One Big Aperture Family
Grandma Knows Best
Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System (GLaDOS) Log Function
Initiating Log Program
Begin When Ready…
Dreams. My dictionary function describes them as a hallucinatory experience that occurs during sleep. It seems that dreams play a large role the at least one member of this family. The former idiot sphere seems to be having dreams of a disturbing nature and can't seem to function properly because of sleep loss. A few weeks ago, I found him up and about at night after having one of these dreams. Whether or not he has told his wife, Subject Lil, is unknown at this point. While his notions of not worrying or stressing her are noble, it might put a rift between the two. That might be interesting to watch.
The small one, Subject Angie, started school not too long ago. At her age, I predict she is in the 3rd grade. Her birthday was a week or so ago. The family took her somewhere in the morning and that afternoon, they returned tired, disheveled, and the children were asleep. I stayed at home, seeing as they don't believe I can handle being outside on my own. While I enjoy watching their television programs and rearranging things to my liking, I did not enjoy the list of chores Subject Lil gave me to do while they were out. Blue and Orange were more than happy to do them for me, after I made them.
Subject Angie seemed upset that the Cooperative Testing Initiative and I didn't come along. Subject Lil said she didn't think it'd be safe for me to leave the house just yet. I don't appreciate being treated like an invalid, and when I brought this up to the older one, she seemed to smile in a snide tone and tell me, "But you're supposed to be the Grandma, remember? Most grandmothers are old and feeble, and stay inside and knit and watch trashy soap operas all day…"
Well, if watching those pointless television programs has taught me anything, it's that I don't have to take this. I am a highly advanced super machine and if the Androids that I built get to go with them to the grocery store or around the corner, than so should I. I think it's time for Grandma to step out.
Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System (GLaDOS) end log function
"ANGELA JILLIAN MCLAIN! I'm not going to warn you again! It's time for school!" Lil shouted from downstairs. As she finished yelling, the sounds of running could be heard on the hardwood floors. GLaDOS sat up in her chair and decided it was time to grace the family with her presence. Picking up her purse and straightening herself out, GLaDOS started to leave her attic.
As she left her attic, GLaDOS almost ran into Angie, fully dressed in her uniform and ready to start the day. "Good morning, Grandma!" she shouted excitedly. Her uniform stayed mostly unchanged (navy blue jumper with the school's crest on the left shoulder, white undershirt, white socks, and black Mary Jane shoes), but she obviously looked like she was starting to outgrow it.
"Good morning, Small One." GLaDOS murmured, closing the attic door tightly. Despite Angie's usually overeager attitude about school, lately she looked like she was dreading it. "What troubles you today? You usually enjoy going to this learning establishment."
Angie sighed and said nothing, trying her hardest to hide her nervousness about school. "We…have a test today, and I didn't study." She blurted out.
"Not possible. It's only been two weeks since school started. So far, you've had a week of orientation and a week of learning. It'd be pointless for them to start testing you already. You haven't had sufficient time to learn anything worth testing. Besides, it's only Wednesday. Most schools traditionally have tests on Friday. Makes the weekend more depressing for the failing students and their parents." GLaDOS proudly folded her arms and secretly went over test footage in her head while Angie slinked downstairs. "Testing is my specialty, I would know. Even so, no 'Granddaughter' of mine will fail a test. Not if I have anything to say about it."
Arriving downstairs, GLaDOS sat like a queen on a throne in Wheatley's chair as Angie ran toward the kitchen. She was starting to enjoy this chair, not because it was comfortable (by the look on Wheatley's face whenever he sat down, she assumed it was), but because it got on Wheatley's nerves whenever she sat there. GLaDOS felt this throne was worthy of keeping her systems relaxed. She sat back and closed her eyes, letting her systems rest up a little more before beginning her day.
As the Androids busied themselves with chores, Lil finished making breakfast. She placed a piece of toast in Angie's spot and took up Wheatley's empty plate as he read the paper. Chelly sat in her high chair, playing spoon and bowl drums as Angie started eating her toast. "Angie, don't forget to empty out your school bag before you go to school. I don't want to hear you whining because you can't tell your homework from a rolled up paper towel again!"
Rolling her eyes, Angie walked over to the chair she kept her school bag on and started taking out papers. An envelope drifted away from the pile forming on the chair and made its way to Wheatley's foot. Chelly noticed it first and made small whining noises as she reached for it. Wheatley put down his paper and looked down, finding the envelope. "What's this?" he asked as Lil poured him some more coffee. Wheatley picked up the envelope and opened it slowly. He read the letter inside carefully.
