--Bertha Oneshots--

TOM's Hiccups

Thanks to CuteCartoonLover06 for the request! So sorry that this story took a while!
Thanks for 1K reads! 🎉🩷

It was the end of another day at Spottiswood and Company, and everyone is about to put on their coats and head back to their homes. All morning and afternoon, they had been working very hard making that order of jewellery boxes for the local jewellers. On the outside, velvet fabric encased the square box like a secure hug, and on the inside, there are plenty of storage for all sorts of necklaces, rings and such. Just what people needed in order to be more organised with their valuables. Did I mention that the boxes come in a variety of colours too? For now at least, the boxes can come in either dark pink, blue or silver. More colours are underway as the production goes forward.

TOM, the factory's hyper little robot, didn't want the staff to leave. He pulled on one of the member's coats and beeped continuously. Please stay! Don't go! He stretched the coat again and it almost sent Ted flying to the floor. "TOM! Don't do that to my coat!" stressed the operator. "We have to go home. We don't live in the factory like you and Bertha - we live in houses and flats!" TOM was clueless on what a flat is, but he definitely knows what a house is. Take TOM to a flat! Have a sleepover with TOM!

The robot circled more and more, with pincer arms in the air and seemingly without getting dizzy. Tracey just chuckled. "Oh..poor ol' Bertha is going to have trouble getting TOM to bed tonight with all that energy!" she smiled, before shifting to a more stern smirk. She peeked at the robot's battery level at the side of him, seeing that the level is still surprisingly high. He had such a busy day and yet he's not as tired as the others (justified as TOM is still a childlike robot and children can get energy from anything)! Still, if TOM energy levels are too high up in the danger zone, they'll be a big mystery disaster. "I won't charge TOM before I leave. The last thing I want is TOM being too hyper for tomorrow's work." Tracey thought to herself before grabbing her umbrella out of her locker. "Goodnight, TOM!" she chirped and patted the robot's head. "Now go get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." TOM beeped away, following the command.

But TOM didn't want to go to bed. He wants to be an owl, soaring about at night with silent - well NOT so silent wings, and explore the entire factory. Bertha saw her son's mood and remarked that if the robot did stay up all night, he'd be very tired in the morning and he wouldn't be able to do any work. TOM still wasn't convinced and was still beeping and huffing. He doesn't want to go to sleep!

Scritch, scratch. Scritch, scratch. TOM stopped huffing. What is that noise? Scritch, scratch. Scritch, scratch. It turned a corner. So did the robot. What is making that scritching scratching sound? It was Roy, sweeping the factory floor with the broom. Bertha could only smile in confusion. What is he still doing in the factory? Shouldn't Roy be heading home? The young apprentice was in his own thoughts, trying to sweep away all the dust and clutter from the floor. Bertha loved how much heart he puts into his work, even if he was slow or uncertain at some things. Such a helpful friend indeed. The movement of the broom was hard and fast like sandpaper, yet delicate like a soft cloth. Once Roy reached the last corner, he breathed out and took out a handkerchief from his pocket before dabbing it on his face.

"Phew.. that's the sweeping done." he wheezed. TOM scurried up to him from behind, hugging his legs with his pincer arms. Roy's still here! They could have a sleepover! Hooray! "Oof! Oh.. it's just you, TOM! W-Why are you not in bed?" he gasped in surprise. TOM only beeped once, which only made the apprentice shrug as he stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket. "Oh well." he added, leading TOM up to Bertha where his charging port is. "Come on, let's get you charged up for tomorrow. Then I can go home for my tea."

Once he plugged TOM in, dramatic irony followed. "That should do it." Roy grinned, feeling like he is did something good. TOM knew he didn't need charging, but Roy didn't know that of course; he was too busy sweeping. With all this extra power, TOM could fly to the moon, the little robot thought to himself with an excited smile. The robot had always want to fly and touch the ceiling of the factory. Maybe he could be as tall as a giraffe too? Or maybe he could ask Panjit if he can climb up that long ladder? Who knows. All those ideas scattered into thoughts as another person peered through the doors of the factory floor. "Come on, Roy!" Ted called out with a hand near his mouth. "It's time to go home. Mr Willmake has to lock the factory gates!"