Chapter 39: Court summons
Things return to normal. Just before the end of their mat leave, I take mom and dad to the DOJO for testing. Mom and dad both earn a purple belt, I'm so proud of them both. I ask MR. Delaront if I could try to help Maurice with his problem of over extending. He is willing to try some thing new, as he can't seem to get through to him.
I walk up to Maurice and ask him if I can try to help him with his problem. I can see the resentment he has for me, but I can also see the desperation and defeat he is feeling. He agrees to try something new. The masters watch with interest as I hang a mat from the first-floor balcony. I gauge Marcie's reach and have him stand just inside his reach I put a tape line on the floor, then I ask him to punch at the mat, but to not actually touch it. He throws a few punches and hits the mat every time. He then concentrates a little harder, and the mat begins to move less and less. I am done for the day, so I ask him to do for an hour a day.
When I come back on Friday, the mat still moves, but ever so slightly. By next Wednesday the mat moves not at all. I then turn him sideways, and judging his reach, put a new tape line on the floor. I then have him punch at the mat again, the mat moves once more. He switches sides at the line and punches at the mat again. It moves quite a bit. I then have him do this again, from his left side to his right side, for two hours a day. He can't see why I'm asking him to do this, but he still willing to try anything.
After two weeks the mat again moves not at all. I then have him mix the moves up, and again the mat moves, but ever so slightly. By Monday the mat again moves not at all. I then attack him. I'm faster than he is, but he has more power and reach. But now he is holding himself tighter and is not over extending himself. After a few minutes Mr. Delaront calls enough. We both bow to Mr. Delaront as he walks over. He whips Maurice's brown belt off, and immediately ties a black one around his waist. Maurice looks down at his belt, looks up at me, and gives me a big hug "thank you" was all he said.
"Daniel, I had my doubts, but you have proven you are a master. This new exercise we will incorporate in to our teaching, well done".
So now here comes our birthday. How do we celibate? By going to the amusement park. We are all Gaga at the sights and sounds and the games. Terry is good at the games. We are all holding stuffed plushies from the kiosks. We all go on several rides, William, the tough guy, gets sick on the octopus. But the food, oh, the food. We try everything with out sugar on it, we don't want a repeat of our fist birthday. By the end of the day, we literally fall down when we get home. We all crawl into bed, and are asleep as our heads hit the pillows. Mom and dad pay Mis Watts some extra for watching the kits and the pup. She tries to refuse, but dad insists. She takes the money and thanks dad profusely. Two days later Rocky shows up at the house.
"Rocky, to what do we owe this visit"? Vivian just hugs him as she says this. At this point Scott runs through the hall, with Elisabeth and Justin in hot pursuit. "Whoa, who are theses guys"? "Scott honey come here please"? Scott comes over, Elisabeth and Justin are right behind him, they all sit down on their haunches and look at Mr. Martin. "Rocky, I would like to introduce my son Scott, and Nick and Judy's kits Elisabeth and Justin". Rocky is floored, "you had a pup"? "Yes Rocky, Peter and I had a son". "God, he's cute, he's going to be a lady killer when he grows up. And these two, when did this happen"? "At the same time in January". "And Judy is the mother"? "Yes, Rocky, we both carried them to term, no outside help". "Wow, that's amazing". "Come in, lets have a coffee".
Rocky sits down with his coffee, and gets to the point. "Vivian, I need to speak to Nick and Judy. The precinct said they were home". "Yes, they're both home, but Nick goes back to work tomorrow, Judy returns in three weeks. Mavis, can you tell Nick and Judy that Rocky is here to speak to them"? "Right away…. They said they would shower first and be right up". "Thanks Mavis".
"Who's the new member of the family"? Vivian looks at him with her head cocked sideways. "The person you were just talking to". Vivian laughs, "Rocky that was no person, that was Mavis the house AI". "She's a computer"? "No Rocky, I am an AI, Ava and Rick created me". "Rocky I won't pretend to understand what they have created, but Mavis is to a computer, like a gun is to a stone. Both can kill, but one is a little more sophisticated". "And they built her with the components a got for them"? "Yes Rocky, both of them are some kind of geniuses".
"Rick designed and wired the computer, and Ava programmed it with a trinary computer language only she understands. She has tried to teach others her language, but they throw up their hands and claim it's impossible". Just then the front door opens. "Ah, Rocky if nudity bothers you turn away now, we don't wear clothes when we come up from the shower room. We're all family after all".
We all come into the kitchen for drinks, after getting dressed. "Hi Mr. Martin", "Hi kids". Scott and Elizabeth and Justin are all underfoot, trying to get attention. Dad grabs Elisabeth and blows razzberries on her tummy till she giggles. Mom grabs Justin and tickles him. Mom and dad then switch kits, and repeat the procedure. Scott just jumps in his mom's lap and cuddles. "So, Rocky what brings you to our menagerie"?
"Well Nick, I would like to say it was something good…. But it's not. I have here a summons to court for you". "What's it about, Rocky"? "Your guardian ship is being contested". "Who by"? "It's being contested by Larry O'Hare". "May I see that Mr. Martin"? "Yes", he says as he hands it to Cindy. Cindy reads through it, "That Snake, that lying cheating Snake".
"Ah, Cindy can you tell me what it says"? "In a nut shell dad, it says that you two are unfit parents. Dad he says that you are a lying cheating con mammal, and can't be trusted. Mom he says that you are too meek and mild to be an effective parent, and not knowledgeable about city living, seeing as you are from the sticks. He also says you two are never home and would neglect our education. He goes on to say that you are taking advantage of us, and our inheritance, and that he would make a better Guardian, because he is family".
"Mr. Martin, how long can you delay this"? asks Cindy. "I can possible delay it for about four months, but I can't guarantee that". "Right that should be enough time. I'm sorry dad I didn't let you speak, but we all know how wrong he is". We all get up and hug mom and dad.
"Mavis", says Rick, operation "find out" authorization Rick O O'Hare alpha 0015". "Authorization accepted". "Ah, Rick what are you doing"? "Well dad, Ava and I knew something like this was going to come up sooner or later, so we set up a program in Mavis to search out any information on certain individuals". "Ah Rick son, I thought Mavis couldn't work on the binary computer level"?
Rick turns red, "I, might have built her an interface to be able to. She still can't take over another computer, she can only talk to them". "Son, do we need a talk about ethics"? "No dad, she will only search out public records, not hack another computer". "But she could hack another computer'? "I can't hack another computer, but I may be able to tickle out some information that is freely available, If I ask the right questions of that computer. If I ask enough questions, then something might give me a lead to more questions, and computers to ask these questions of". "That does sound like a hack to me".
"No, dad it's a grey area, if you hack a computer, it means you force it to give you it's information. What Mavis will be doing is to stand at the door, and ask questions, she will never open that door". "All right Rick I will let this one pass, but no more secrets from me ok, son"? "Yes dad, I'm sorry".
Rocky just shakes his head. "I never want to get on the bad side of you kits, I don't think I would like it". "So, may I hold your new additions"? "Scott, honey, I think Mr. Martin needs a hug, could you give him one please"? Scott jumps into Rocky's lap, and Justin and Elizabeth are jealous, so they jump into his lap too.