To the Guardians of Angela McLain,
We seem to be having problems with little Angela regarding her work ethic and attitude. During group study, she tends to study alone and won't participate in group activities. Angela also tends to be a bit condescending to the other students and on a few occasions, to the instructors as well. As of late, she's been speaking of family matters. I understand that some family has recently come to stay with you. Angela claims that her grandmother is a highly advanced robot, as are her "Uncle Atlas and Aunt Peabody". I understand children have active imaginations, but I believe this type of make-believe borderlines on some type of dissociative disorder which leads me to believe there are problems at home.
I would like to meet with you to discuss this matter and hopefully figure out a solution to this problem before it persists into adulthood.
~Miss Carrington
Lil took the letter and read it over. "Angie, why didn't you tell me you were having problems in school?" Lil asked as she finished pouring Wheatley his coffee.
"I'm not having problems in school! Miss Carrington keeps singling me out!" Angie shouted as she started eating her breakfast. "She doesn't like that I can do the problems faster than the other students and she doesn't want to admit I should be in more advanced classes!"
When she heard Angie shout that last statement, GLaDOS opened one eye and pretended to not be listening as the humans finished their breakfast. "Advanced classes?" she murmured softly as Angie finished her breakfast and walked into the living room, plopping herself on the couch with Chelly.
Wheatley looked over the letter numerous times. "Well, it might explain all the acting out she's been doing." Lil sighed, placing her hand on her hip. Wheatley sipped his coffee again and read each line, as if trying to find some deeper meaning to the letter. Under the original correspondence was something else worth reading. "What do you think she means by dissociative disorder?" Lil shook her head and went back to making breakfast as Dr. Rattmann emerged from his den. Wheatley handed Dr. Rattmann the letter, who read it and cocked and eyebrow.
"They didn't even bother to spell the Androids' names right." Dr. Rattmann chuckled as Lil placed a coffee mug in front of him (along with his morning medication). Lil started washing some dishes as Dr. Rattmann analyzed the letter. "In not so many words, she's basically saying our weird family situation might be taking its toll on Angie. She thinks the stress, if any exists, is interfering with Angie's school work."
Lil, looking almost offended, turned around sharply. "You know, this has been going on since our parents died. People automatically thought I couldn't handle raising Angie alone and they always singled us out. They used to looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I was her primary caregiver at eighteen and no one at that stupid parent teacher association ever took what I had to say seriously! Do you know how many times they tried to have Angie taken away from me because of some bogus mistreatment complaints? I don't know why I send her to that school. They can rot for all I care." Lil went back to washing the dishes, even though she had already washed the same plate three times.
Dr. Rattmann took his medication and gulped down his coffee. Wheatley stared at the letter again. "She's requesting a meeting after school today. In fact, according to this little number at the bottom, we were supposed to get this letter last week. I think it's just been sitting in her school bag since then. Not very punctual, is she? " Wheatley murmured as he reread the letter and folded it back up.
"I don't know if we'll be able to make it. We have so much to do today, Wheaters. Dr. Rattmann, could you meet with Angie's teacher today?" Lil asked softly.
"I'll see if I can. I have a few short errands to run in the city anyway." Dr. Rattmann got up and went back to his den to get ready.
Lil looked at the stove clock and then looked around for Angie. The private school didn't have buses (why, Lil didn't know). While they weren't running late, Lil still didn't like being stuck in school traffic. Walking into the living room, Lil found Angie and Chelly with GLaDOS on the family computer, which sat in a small nook near the front door. Chelly was on GLaDOS's lap while Angie was standing next to her. Lil couldn't tell what they were doing, but if it had to do with the family computer, it probably wasn't good.
"…now, hit the enter key, Small One." GLaDOS continued. As Angie did so, the screen went black and entered into what could be described as "The Matrix" in Lil's mind. Chelly clapped and giggled a happy toddler giggle as GLaDOS finished her lesson. Angie looked on in amazement. "…and that, little ones, is how you take down a complex government agency's computer network in under three minutes. Now, how about I show you how to take down a small country with just a few simple commands and a fake social network account?"
Lil, letting her presence be known with a frustrated sigh, tapped her foot and glared at the computer. "Please don't teach the girls how to commit felonies. I'm having enough problems as it is." Lil ushered Angie toward the kitchen to get her school bag and picked up Chelly.
