AUTHOR'S NOTE: Over 100 views on this book and it hasn't been a full week yet! Thank you so much! Again, I was stuck with writer's block, but I had the next story written out. I decided to write a story that takes place shortly before the next one, and it's a fun one. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," I only own Karena, Diana, Wesley, and Berethor.
STORY #25: A Golden Birthday
STORIES OF REFERENCE: Hope; A New Life
NARRATOR: Carl
FEBRUARY 1, 2069 – TODAYLAND, NORTH MONTANA, USA
"Hiya, little buddy!"
"Carl, I'm Wesley, remember?"
"I know that," I replied with a smile on my golden face. "You remind me so much of your dad."
Wesley Robinson, Wilbur's son, smiled back at me, combing his brown cowlick. He had moved in the house two summers ago after graduating high school in Westport, where Wilbur and his wife currently live. He was attending Todayland University to get a business degree so he could take over Robinson Industries at the right time.
"So, how are those decorations coming along?" I asked.
"They're doing great!" Wesley answered, hanging the last of the blue streamers around the living room. "Mom is going to love this."
"Don't forget, she and your dad are flying over after she gets off of school."
"Carl, school in Westport doesn't get over until three o'clock, which is one o'clock here. It's only nine. I'll betcha she and Dad won't get here until seven."
Wesley paused, bringing the hover board down to the ground and getting off of it.
"Is Diana coming?"
"Yes, she is," I answered. "Berethor's coming, too. Your grandma and grandpa are going to pick them up at the airport later."
"It will be nice to see them again," Wesley replied.
"Well, I should see how the others are doing. Keep it up, little buddy!"
I walked out of the living room and went up the travel tube to the kitchen where I found Franny putting icing on the cake.
"That cake looks fantastic, Franny!"
"Thank you, Carl!" Franny, whose hair was grey, replied enthusiastically. "I remember Karena's favorite cake being red velvet, but since her favorite color is blue, blue icing just feels right."
"Karena is going to love it," I replied, walking toward Gaston and Art, Franny's brothers. "How's the dinner coming along?"
"Lunch is going great," Gaston answered.
"We're still trying to figure out dinner," Art explained, scratching his grey head. "What is Karena's favorite food again?"
"Chicken di pana, Art," I answered with a flat expression. "Fried chicken covered in white wine sauce."
"Oh that one!" Gaston exclaimed. "Well, when we're finished with lunch, then we'll get started on the chicken di pana."
"Thank you."
I took the travel tube from the kitchen and into the dining room where I saw Laszlo and Tallulah working on decorating that room.
"Come on, Laszlo, stop messing around!" Tallulah sternly told him. "This is Karena we're talking about."
"Have a little bit of fun, sis!" Laszlo shot back, continuing to paint the dining room walls.
"Laszlo, what did we say about painting the walls?" I sternly asked him in a loud voice.
"Oh! Carl! I didn't see you there!"
I watched as Laszlo changed the settings on his paint gun and washed the paint away from the walls.
"You and Tallulah are supposed to be decorating the table and place balloons around the room, not paint the walls."
"I was going to take the paint off tomorrow."
"Laszlo! We have to get this done," Tallulah sternly told him. "And then we have to get Aunt Billie's rooms set up for Wilbur, Diana, and their spouses."
"Wilbur's sleeping in his childhood room, remember?" Laszlo tried to remind her.
"Wesley is sleeping in that room!" Tallulah shot back.
"WILL YOU STOP ARGUING FOR FIVE SECONDS?" I yelled, and the room quickly got quiet. "THANK YOU. Tallulah's right. Wesley has been sleeping in his dad's room, and he's staying there. Wilbur and Karena are sleeping in Aunt Billie's old room while Diana and Berethor are sleeping in the guest room. That is what we have decided as a group. Now, get back to work!"
I blew out an exasperated sigh as I took the travel tube back to the living room, where Wesley was done decorating the living room. We had kept the Christmas tree up with the purpose of decorating it with blue ornaments to signify Karena's favorite color, and also gold ornaments for her birthday.
"Wesley, you are more behaved than your godmother and her brother are," I told him as I sat down on the couch. "And they're about sixty years older than you."
