New subscribers — You can read the earlier chapters of the new Teenage Robot story (and other newsletters) by clicking the link below

https://robrenzetti.com/newsletter-archive/

The days following the Tremorton High talent show were the darkest of Jenny Wakeman’s existence. And not just because some crazy old rich guy across the state line tried to block out the sun. XJ9 dismantled his giant space umbrella during her lunch period, with time to spare. But whether or not the sun shined, all was gloom in Jenny’s social orbit.

Everyone, absolutely everyone, was humming or singing, “The Girl Who is a Robot,” the song Epiphany Crust had performed to commemorate Jenny's humiliation after her airfoils had malfunctioned and she'd gassed the entire talent show audience. Jenny heard the tune in the halls of her high school and in the streets of Tremorton. If people weren’t already crooning it when Jenny came upon them, they launched into a full-throated performance after spotting her. The only break from these unwelcome serenades seemed to be when students stopped singing and collapsed in a fit of laughter.

Using the mantra function of her positronic brain, Jenny recorded an affirmation in the most soothing voice her internal system could generate. She engaged “repeated reassurance” mode to block out the warbling and chortling. It’s only a fad. It’ll blow over. It’s only a fad. It’ll blow over.

But then word came that the local radio station, KWAK, aka “The Mighty Quake,” had invited Piff to record “The Girl Who is a Robot” so the song could be shared with a wider audience. A worldwide audience.

After hearing the news, Jenny marched down the school hall toward Piff, her robot eyes glowing with a red-hot hatred that could easily turn into a white-hot laser blast. Brad and Sheldon tried to hold her back, but only ended up being dragged behind her.

“It’s only a fad!” cried Brad.

“It’ll blow over!” screamed Sheldon.

“I’ve got to stop her from recording that song,” growled Jenny. “Whatever it takes.”

Sheldon tried to sound authoritative. “The comics are very clear on this subject — cold blooded murder is a definite no-no for superheroes.”

“Got no blood, cold or otherwise,” said Jenny. “And you can’t prove murder without a body.”

Sheldon threw himself at Jenny’s feet and sobbed, “Please don’t obliterate Epiphany Crust!”

Brad joined him there and bawled, “We don’t want to visit you in prison! It’s a long drive and I still don’t have my license!!”

As they blubbered, Jenny sighed and said, “Stop crying. You’re going to get my toes all rusty.” When that didn’t work she added, “Alright, alright. I won’t blast Piff into oblivion. For now.”

Jenny allowed Brad and Sheldon to pull her back the other way. Sheldon said, “Great! C’mon. We’ll go to my house and come up with a plan to stop Piff from making that record.”

But, as often happened in the life of the teenage robot, things did not go as planned.