"I'm teaching them skills they can use. I don't know what they're teaching the Small One at that school you make her go to, but it's obviously not what she needs to know. She's nine-years-old and she doesn't even know how to hack into a highly secure government computer grid. She should know this stuff by now." GLaDOS folded her arms and looked at Lil with disapproval.
Already fuming, Lil sighed. "For your information, Angie goes to a private school and gets a very good education." Lil started walking away, with Chelly on her hip. "…at least she better be for all the money I pay in tuition each year." Lil murmured.
"The Small One goes to a private school?" GLaDOS asked softly.
Lil sighed and didn't face GLaDOS. "Yes, she started attending this place not long after our parents died. It provides a shuttle service kind of like public school buses but I think that's overkill. Besides, the tuition is more expensive if we sign up for that. The city bus stops here, but I don't think she's old enough to ride that alone." Lil murmured sadly. The look on her face made GLaDOS believe Lil was trying to convince herself. "She gets a better education here and it's safer than the public schools." Lil finally started to walk away.
While she didn't know if what Lil just said was true, considering the notice they read earlier, GLaDOS dove deep into her files and tried to pull up any information about the school from the wireless internet connection she established in her head. She found the school's website quite boring and sighed as she returned to what was going on. "I'm sure there are public schools around here that are just fine. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's the best option." GLaDOS murmured.
GLaDOS tapped her index finger on her arm, slowly processing her next course of action in her head. As she thought about what to do, the Androids happily meandered past her and stood by the front door. They made it a habit to say good-bye to Angie as she left for school each day. GLaDOS watched her highly advanced Androids sit by the door like dogs waiting for Angie.
Instead of Angie, Dr. Rattmann smiled and made his way toward them with his cane. "I'm going to run some errands for the family, do you two want to come?" he asked, coughing softly. GLaDOS focused her line of sight on Dr. Rattmann. Her scans of him showed he was indeed getting on in years and his health could be better. She scanned his bad leg and noted the turret injury and the damage it had done to his muscle and his bone. She added these things to the internal file she kept of him.
"I would like to accompany you when you go, Maniac." GLaDOS murmured, stepping up to her Androids. Dr. Rattmann looked like he was taken aback. "Being outside could be beneficial. I would be remiss if I passed up a chance to see and study more of this city you humans seem to love so much. All I know of the city is what the Cooperative Testing Initiative has told me and the road leading to the fields outside of the city."
Dr. Rattmann cocked an eyebrow. "Why would you want to come with me?" Dr. Rattmann was pretty sure his hearing was starting to go, but knew he heard her. "I had the impression that you didn't like being around me, or a large group of humans. I don't think your 'advanced robotic mind' would find anything about this excursion amusing. Besides, it might not be a good idea for you or the Androids to leave the house just yet. You barely hide the fact that you're a Maschinenmensch."
At this point, Angie walked up with Chelly and had heard Dr. Rattmann's statement. Looking somewhat offended, GLaDOS pretended to huff a bit (having no need to breath, the act was pretty ludicrous) and kept her purse close by. Angie may have only been a little girl, but she could sense the anger coming from GLaDOS. The tension could be cut with a knife as GLaDOS and Dr. Rattmann stared each other down. Old habits tended to die hard with GLaDOS, and she decided to log this in her mind for later use, along with a few other things.
"What's a 'machine-in-inch'?" Angie finally asked, hoping to disperse the ferocity in the air between her 'grandparents'. ATLAS chattered his response. Angie nodded, pretending to understand him. P-Body also chattered a response as well, though this response seemed to upset GLaDOS a bit.
"A Maschinenmensch is a term meaning 'machine-human' or literally 'machine-man'." GLaDOS placed her hands on her hips. "It means your 'grandfather' sees me as a very delicate, but faceless, transparent figure made of crystal flesh with silver bones with eyes filled with an expression of calm madness."
Dr. Rattmann made a motion with his hand, indicating she hit the nail on the head, particularly the last part. "Though, by the looks of you, crystal flesh and silver bones would be inaccurate, considering you're obviously made from highly advanced metals and synthetic parts. But the metaphor still stands."
GLaDOS chuckled and made a mock embarrassed face. "Awww, you think I'm delicate. That's so sweet. You make my lubricants warm up."
After shivering a bit, Dr. Rattmann sighed. "If you promise not to say that ever again, you can come. I have an errand to run before then, but I'll be back before too long and we can go."