"Carl, my godmother is Amy," Wesley corrected me. "Remember? I was born in Connecticut, and Amy and Russell were named my godparents. Tallulah is Diana's godmother."
"Even I'm getting old," I replied wearily. "I was made in 2008. I'm sixty years old."
"Well, at least you're still working well," Wesley replied. "Grandpa's been working and improving on you all this time."
"Robots shouldn't be forgetful."
"Grandpa made you to be a friend," Wesley said, putting a hand on my left shoulder. "And you've been a great friend to all of us. It's human to forget, and that's okay."
Two hours have passed and everyone was done decorating the house. Franny had gone ahead to meet Cornelius at the airport so they could pick up their granddaughter and grandson-in-law.
"Lunch is ready!" Gaston announced, placing the food at the table between the two couches.
"Well, this is unconventional," Wesley replied.
"Hey, we deserved it," Tallulah said after Art placed the bowls and forks on the table. "This isn't a bad place to eat at either."
After five minutes, we heard the train coming in the living room, and we all stood up to greet the newlyweds from 2067.
"Hello!" we all shouted.
"Hey, guys!" Diana, Wilbur's daughter with black hair, greeted all of us with hugs and kisses.
"We're glad you can join us," I replied with a smile.
"This place looks fantastic!" Berethor Wheaton, Diana's husband with copper-brown hair, said with a big smile as he got off the train. "But why is the Christmas tree still up?"
"We decorated it for Karena's birthday party," Tallulah explained.
"So that's why you were so eager for us to visit you," Berethor replied as he and Diana took a seat on the couch.
"We made lunch," Art chimed in.
"Perfect timing," Diana replied with a smile. "I'm starving. Hey, Wes!"
"Hey, Diana," Wesley replied, hugging his sister. "Long time no see."
"I know! It's been a whole month!"
We all chuckled at that. Ever since Diana had moved to Pacific Bay for college, the entire family had been meeting here every Christmas. Diana and Wesley's schedules had differed, so Christmas was the only solution for all of us to be here together at the same time.
"So, when's Mom and Dad coming?" Diana asked.
"They won't be here for a while," Franny answered, grabbing a bowl of spaghetti. "Your dad just texted me and told me the plane is taking off from New York. It's a four hour flight to get here."
"I think it is wonderful that you guys came up with this idea to celebrate Karena's fiftieth birthday," Berethor chimed in. "And it works out because her birthday's on the weekend."
"Exactly!" Franny replied. "It was actually Carl's idea since he likes to look ahead."
"I remember all of those times we celebrated every fiftieth birthday in the house," Cornelius chimed in. "We had a lot of those."
"Your mom and dad, for one," Franny replied. "Uncle Joe, Aunt Billie, and Uncle Fritz were already over fifty when they eventually moved in."
"That was because my parents were over fifty, too," Cornelius said.
"Art was the next person to turn fifty," I chimed in. "And then Gaston was not too far off, and then it was your turn, Cornelius."
"You know, you never told me much of how you celebrated birthdays," Diana said after a few moments of silence. "What's the most memorable birthday you've ever celebrated?"
"Franny's fiftieth," Cornelius answered. "No question about it."
"Lewis, I was working through empty nest syndrome," Franny replied with anxiety in her voice.
"Oh come on, Franny, it was memorable and you know it…"
JULY 15, 2045
I knocked on the door to Franny and Lewis' room, and I was waiting for either the door to open or for an answer from Franny.
"Come in."
I opened the door to reveal a depressed Franny, lying on her stomach on her bed.
"Are you alright, Franny?" I asked, taking a seat next to her on the bed.
"Carl, it's my birthday."
"Yes, it is!" I replied with lots of enthusiasm. "Happy birthday!"
"Carl, I'm fifty. Fifty. I'm not young anymore. I'm old."
"Oh, Franny, fifty is just a number. Besides, it's not like you're the oldest, because you're not. Everyone is still here."
"Not everybody. My son is not here anymore, Carl. I'm still depressed about that. But I'm working on it."
"Have your talks with Wilbur been okay?"
"They're getting better. Carl, I feel like I still have so much to talk to him about."
"Franny, you'll have your chance to talk to Wilbur soon. He'll be back sooner than you think. He's just busy with his new job and his baby daughter."
"Oh, and Diana! That sweet baby girl." Franny paused and smiled. "What I'd give to see her again. Karena, too."
