Tevun-Krus #103 - Androids

Pops' Evening Out - A Story by @DavidGibbs6

Pops' Evening Out

by David Gibbs / DavidGibbs6

"How do I look?" The spritely, elderly looking gentleman interrupted the two girls' coffee and chat, while doing a slow turn to show off his dress suit.

"You look delightful." Melanie smiled. "Go get 'em Pops."

"You look fine." Stephenie agreed somewhat more subdued.

"You're going to knock them dead." Melanie called out as he bounced out the front door and away down the road.

Stephenie waited until he was a long way out of ear shot before she spoke her mind to her sister.

"You don't think it's weird or creepy that he is dating?" She practically accused her sister.

"Ok I admit it's weird." Melanie agreed. "But I reject that it's creepy. He is sweet and Nan would have wanted it. You know she would have."

"Hrrm." Stephenie grumped before sipping down more hot coffee and staring intently.

"You know it was Nan's idea before she passed?" Melanie pushed the point. "Pops doesn't have an original idea in him."

"I know." Steph huffed. "But how do you think this will work? Do you think he will actually meet someone? And then what?"

"I actually don't know." Mel admitted. "I guess I'm not really expecting anything, I mean maybe it could happen, I'm just not worrying about it."

"That's the problem with you." Steph vented. "I expected that he would go away when Nan died. I figured the company would take him. He would get decommissioned or something. I didn't expect him to be here after...."

Her sister gave her a scowling look of disapproval at this admission. It was true that Mel had similar thoughts around that time Nan had gone, but when it hadn't happened that way, she had been happy that Pops was staying. He was nice, it was like having a piece of Nan still here. After all Pops was Nan's companion, he was made for her, with the things she wanted him to be.

At first it had been hard when Granddad had died. It was hard on Nan the most and she needed something. That something was Pops. He didn't replace Granddad, how could he ever. That wasn't his purpose or way. Pops was like a friendly neighbor that was always there for Nan. He didn't have the same qualities as her husband had, he had the things she wanted him to have, all the things she wished Granddad had been. Part of loving someone was loving them despite their faults and shortcomings. He wasn't better than Granddad had been either, Pops had his own faults.

The sisters sat in silence for a bit both finishing their cuppas in thought.

"You know it's not like he is hiding what he is or lying." Mel said thoughtfully. "If someone else wants to have Pops and he makes them happy like he did Nan then I'm all for it."

"You know I like him too." Steph softened her tone, regretting her earlier harshness. "He was great with Nan and it was weird but it quickly became normal. It's not that I want him gone."

"If he goes I'll miss him." Mel added quickly.

"It will be different for sure." Steph agreed. "But no different than it is with Nan gone."

"Or Granddad." Mel added.

"If I died would you replace me? Steph narrowed her eyes in an exaggerated way.

"I doubt they make models with grump as a personality feature." Mel joked.

"They say they make all kinds of models to replicate any kind of person you want."

The light was starting to fade right as a chill wind picked up, giving them both a shiver simultaneously.