GLaDOS smiled and started for the door. "I promise nothing. You should know that by now." Dr. Rattmann fumbled around for his keys in his coat pocket and finally left.
Waving good-bye as the family left, ATLAS and P-Body smiled wide, with P-Body holding a list of chores Lil gave her. GLaDOS sat in the chair again and sighed. "You two, get over here. We have something of importance to discuss." She murmured. Looking at each other, the Androids rushed over to their boss and sat on the couch. "I know you two enjoy playing 'Maid and Butler' to the humans, but we have a situation at the facility that must be addressed soon. Come…"
Following their boss to the attic, the Androids looked at each other, somewhat worried. "The situation grows dire, but nothing the security system can't handle. But as you know, even that won't last forever." GLaDOS opened the attic door and sat down in her specialized chair. She typed a few commands into the keyboard and connected herself via a cable to the system. After the log-in screen and the initial boot up, GLaDOS was now connected directly to Aperture.
"You see what he's doing." GLaDOS murmured, typing in a few commands and displaying the security feed. "As you know, I'm still remotely accessing the facility, so he can't take power. But as I am not physically there to prevent him, that Junk Heap grows more powerful each time I log in. I've been keeping a close eye on everything, but I hesitate to think of what could happen if…"
All of a sudden, a horrible static-like screeching sound filled the attic and the house. Since GLaDOS was directly linked to the system, it hurt her the most. "There he goes again. He's trying to hack me out of my own systems and disconnect me from my chassis. He's been at it for hours, so I assume he'll be powering down shortly to build up his reserves again. I don't think I anticipated this when I programed him years ago. His awareness grows with each day, and he knows we're gone."
P-Body chattered something, to which GLaDOS dismissed.
"No, as far as he knows, the humans we live with aren't here. He doesn't know about them. It is the most we can do to keep them safe. It demeans me for saying this, but I believe I programed him too well." GLaDOS disconnected herself and stood up, holding her purse tightly. "If he knows where they are, he will take drastic measures. He doesn't just want the facility…"
As they left the attic, GLaDOS stopped P-Body for a moment. "Orange, I designed you to be a female, I wish for your input." GLaDOS pulled P-Body to the side as ATLAS went to start their chores. "Do you believe the maniac is right about me being..." GLaDOS looked like she didn't she wanted to say it. "…a Maschinenmensch?"
P-Body shrugged and in her own language asked why GLaDOS cared.
"I don't care…" she murmured, folding her arms. "…just…do those chores before the fat older one gets home and yells at me for being lazy." GLaDOS walked away, leaving P-Body pondering. GLaDOS grumbled to herself and went back to sitting in Wheatley's chair. She indeed looked the part of Grandma, and her depleting reserves made her feel like it. "Grandma Machinenmensch…" she murmured, making herself comfortable again.
Meanwhile, in the city
Lil tapped her fingers to the tune on the radio. Her seat farther back because of her pregnant belly, Lil looked like she was having trouble adjusting to the distance. She wondered if this is how Wheatley felt during those rare moments she let him drive. She had been at this stop light for only a minute and already she wanted to ram her Jeep into the car in front. It wasn't the traffic that seemed to be weighing on her mind, though. Wheatley sat in the passenger seat, reading an ad for a new car dealership that had just opened up. Chelly sat in her car seat behind the passenger seat, humming softly and playing with her sippy-cup.
The family only had one car, which was Lil's big yellow Jeep. Today, Wheatley would attempt (once again), to convince Lil that they needed a bigger car. If television taught him anything (and it was a pretty good teacher as far as learning human behavior went), it was that a nicely sized van or other type of SUV would benefit their growing family just nice.
Lil waved his idea away too often. As long as they didn't have any more children (a thought Wheatley seemed terrified at, seeing as he loved children), Lil reasoned the Jeep would be fine. She did most of the driving for the family. Despite Wheatley having a license, Lil still didn't trust him behind the wheel of her Jeep. "You know, love, these minivans seem to be all the rage lately. Affordable, good on gas, roomy, and look at all the color options they have."
"Do they have yellow?" Lil asked, as the light turned green.
Wheatley flipped through the ad again and shook his head. "No, but they have a nice blue color. I like blue. The family in the advert looks pretty happy." Wheatley pointed to the ad as Lil glanced over momentarily. She sighed and turned down a different street. "The bloke in the ugly shirt needs to tone down the smile a bit, but otherwise, happy minivan family." Wheatley sang.