We sat on the bed for a few minutes in silence, and I felt Franny hugging me. I hugged her back, knowing that she needed it.
"Well, the family is gathered downstairs and they'd love to see you," I told her.
"I'd like that," Franny replied.
I took her hand and led her out of her room. We took the travel tube that was in the hallway, and we went to the dining room.
"SURPRISE!"
We were greeted by the whole family awaiting Franny's arrival. I turned around to see a surprised look on Franny's face.
"What… what is all of this?" Franny asked with both tears and a smile on her face.
"Happy birthday, Franny," Lucille greeted her with a big smile on her face. "I made your favorite desert: devil's food cake."
"And we made your favorite meal, sis," Art chimed in. "Ziti with garden vegetable marinara sauce."
"And we have a big surprise for you," Billie said.
We watched Billie and Joe separate to reveal Karena and Diana at the doors. I watched Franny let out a surprised gasp.
"Karena? Diana? Is that you?"
"Happy birthday, Franny," Karena said with a big smile on her face.
"Oh my gosh."
I watched Franny run away from my side and towards Karena and Diana. Franny and Karena hugged each other with Diana in their arms.
"What are you doing here?" Franny asked. "Aren't you two supposed to be in Connecticut?"
"Wilbur explained everything to me about your empty nest syndrome," Karena explained. "Unfortunately, Wilbur is unable to get away from work, but he wanted me and Diana to give you this."
Karena handed Franny a card, but it was not an ordinary card. We heard a voice coming out of the card: Wilbur's voice.
"Hi Mom! Happy birthday! None of us can believe you're already fifty, but then again, you don't look fifty at all."
We all laughed at that, and Franny wiped away a tear.
"I miss you, Mom, and don't worry. We'll see each other soon. I'm already planning on heading home for Christmas. But life is great here in Connecticut and New York. You'd love New York City, especially the Statue of Liberty, which I'm sure our ancestors have seen when they first stepped foot in America. I'm reminded of you every day. Keep moving forward, Mom, for at least fifty more years. I love you."
Franny closed the card when Wilbur's voice went away, and she held the card close to her heart.
"We got you something, too," Karena said, handing Franny a present.
"It's your family picture at the Statue of Liberty," Franny said in awe before passing it around. "Well, come on in and take a seat. We're about to have lunch."
"It smells delicious," Karena replied with a smile on her face as she took a seat in her old spot.
END OF FLASHBACK
"I was there?" Diana asked with a perplexed look on her face.
"You were the cutest five-month-old," Tallulah answered with bliss. "That's probably why you don't remember."
"You and your mother had made my day," Franny replied with a smile on her face. "I wasn't expecting you both at all because you were still getting settled in. But your grandfather's fiftieth birthday was special, too…"
NOVEMBER 2, 2044
"Carl! Psst! Carl!"
I turned around to see Wilbur getting my attention from his bedroom. I ran into his bedroom before he slammed the door.
"What's going on, little buddy?" I asked in alarm. "Is Karena okay?"
"Carl, relax. Karena's fine. But that's not why I want to talk to you. Can you help me with something?"
"Anything, little buddy. What do you need?"
"Dad's birthday is today and I want to give him something special because he's fifty. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, you are becoming a dad while your dad's becoming a grandpa." I paused to scratch my gold head. "Maybe start there?"
"Being a grandfather is a special occasion after fifty years," Wilbur replied, pondering in thought. "But do I give him for that?"
"You could invent something," I suggested. "You do have his skills after all."
"Come to think of it, we don't have any decorations that really welcome visitors to the place. All we have is the big 'R' decorations that tell people who we are."
We pondered in thought for a few minutes before Wilbur clapped his hands.
"I've got it! You know those signs that people make for newlywed couples, telling people that the family got established on their wedding day?"
"You and Karena have one, right?" I asked, and he nodded in reply.
"What if we made something like that for Dad?" Wilbur suggested. "After all, he is technically the founder of the family."
"And today's city was technically founded by your dad," I replied. "That's not a bad idea, Wilbur."
"We'll need Karena and Laszlo's help. They're both the artists in the family."
"Let's meet in the lab," I suggested.
"Good idea. I'll go get Karena."
