd rather not know and just pay a fine or something, but it never worked that way. The police always had to remind her why her son was such a failure.

"Mrs. Hawkins, your son assulted a boy at school today after reportedly being teased. Though it is encouraged children stand up for themselves, the actions your son took were above the law. He then climbed to the roof and jumped off the other side and tried to run away. We apprehended him and brought him to you here early."

She sighed, leaning against the door frame.

"How long is he suspended?"

She asked sadly, massaging her face with on hand while the other rested on her hip.

"He isn't suspended ma'am. He is being sent home today early, as you can see, and will serve lunch cleaning up the cafeteria."

My mom looked relieved, taking me by the arm inside.

"Thank you officer. I am so sorry about this..."

"Oh it's alright. Boys will be boys as my mother always used to say."

Ok, apprently robots have mothers. Or had in this ones case. He tipped his hat politly and said goodbye before rolling down the street to his robo-cop-vehical. I turned to see everyone still preoccupied with their food. A lot of them had paid their tab and left. I looked at my mom, who stared angerily back. I quickly went to pick up the pay and put it in the lock box where all the money went after a days work, then picked up the dishes and washed them. And that is what I did all day. I thought I would possibly be able to sneak off to my room at the end of the day when all the customers left, but Mom caught me at the foot of the stairs.

"Sit."

She said, pointing to a chair by her. The look in her eye was all the persuasion I needed to go and sit, looking down at the floor with every nerve on end. This wouldn't end well.

"Jim, this is the fifth time in the last three months! What is it with you and people at school? Can't you just get along!"

She growled, leaning over and taking my face in her hand, making me look at her.

"Why, Jim, why? You...you were so good before, you never got in fights."

She looked a bit scared now, and I could guess why. Since Dad left I knew I'd been acting like a different person. But I wasn't doing it because I still missed Dad or wanted him to come back or something. He was barely ever home anyway. I was acting differently because I was different now.

"Mom...I'm sorry. But the kid was calling me a whole bunch of names!"

I jutted out my lower lip just a bit for an innocent look,

"He called me 'weirdo' and started saying all sorts of stuff about me not having a dad and...he made fun of you, Mom...that's why I punched him. I'm sorry."

Actually, that all was truth. The kid, Tyler Greng, had called me a weirdo and said I'll turn out a freak without a dad. Then he called my mom a...well I won't repeat it. Let's just say it wasn't...nice.

My mom cocked her head at me, eyebrows furrowed together like she was concentraiting really hard on something. Kind of like me when I mess with my mechanics. I did build my first solar surfer a couple weeks after Dad left. I'm working on a new one right now since the other kind of...broke.

"Fine, Jim." She breathed deeply, "I believe you and I guess it is justified. But please promise me something honey."

I nodded, "Sure Mom." I'd do whatever she asked as long as I didn't get grounded from my solar surfer.

"Tomorrow, after school, will you please go outside and interact with other kids and not just sit in the back shed fiddling with your solar surfer project? You're brilliant at it honey but you really need to be a little more social..."

She looked at me a bit expectantly. She knew how to play the game too. I couldn't say no.

"Yeah alright...I'll go to the park after I collect the tabs and do some dishes."

I said. She smiled and hugged me. It felt good to be hugged right now.

"Thank you, Jim."

She kissed my cheek, hugged me again and then pushed me lightly towards the stairs.

"Now it's your bedtime, Mister. Don't forget to brush your teeth." she smiled again, "Love you Jim."

I stopped halfway up the stairs and looked back. Mom was just smiling at me, waiting for me to reply.

"Love you too," I said, barely above a whisper and then ran up the rest of the way to my room. I brushed my teeth, put on pajamas, and got into bed. My room is in the attic and I have this huge window by my bed that I always used to stare out of when I waited for Dad to come home. Now when I looked outside I could see stars, clouds, more stars and even more stars. And that is all I'd ever see. Dad wouldn't be coming home this time, and I wouldn't be looking anymore for him. I closed the curtains and then pulled the covers over my head, knowing that tomorrow I also wouldn't be out 'interacting' with other kids.

I'm...I have no words.

As in I have never written Jim before, I mean truly tried writing this little bloke, and now I see why some people love him so much.

Captain Amelia will always be my favorite character, but now Jim has got a more special, bigger spot in my heart. He's so oddly complicated, with his evils and goods battling constantly, and has such a vast mind to a point that I really enjoy writing him. I think, if I get any ideas, that I will write more, actual story fanfictions of Jim in the future.

As for reviews, I thank the anoynomous reviewer Mila Ligaf never sleeps for their wonderful review(s). Seriously, I still feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :3

Anyhow, enjoy this story and please, PLEASE review!