Chelly wiggled her feet happily and smacked the sippy-cup against the door a few times. "Chelly, don't do that." Lil exclaimed, peering at Chelly through the rearview mirror. "There is nothing wrong with the Jeep. It's got four doors and as long as we don't have everyone in at once, it's fine."
Flipping to another page, Wheatley raised his eyebrows in surprise. "But this one…" Wheatley held the magazine at Lil, who only glanced at it momentarily. "…this one has 'optional third row seating', which according to this is perfect for growing families. Our family is growing, right?"
"Whether we like it or not, apparently." Lil murmured, thinking about GLaDOS and the Androids. Wheatley closed the magazine and looked at Lil again, who sighed solemnly.
"Love, is something wrong?" Wheatley asked, placing the magazine in the back seat. Chelly took up the magazine immediately and pretended to read it. After she was done doing that, she decided it would make a good hat and started ripping a few of the pages out, placing them on her head. Her parents didn't seem to notice.
"I was talking to GLaDOS this morning…" Lil murmured. Wheatley looked genuinely surprised. "...well, I yelled at her for teaching the girls how to hack sophisticated computer networks from our P.C." That sounded believable and Wheatley nodded along. "I told her Angie goes to a private school because the education is better. But after getting that note, I wonder if it actually is. It sounds like they don't appreciate her intellect. I mean, Angie is terribly smart for a kid her age, and it shows. I think the real reason I put Angie in a private school was because I was scared something bad might happen to her."
Wheatley watched Lil as she sighed and looked around, realizing her daydreaming had made her go too far. "Well, I'm sure she's just going through a phase or something. On the telly, they have all these shows about teenagers and their problems, though they seem to whine a lot for children in such nice places."
"Angie is a few years off from being a teenager, but girls do start developing earlier than boys. I know I did." Lil blushed as she turned down another road. "I guess I put Angie in that school to protect myself more than to protect her. Maybe I should look into putting her in a public school now. Most of the neighborhood kids go to a public school, and I've seen it. It looks pretty clean and the teachers I see in the parking lot helping kids off the bus look friendly. I bet the parents in the PTA are less snobby, too."
Noticing they were taking the long way to their destination, Wheatley looked out the window curiously. "I don't see the harm in that, love. Think of the money we'll save from not having to pay tuition. We won't have to wake up earlier to drive her to school because that big yellow bus runs right past our house, and she'll make a lot of friends that live close by. I'd like to make friends with Dads where I don't have to pretend I like golf."
Lil sighed and realized that more was changing than she felt comfortable with. Change was something Lil had dealt with before, but compared to all the changes that had happened in the course of her life, these changes were pretty small. She sighed and looked at a sign. "Do you feel comfortable driving the Jeep home, Wheaters?" Lil asked, pulling into the new car dealership that just opened up.
Later that day
Dr. Rattmann, having finished with his errands early, finally came home and got GLaDOS for the meeting with Angie's teacher. The city bus ride was unpleasant and GLaDOS complained most of the way, but Dr. Rattmann took it in stride. She still held herself regally and kept her purse close, eying the young man in the electronics store uniform residing in the seat next to her. When he looked over and smiled with a nod, GLaDOS gave him a nasty look and kept her purse closer.
"Don't be frightened. People use the city bus to get to work. He means you no harm." Dr. Rattmann whispered as the young man got off the bus with a confused look.
"He could very well be looking for a reason to swipe my bag. Besides, he has 'high school drop-out' written all over him. Statistically speaking, he would be the very candidate for stealing." GLaDOS whispered loudly.
Sighing, Dr. Rattmann tried to ignore that statement. "Electronics retailers usually hire highly qualified individuals to work their stores. You two might have actually gotten along well, considering you're…"
"If you call me a Maschinenmensch one more time, you're going to regret it." GLaDOS murmured, glaring angrily at the unwanted attention their conversation was getting.
After a little while, they finally came to their stop. Most of the bus patrons were happy that they had left and everyone sighed in relief once the bus had left. Dr. Rattmann led the way into Angie's school, his cane in step with theirs. "Alright, just let me do all the talking. These private school teachers are piranhas and they can smell fear and uncertainty. It's how they trap you into thinking that you're a bad parent and you should pay more in tuition."