We both left the room. Wilbur walked out the door since his wife was pregnant and couldn't take the travel tubes. I took the travel tube up to the second floor and made my way to Laszlo's room before knocking.
"Carl! Come in!"
"Actually, can you meet me in Wilbur's room?" I asked the red-haired painter.
"Sure. Why?"
"Wilbur will explain."
Laszlo followed me in the travel tube, and then we waited for Wilbur and Karena to show up, which they did a few minutes later.
"What's this about?" Karena asked, immediately taking a seat on the purple couch that was next to the closet.
"I've gathered you all in here because I want to make a wooden sign that states that my dad founded the family in 2007," Wilbur explained.
"Your dad?" Laszlo replied with puzzlement on his face. "Wilbur, your grandparents founded the family when they got married."
"But if it wasn't for my dad, none of us would be here. He turned fifty today, and I want to make him a sign that truly shows his significance in the family."
"Well, how can we help?" Karena asked with a smile on her face.
"Karr, you're the best at designing things. Laszlo, you're the color schemer. Maybe you both can put your heads together and help me pick a design that works the best for this occasion. And then Carl is going to help me build the sign."
"Well, red and yellow are the main colors of the house," Laszlo replied. "And maybe we can make the lettering black."
"I like that," Karena replied. "Are we going to use flowers like most of the signs do?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," Wilbur chimed in. "It was science that brought my dad to the family."
"I've got it! Oh!" Karena exclaimed before rubbing the top of her baby belly.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Karena answered with a laugh. "Baby Robinson really likes to move in there. Anyway, this is Wilbur's idea. Why not do yellow lightning bolts to signify that the gift is from him and then do red planets to represent science?"
"I like that!" the three of us replied at the same time.
"Well, let's get to work!" Wilbur encouraged us.
I ended up going to the storage room to find a piece of wood that was the best suited for this gift before heading back to the lab. I used the laser gun that Cornelius gave me to write down the message on the sign: "The Robinson Family. Founded in 2007. Keep Moving Forward." After that was done, Karena worked hard to place the black paint in the letters while Laszlo and Wilbur painted lightning bolts and planets all around it. Finally, Wilbur and I worked together to cut the corners off to bring more shape to the sign.
"I like it!" Karena said with enthusiasm.
"So that's where you guys went!"
We all turned around to see Franny walking up the steps in the lab.
"What do you have there?" Franny asked with a smile.
"It's a present for Dad," Wilbur answered, returning the smile. "We just finished it."
"May I see it?"
The four of us showed Franny the sign, and she let out a gasp.
"That is a wonderful idea! Your dad will love it!"
"I'm glad you think so," Wilbur replied.
"Well, dinner's ready, so we should be heading to the dining room."
"We'll meet you guys there," Karena said, staying behind with Wilbur.
END OF FLASHBACK
"I still have that gift," Cornelius replied as the story finished.
"Lewis, it's hanging in the hall," Franny reminded him. "But I agree, that was the best gift Wilbur has ever come up with."
"I might have missed it after all this time," Berethor chimed in.
"I'll show it to you if you like," I suggested.
"Could you, please?"
Berethor and I got up out of our seats, and we walked toward the front door. Then, we turned around so that Berethor could look at the sign.
"Carl, did you add the 'R' to that sign?" Berethor asked.
"No, that was Cornelius. That day, he mentioned that something was missing from the sign. He added that 'R' right after dinner, and then asked Laszlo to hang it there. And of course, he missed the birthday cake and ice cream until his mom brought it to the lab."
"Has he always missed cake and ice cream?"
"Every birthday that I've been alive for since my creation," I answered, and Berethor let out a chuckle.
"What was your favorite birthday to celebrate?"
"Lucille's fiftieth. No question about it. She was in her forties when Lewis was adopted, and she had turned fifty eight years after the adoption. Lewis and his father, Bud, wanted to open the house up to everybody…"
SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
I heard the doorbell ring for the first time today, and I opened the front door to reveal Franny.
"Welcome, Franny! Come in!"
"Thank you, Carl," a twenty-year-old Franny replied with a smile and walked in the house. "I was wondering if I could help you guys get set up for Lucille's birthday party."
"We would love that!" I answered with enthusiasm. "And I see you have brought a present."
"Where should I put it?"
