Robot On The Bus

They sit at the back of the bus, in case Terence says anything.

I can't see out, says Terence.

You're not meant to be talking, says Surfing-with-Whales.

But I'm not meant to be not SEEING, says Terence.

Stand up on the seat, says Gaius. But do keep your mouth shut.

Muh! says Terence, keeping his mouth shut.

He stands up on the seat.

A kid who is sitting with his parents gets up and comes to the back of the bus.

The kid stands in the bus aisle in front of Terence who is now standing up.

I like your statue, says the kid. Can I touch it?

Better not, says Gaius,

It might fall over, says Surfing-with-Whales.

You should put it on the floor, says the kid.

No way! says Terence.

Is it a robot? asks the kid.

Muh! says Terence, remembering he's not meant to speak.

Make it talk again, says the kid.

Sure, why not, says Surfing-with-Whales. 

Indeed, why not, says Gaius. Robot or statue, it shouldn't need a ticket.

Does that mean I can talk? asks Terence.

Yes, says Gaius. But in a robot-like way.

What-is-your-name-boy-person? asks Terence, in a robot-like voice.

Maurice, says Maurice. What's yours?

Morris, says Terence. 

Something's wrong with your robot. says Maurice to Surfing-with-Whales.

It's not mine, says Surfing-with-Whales. It's his.

He indicates Gaius.

Something's wrong with it, says Maurice.

Nothing's wrong with it, says Gaius. It was just repeating your name in order to learn it.

But it didn't answer my question, says Maurice.

Ask it again, says Gaius. 

Hello-Morris, says Terence. My-name-is-Terence. Ask-me-anything.

What's twenty times thirty? asks Maurice.

A-big-number, says Terence.

Maurice looks surprised.

What's five thousand times fifty seven? asks Maurice.

That's-a-hard-one, says Terence.

No it isn't, says Maurice, you just times fifty seven by five and add two zeroes.

Well-done-Morris, says Terence.

Three zeroes, says Gaius.

Maurice gives up asking maths. 

Where are you going? asks Maurice.

Tasmania-on-the-ferry, says Terence. 

Me too! says Maurice.

Yay! says Terence. We can be on the ferry together. I mean, We-can-be-on-the-ferry-together.

I already know you're not a robot, says Maurice.

I-am-on-the-bus, says Terence.

Okay, says Maurice. See you on the ferry. 

He goes back to the seat near his parents.

Terence looks out of the window at passing houses, shops, wires, poles and sky.

He thinks about asking Are we there yet?

Or Are-we-there-yet?