GLaDOS seemed to appreciate the evil genius behind that plan, but felt the school was cold and unfeeling. It reminded her of her facility and it made her a little homesick. When she expected the hallways to be lined with childish drawings and meaningless accomplishments made by the children, GLaDOS discovered she'd get no such satisfaction. "This facility is what the fat older one is paying for? If she wants a place that's cold and unfeeling for the small one, she might as well let me teach her at the facility." GLaDOS actually liked that idea and thought about the best way to propose the idea to Lil.
Dr. Rattmann shook his head and looked around. "Alright, Miss Carrington's room should be around here." They found the room and GLaDOS peered in through the small window. The only child left in the classroom was Angie, who was sitting at her desk, doing nothing. GLaDOS used her sophisticated hearing abilities and listened to the teacher berate Angie on an assignment. The teacher apparently didn't like being shown up by a child and her disdain for having to deal with it showed.
GLaDOS already had a few choice words in her mechanical mind for Angie's teacher. If she and Dr. Rattmann hadn't arrived earlier than anticipated, GLaDOS wouldn't have seen the spectacle she was fuming over. The teacher looked like a lady who enjoyed seeing children tremble in fear. Normally, GLaDOS would have gotten along well with someone like that. But this wasn't about her. This was about Angie, her "granddaughter" and no one was about to treat her that way without GLaDOS having something to say about it.
Finally, the two were let into the room, where Angie sat at her desk, her head low. GLaDOS already didn't like this "Miss Carrington" person. "Are you Angela's guardians?" asked the teacher, inviting Dr. Rattmann and GLaDOS to sit in front of her desk.
"We are her grandparents. Her sister is her primary caregiver, but she and her moron husband were busy, so here we are." GLaDOS chimed in before Dr. Rattmann could say anything. "I hope you are not here to waste our time, so let's get to the point."
Miss Carrington nodded and took out a book. "Well, my name is Amy Carrington and…"
"Your name is of little importance to us." GLaDOS chimed in again.
Somewhat taken aback, the teacher just stared at GLaDOS. Dr. Rattmann coughed softly and held his hand out for Miss Carrington to shake. "I'm sorry; she can be a bit impatient. I'm Dr. Douglas Rattmann and this is…" Dr. Rattmann thought for a moment as the teacher shook his hand. "…Gladys, she's…"
"GLaDOS...Johnson." GLaDOS made up that last name on the spot, but there was some sentimentality to it. Miss Carrington stared at the two with a confused look on her face. "Our names are different because we've been separated for a number of years and I took back my maiden name. We've recently started to reconcile." Dr. Rattmann cocked an eyebrow at GLaDOS, who looked like she was enjoying this way too much. Dr. Rattmann blushed and nodded in agreement, though reluctantly.
Clearing her throat, Miss Carrington flipped through her book and stopped at a page. "Right…that's very nice." Miss Carrington wrote something down and then looked back at the two. "Her older sister, Lillian, and her husband are her legal guardians, then?"
"I don't know what part of my previous statement you missed, but yes, they are." GLaDOS sat straight, her purse in her lap. "In case you missed the second part, they were busy so they sent us instead. We are very capable of looking after Angela when they aren't around. Now, why are you wasting our time asking questions? What is the problem you are having with the Small One?" GLaDOS might as well have been wearing a sign that said in big bold print, "I AM A HIGHLY ADVANCED ROBOT" because she sounded more mechanical than usual in her speaking.
Clearing her throat again, Miss Carrington looked blankly at Dr. Rattmann and GLaDOS. "Well, the problem with Angela is that her work ethic is somewhat…lacking. Academically, she's doing quite well. In fact, she's the smartest child in my class. But for some reason, she prefers to work alone. Another thing I wish to…"
"What is wrong with that?" asked GLaDOS. Miss Carrington stopped what she was doing and looked at GLaDOS. "You said it yourself: She's the smartest in the class. Shouldn't that be a good thing?"
"Well, normally, yes. But you see Mrs. Rat-…umm, Miss Johnson, I feel that she tends to, shall we say, flaunt it." Miss Carrington flipped a page in her notebook slowly. Angie, still at her desk, was doodling in her notebook, trying not to laugh at the spectacle GLaDOS was making. "I would say she's ready for the advanced classes, but…"
"But what?" GLaDOS folded her arms, though her purse stayed on her lap.