"Put it on that counter over there," I told her. "And then maybe you can help Bud with the decorations in the dining room."
"Thank you, Carl!"
I watched Franny run off into the dining room before the doorbell rang again. I walked back to the door to reveal Fritz, Petunia, Tallulah, and Laszlo.
"Hello, everyone!" I greeted them. "Come in!"
"Hi, Carl!" Tallulah and Laszlo greeted me with smiles on their faces.
"It's nice to see you again, Carl," Petunia greeted me with a smile and her deep Southern accent.
"We were staying nearby in Montana," Fritz explained. "So we couldn't say no to visiting Bud and Lucille. Where are they?"
"Lucille's at work and Bud is working on the decorations with Franny in the dining room."
"Who's Franny?" Petunia asked.
"Cornelius' girlfriend," Fritz answered.
"Tag! You're it!"
"Laszlo, I'm gonna get you!" Tallulah exclaimed angrily before she started to chase Laszlo around the house.
"Kids," Fritz said, letting out a chuckle.
"Yeah, kids who are seniors in high school," Petunia replied with some concern in her voice. "Well, I'm going to go relax on the sofa."
"Actually, would you like to help me make the cake, Petunia?" I asked.
"Knowing Lucille, she probably made it already," Fritz replied before Petunia gave me her answer.
"Well, in case she didn't, I know how to make a mean peach cobbler," Petunia answered.
"Are we expecting anyone else?" Fritz asked.
"Billie and Joe are coming, too," I answered.
"Well, alright. I'm going to set the presents over there and grab a glass of water."
The doorbell rang once again after Petunia started to make her way to the kitchen. I walked to the door, and I opened it to reveal Billie and Joe.
"Hiya, Carl!" Billie greeted me with a hug and her Swedish accent.
"Welcome, Billie! Hello, Joe!"
Joe waved back in reply.
"Please come on in."
"It was not easy getting up those stairs with that wheelchair," Billie said, blowing a sigh of relief.
"Hmm, maybe I can ask Cornelius to fix that," I suggested.
"Where is Cornelius anyway?" Billie asked. "I want to see him."
"He's at work right now," I answered. "And so is Lucille. So, if you want to make yourselves comfortable or help Bud or Petunia, that is fine."
I watched Joe roll his wheelchair over to Fritz at the counter.
"Hiya, Joe, how's everything going?" Fritz asked him, giving him a glass of water.
"Where are Bud and Petunia at?" Billie asked.
"Bud's in the dining room and Petunia's in the kitchen. I'm about to head there myself if you want to join me."
"I'd love to."
Billie followed me up the travel tube and into the kitchen where Petunia was already getting the ingredients ready to make a cake.
"Billie!"
"Petunia!"
The two women hugged each other.
"It's so good to see you!" Billie told her.
"It's very good to see you, too," Petunia replied. "Well, we need to make this cake for Lucille before she gets home from work."
"Let's do this!"
I helped the two women make two layers of cake.
"Lucille likes strawberries, too," Billie suggested. "Should we add strawberry pieces to one layer?"
"Peaches and strawberries," Petunia said, pondering in thought, and then she brightened up. "Billie, that's genius!"
I helped Billie chop up two peaches and ten strawberries before placing them in the two bowls of batter. Then, we poured the batter in two cake pans, and we put them in the oven.
"Let's make the icing next," Billie suggested.
"We could do white icing with gold frosting to decorate the cake," Petunia suggested farther. "It is her fiftieth birthday, after all."
"Oh! And then we can add some sprinkles to make it look like confetti!" Billie made one more suggestion. "She loves to party."
"Yes! I agree."
I grabbed the rainbow sprinkles from the cabinet while the women made the frosting and icing. The finished product consisted of a vanilla cake with strawberries and peaches added to it, white icing, and gold frosting that decorated the outside of the cake, as well as the saying "Happy 50th Birthday, Lucille!" The cake was placed in the freezer, and then we went out to the dining room to greet everybody else.
"The cake is done," Petunia said with happiness.
"Wait, what about dinner?" Franny asked.
"Oh, shoot! I forgot!" I exclaimed, smacking my gold head.
"Don't worry!" Bud assured us. "Why don't we order catering?"
"Bud, Lucille's birthday is today," I replied.
