Bitzer having a happy day and warbling through it. Because sometimes it only matters if the music feels right for you.
Bitzer watched the clock as the second hand ticked closer and closer to The Time.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
Extract the vinyl EP, a souvenir from Walter Robotics and her time there, carefully from its sleeve.
The record player was already warmed up and set to her preferred levels.
Seven. Six. Five.
Record on the spindle. Speed set to 45. Needle free of dust.
Four. Three. Two.
Drop the record on the turntable.
Hold the head above the rotating vinyl.
One. Eight O'clock AM!
Drop the head.
“Attune your ears to the grinding gears…”
Bitzer sang along as she set up her activities for the day. “Colonel Walter was shocked, when he learned from the nile…” If it was noise to Matter Mistress Carol, she never said.
And if being happy came at the cost of a few wires and probes during the day, or perplexing questions from Miz Carol, then that was a good price to pay.
Miz Carol came down, coffee in hand and pyjamas still on, during the “La da da da da"s. Looking her usual morning mess. She sat on the stairs and watched Bitzer attempt to dance.
Both waited until the very last, "A very big steam-powered gee-raffe what smokes,” before attempting speech. “Good morning, Miz Carol. Will you come do the Nannergens[1] with me?”
“Nnnngghh…” Miz Carol took another swig of coffee. “How can you be so cheerful? Th’ sun’s barely up…”
“The sun’s been up for three hours, Miz Carol,” and then the next song started. “And I’ve been up for four.”
“Can’t miss Danger Mouse, can we?”
“Or Captain Planet,” Bitzer sang as she did the Nannergens. “Or Super Ted[2]. I listened with the headphones and tried not to yell at the screen.”
Miz Carol yawned. “I know. But Danger Mouse still needs to be nicer to poor Penfold. That was closer to seven thirty. You’re getting better.”
Oh. That was a relief. “I am ver-very sorry about the oth-other times.”
“I know. You tell me every morning. And I’ve forgiven you. Promise.”
“It’s almost time for science, isn’t it?”
Yawwnnn… “Yeah. Quarter past eight. Time for science.”
Bitzer put the B-side on and settled down in the chair for the wires and the scans. The chair was angled just so, so that she could see the faces of the robots who had been singing their songs on stage while she’d been undergoing examinations in the labs. With her gears and cogs in the open and multiple science types going through her workings.
This was much better.
“I was lost and scared and all alone and there was darkness and all of my fears had grown into a monster I could not contain it had claws and teeth and oh so many fangs… But then… I saw… your eyes…” she crooned along.
It was a pretty song. And it made Miz Carol smile.
Being not alone any more was the best thing in the world.
[1] That little step the band does during ‘Steamboat Shenanigans’. Named phonetically.
[2] Actual morning lineup on the ABC during the late 80’s, early 90’s. Don’t ask me how I know 9_9
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