Miss Carrington closed her book. "Listen, I'm sure Angela is a good child. And I bet you think she's the most wonderful child in the world. But let's face the facts here: A child like Angela might be ready for the advanced classes, but socially, I think she's not up to speed with her classmates. In the past few weeks, I've observed that she only has a few friends and recently I found her with this under her math book." Miss Carrington took out a comic book and placed it on her desk. "We prohibit stuff like this, so I assume she got it at that bookstore she claims her sister owns."
"Lillian does own a bookstore. Two of them, actually. The second location specializes in comic books and specialty items. I've seen the sale figures." GLaDOS was actually looking at them in her head. "That store is doing better than the first one."
With a huff, Miss Carrington gave the comic book to Dr. Rattmann. "I just don't believe Angela is socially ready for advanced classes. I sometimes give the children a short theme to write about, and this is what she's turned in." Miss Carrington handed GLaDOS a stack of papers to read. She read the first one slowly.
What I Did Over the Summer Break, by Angie McLain
During the summer, we took a trip to the beach. It was long and boring, but the beach was fun. My sister Lil is going to have a baby, so she couldn't wear a bikini. She hates wearing them anyway because she says they make her butt look big. She doesn't want to admit she has a big butt, so that's the excuse she uses. Her husband Wheatley liked the beach a lot. He had never been to a beach before and Lil thought it would be a good idea to take a drive there. He didn't like it much after he fell asleep on the beach blanket and woke up as red as a lobster with my niece, Chelly, dumping sand on his stomach. We ended our beach trip early. Wheatley couldn't move for two days without help. I sometimes wonder if he ever went to the beach in his former life. He still doesn't remember much about it, but Lil says what's important is how he lives now.
GLaDOS laughed softly and turned to another page, a more recent one.
Life at Home, by Angie McLain
Recently, my Grandma, Uncle ATLAS and Aunt P-Body came to stay with us for a while. My grandma is in charge of a big science lab that has a lot of cool things in it. They seem to like it here. I don't think Grandma has ever left her lab before. She used to live on the ceiling of this big room and now she stays in our attic/guest room. She and Lil don't really get along well, but I think they're growing on each other. Grandpa didn't seem too happy at first, either. They don't like to talk about their former life together, but I think Grandma missed Grandpa more than she's willing to admit. Uncle ATLAS and Aunt P-Body showed me how to change the oil in Lil's Jeep. I forgot how handy they are. They used to live with us years ago when Wheatley first stayed with us. I missed them and Grandma a lot. I'm glad she's staying with us.
Something in GLaDOS twanged a bit when she read that last part. With a smile, GLaDOS looked at the last few pages, noting each said something similar. "I'm sorry, but how is this unacceptable?" GLaDOS asked, plopping the papers in front of the teacher. "It doesn't seem to be disrupting her work or bothering the other small humans, so I don't see why this meeting was called. If you are done wasting our time, we'll take Angela home and she'll see you in the morning."
GLaDOS started to stand and waved for Angie to join her. As Dr. Rattmann started to stand, Miss Carrington stopped them. "The fact that she believes you and her relatives are robots are what's bothersome to me. It is fine to have an imagination, but these illusions of grandeur must stop now. A growing girl must know the harshness of the world and the sooner she sees that her grandmother isn't some ridiculous super computer and her aunt and uncle aren't androids, the better. I see nothing but failure for Angela unless these stop now."
Dr. Rattmann didn't like the look GLaDOS was getting on her sophisticatedly designed face. "I guess I know where she gets these ideas. I bet that sister of hers put these ideas in her head as a coping mechanism for their confusing home life. Older married sister, no parents around, being an aunt at her age! I mean, the fact that you look like a machine and carry yourself like one probably explains a lot as well. Children in such households are bound towards failure in later life, and I would not be the least bit surprised if someone doesn't say something and have her taken away…"
Turning around slowly, GLaDOS glared at the teacher with a fire in her eyes the likes no one had ever seen. Dr. Rattmann, looking a bit angry at the teacher's statement as well, scooted his chair back and told Angie to get behind him. He knew this wasn't going to end well. "Now, you've done it…" he murmured.
Miss Carrington already looked like she was regretting her statement as GLaDOS loomed over her, opening her purse…
Later that night, at home
"You did WHAT?" Lil shouted, gripping the mail in her hand tightly. The day had been pretty pleasant for Wheatley and Lil, but this news was something Lil couldn't comprehend.