"It's a little late for that," Petunia chimed in.
"So why don't we get some meals from a nearby restaurant and just sit together?" Billie suggested.
"Well, what does Lucille like?" Fritz asked.
"She's always a happy person," Bud explained. "How about McDonald's?"
We were all content with the idea of getting McDonald's, and Franny and Bud helped each other order ten meals for the whole family. While I was helping them put all the meals on the table, I heard a couple more voices in another room.
"Maybe he's in here," I heard Cornelius say.
"Guys, it's Lucille!" I yelled, but quietly.
We watched Cornelius and Lucille walk in the dining room, and we yelled 'surprise!'
"Oh my goodness!" Lucille exclaimed happily. "What are you all doing here?"
"We're here to celebrate you, honey!" Petunia explained happily.
"We helped each other plan this whole thing," Billie chimed in.
"Here, we got McDonald's for you both," Bud said with a smile as Lucille walked up to him and Cornelius took his seat.
"I was going to make dinner and make my own birthday cake," Lucille said with a smile on her face.
"Don't worry about that," Billie told her.
"Billie and I made a marvelous cake, honey," Petunia chimed in.
"Let's celebrate!" Bud suggested enthusiastically, and we all sat down to eat.
END OF FLASHBACK
"After we ate our food, we danced the night away until it was time for cake," I continued with a smile. "And then, we ate the cake, and we danced some more."
"Lucille must have really like to dance," Berethor said, returning the smile.
"Lucille was most definitely the life of the party. She always knew how to make people happy."
"Carl, you need to pick up Mom and Dad now!" Diana yelled from the living room. "And Grandma says use the time machine!"
"You have a time machine?" Berethor asked with surprise in his voice.
"I'll show you another time," I told him with a wink.
I walked back in the living room, took the travel tube to the garage, and then I took the blue time machine to the airport. After I made it to the airport, it was easy for me to find Wilbur and Karena.
"Carl! Hey!" Wilbur exclaimed happily, giving me a hug.
"Happy birthday, Karena," I greeted her.
"My birthday's not until tomorrow, Carl," Karena replied, tucking a piece of her brown hair behind her ear. "But thank you."
"So, where's the train at?" Wilbur asked.
"We're not taking the train."
"Wait, what? Why not?" Karena asked.
"You'll see."
I led them both to the time machine, and we took off from the airport.
"Carl, why did you pick us up in the time machine?" Wilbur asked.
"Because we have a surprise party waiting for your wife at home," I whispered in his ear.
"Gotcha," Wilbur whispered back.
It took us only a few minutes to park in front of the house, and I led Wilbur and Karena through the front door. I took Wilbur's hand to put him in front of Karena with me. And then, when we got through the hall, Wilbur and I separated.
"SURPRISE!"
"Happy birthday, Mom!" Diana greeted her with a hug.
"Diana? Why, what are you doing here?" Karena asked with surprise in her voice.
"Your fiftieth birthday fell on the weekend," Franny explained with a big smile. "So I got the whole family here, and now we get to celebrate you!"
"Was this your idea, Diana?" Karena asked.
"Actually, it was Carl's," Berethor chimed in, walking up behind Diana.
"Berethor, you're here too?" Karena asked, still with surprise in her voice.
"He is family," Diana answered, giving her husband a kiss.
"Hi, Mom!"
"Wesley, hello!"
I watched Karena's family hug each other after Wesley joined the group.
"You did all of this for me?" Karena asked in awe.
"We wanted to give you the best," Cornelius answered.
"Well, dinner is in the dining room," Franny announced.
"Wilbur, were you in this too?" Karena asked.
"Nope, I knew nothing about it," Wilbur answered, giving his wife a kiss. "But, how do you feel?"
"Like a queen, Wilbur, even though you didn't plan this. I love you."
"I love you, too. Happy early birthday."
"Don't forget, Diana's birthday is tomorrow too," Karena replied, and she pursed her lips in thought. "Between you and me, we should get Diana and Berethor out of the house so we can plan a surprise party for her."
"I think we can do that," I replied, and the couple jumped at my voice.
"We're going to need all the help we can get," Wilbur said with a smirk.
"I am at your service, little buddy," I replied, and I followed Wilbur and Karena into the dining room with a big smile on my face.