One day two new children appeard at school. Their names were Beta and Gamma.
– They are strange, whispered Fitty do Jingle.
– Why?
– Look at their eyes. And these weird names.
During the break Beta and Gamma stayed aside. The other children didn’t play with them.
The next day Jingle run into the classroom.
– Do you know, that Beta and Gamma’s father is a robot?! He shouted.
– What? How? Shouted the children.
– I saw him, said Jingle.
– It is not true! Shouted Beta and Gamma.
– It is! I saw your mother with a robot!
– He is not our father.
– He is! Because you are strange like robots.
– Robots can’t have children. You’re taking rubbish! Shouted Beta.
– So who is your father?
– His name is Pigcorn and he works in the mountains.
– We will see. When is he going to visit you? Asked Jingle.
The pigs lowered their heads. They didn’t want to tell the truth. Their father escaped to the mountains to meditate.
After school Beta and Gamma decided to go to the mountains to ask their father to come to school.
The next day was Sturday. Mum left Beta and Gamma with their robot Ready and went shopping. She didn’t suppose her daughters would have such a crazy idea.
The girls were playing and suddenly Beta told the robot:
– Take us to the mountains!
– Where?! Wondered Ready.
– We want to go to the mountains. Repeated Gamma.
– Ok, let’s prepare, said the robot.
Ready took the piglets by car to the mountains.
– What do you want to do here? He asked.
– We want to find our dad, Pigcorn, said Gamma.
– What do you want?! No way! Shouted Ready.
– Why? Asked the piglets.
– Your dad doesn’t want any visitors.
– But we must!
– Why? This time Ready was even more surprised.
– Because the children at school laugh at us that you are our father.
– What?!!! Ridiculous! That was too much, even for a robot.
– Yes, we know, but they see only you every day. We want to ask our father to come to school.
– Hmm, ok, I understand now, but it will not be easy.
– What is your advice? Asked the girls. How to persuade him?
– Tell him that you miss him and ask him to come to school to see you learning nicely.
– Ok, thanks, we will.
After some climbing they got to Pigcorn’s hut. He wasn’t at home.
– Probably your dad is meditating somewhere near. We must wait. Said Ready.
Two hours later, after a few plays, Pigcorn appeared.
– Why are you visiting me? He asked. You know I don’t want any visitors.
– But Dad, it is important!
– What can be more important than meditation?
– Your kids?
– What is wrong with my kids? I can see you are alive.
– Daddy, we want you to come to school.
– Me? There? What for? I know everything!
– Dad, other kids laugh at us!
– Why? Have you got bad marks?
– No, come and see how well we study.
– If you learn well, I don’t have to come.
– Dad, they laugh that we are the children of a robot.
Pigcorn looked at Ready frowning.
– Is it your doing? Do you pretend to be me?
– Me? I learnt about it in the morning, said Ready.
– Hmm, I think I should though come to Gruntland one day, stated Pigcorn.
– Next week on Monday at 5 p.m. there is the parents’ meeting! Exclaimed Gamma.
– Please, come! Shouted the girls in one voice.
– Ok, I will try, agreed Pigcorn.
Beta and Gamma were delighted when their father came to school for the parents’ meeting.
– You see, we have got a real father, they said to the other children the next day. And we have got a robot too! And you? Have you got a robot? No!
And they stuck out their tongues.
This story was written together with my student Hania. Thank you Hania!