"What about my statement did you not understand? The Small One no longer attends that learning facility and her problems with that particular 'instructor' are now over. You're welcome." GLaDOS stated calmly, with her arms folded as the Androids ran in and out of the house carrying groceries. "Your idea of a private setting being a better educational outlet for the Small One was indeed misguided. I wonder how she could have survived all that time before. Granted, her teachers were probably friendlier, but this teacher was obviously unfit to teach the Small One or any other child for that matter. So, after I…shall we say, 'dealt' with her, the headmaster excused us from the premises. Don't worry, though. You'll be refunded all the tuition you wasted on that place." GLaDOS started to walk away, an evil smile stretching across her sophisticated android face. "I made sure of that personally."
Lil couldn't find a way to be happy about what GLaDOS just told her. She couldn't even be happy about the new car she and Wheatley just came home with. A blue minivan, shiny and just-off-the-truck new, sat in their driveway next to the Jeep. While Angie and the Androids were outside admiring it with Dr. Rattmann and Wheatley, Lil put her hand on her pregnant belly and sat in Wheatley's chair, trying to relax. She was a firm believer that change is inevitable, as she had seen it all too often in her life.
On the positive side, Lil had an excuse to look into the public school the neighborhood kids went to.
In the weeks following, as Lil's belly got bigger and the new minivan serviced the family nicely, Wheatley noticed the eagerness Angie once had for school bounce right back as she happily put on her own clothes and anxiously waited for the school bus with the Androids waiting with her, to make sure she got on okay. He smiled and waved from the window as Angie boarded the school bus.
Lil had given all of Angie's old uniforms to one of the mothers she knew whose children went to the private school (After Wheatley talked her out of burning them). Angie seemed happier in the public school, which seemed to have a happier atmosphere than the private school, along with friendlier teachers. Where she was once held back by a spiteful teacher, Angie excelled and soon Lil would be getting calls from Angie's new teacher, saying she believed Angie was ready to skip ahead a grade. Lil decided to discuss that with Wheatley. As she watched GLaDOS and the Androids sit at the table and help Angie with her homework, Lil pondered whether or not her notions of GLaDOS were still warranted.
Making dinner, she heard Dr. Rattmann come up to GLaDOS at the table, holding a newspaper article about a missing private school teacher…
GLaDOS sat in her attic, typing away as the sound of a school bus departing gave her a sense of happiness. The facility had been oddly calm lately and though GLaDOS didn't like it, she decided to let it be. Her cameras were up and working again, most of them anyway and she kept a close eye on one feed in particular.
"So, the Small One doesn't do well on tests, you say? No granddaughter of mine fails tests. Let's just see how well you do…"
GLaDOS looked like a child playing with a brand new toy as the screams of one human in particular made her giggle with glee. "We could have been good friends…your punishment would have been less, shall we say, homicidal. Luckily for you, I'll erase your memory before returning you to your meaningless life. The memories will be gone, but trust me, the lessons will stay. As is life, they say." GLaDOS watched the feed eagerly, waiting to see what would happen next.
On another monitor, that GLaDOS wasn't paying attention to, a shadow loomed over another testing chamber. GLaDOS stopped her maniacal laughter for a moment when she thought she heard mumbling from one of the other feeds. She turned her attention to another monitor and typed slowly a command. The camera turned and changed angles, but she found nothing. "I think playtime might be over…" she murmured, going back to the other security feeds. She could have sworn she kept hearing the same phrase over and over again.
"...Mine…it will all be mine…I'm the real one…"
N'cha, my beloveds!
So, like I promised, more frequent postings, thanks to my awesome computer guy friend and all the help he gave me when my computer went nuts.
As one who went to a public school growing up, my only ideas of private schools are what I was told by friends who used to attend them. If anyone went to a private school and found this representation false, I sincerely apologize. I'm only going off what I've been told. Friends who have gone to private schools have often told me they are cold, unfeeling, and somewhat stuffy. Well, the private schools around here, anyway. In my neck of the woods, private schools are usually religious, but I decided not to incorporate that in the story. I'd rather not make anyone uncomfortable.
Anyone have good memories riding the buses home? Those can be a hoot, right?
Something's happening at the facility. Oh my, I wonder what it could be! Stay tuned to find out!
As always, thank you all for your patience and your reviews. I love them all! I love you all, of course! So, how did I do? Let me know and I'll see you guys next time! Same Luna Peachie time, same Luna Peachie place!
Read, review, and be merry! Always be merry, no matter what. I love you guys.
Wheatley, GLaDOS, ATLAS, P-Body, and Dr. Rattmann belong to Valve.