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Shortcake had arrived first at the main entrance of the West Mall. She looked around and saw a whole mall decorated and sparkling. Friends and families, businessmen, all kinds of cutting-edge technologies and devices, and eye-catching advertisements.
She also noticed the various nandroids in their formal or slightly modified attire, which could be seen scattered around with some regularity.
Shortcake had come to this mall to meet a friend she hadn't seen in a while, and she wouldn't be long in arriving.
“Here!” “Hey!” Shortcake waves at Polly as soon as she sees her in the crowd.
“Hey, Shortcake! How are you? It's so good to see you again.” Polly approaches and they give each other a big hug.
“I'm great, how about you?” Shortcake replies immediately, full of energy and joy at seeing her friend.
“I'm fine. And sorry I'm late. You know how it is, the bus was late as usual...” Polly explained, looking a little tired, as if she had just run 2km from the bus stop, only to arrive late.
“Oh, it's okay, I understand perfectly,” Shortcake replied, very understanding. “And don't worry, I just got here too.”
“Well, what do you want to see first, Shortcake?” Polly asked.
“Hmm... I wanted to go to a store that sells really cute animal miniatures! I want to buy one or two more for my collection!” Shortcake said enthusiastically. “What about you?”
“Well... I think I'll watch that old movie about the man who wanted to be a man...” Polly replied, a little embarrassed by her refined audiovisual tastes.
“Oh. Yes!” Shortcake remembered. "You told me about that! Let's go see it, then. When does it start?"
“Well, I think it's supposed to be in half an hour...” Polly informed her.
“Oh. We almost missed it. I'm glad you told me. Let's go now.” Shortcake replied with a big smile to her friend.
/=/
They both went straight to the movie theater in the shopping mall. They bought tickets for the film and entered the theater, which was half empty, such was the peculiarity of the film, which had gone out of fashion several decades ago, if it could be said that it had ever been in fashion.
The Belgian-produced film was about a young soldier who had fought in the Great Congo War, but suffered from undiagnosed problems and only got himself into trouble. Eventually, the young man was abandoned and rescued by a foreign expeditionary force, and managed, in the end, to escape the horrors of war that tormented him.
/=/
“Come on, Polly, didn't you like the movie? You said you'd been looking forward to seeing it for weeks,” Shortcake asked Polly, who looked downcast.
“It's not that... I think I'm just tired, I haven't slept much,” Polly said.
“Well, that sounds bad. A good night's sleep is essential for the complete revitalization of any android, and it guarantees energy for the whole day!” Shortcake said, looking directly at Polly. “Why didn't you get enough sleep?”
"Oh, don't even ask. At home, my family decided to host some of Mr. Spiegel's friends for two weeks. Two! And can you believe they brought three children!? All younger than my Michelle!! And who had to play with them all? Make food for them all? And put them all to bed at the same time!? Yes, it was all me... phew..." Polly vented, exhausted. They both sat down on a bench.
“Oh, Polly, that sounds like too much work for one nandroid...” Shortcake comforted her friend. “And how did no one else notice that?”
“Well, they were more concerned with having fun together and showing off how talented their children are to each other... And they are! But then I was the only one who had to do the dirty work. But after all, that's what I was made for, right?” Polly looks at Shortcake. “Or at least I was...”
Shortcake holds Polly's hand. "What? Polly. It's not like that at all! First of all, no, you weren't built to carry out all the tasks. You're a nandroid, not a slave. And secondly, I'm sure they noticed how hard you worked! And besides, even though I was created with special adaptations to serve customers at the café where I work, I've also had to take care of many children several times. And I'm a nandroid like you!"
“Yes, I know, Shortcake... you're right...” Polly replies, looking at the floor. "I just think that sometimes I feel a little lonely, that's all.
“It's okay.” Shortcake hugs Polly. “We all have those moments sometimes.”
They hug for 5 seconds.
“Hey, I know exactly what you need!” Shortcake remembered, composing herself and smiling.
“What?” Polly asked.
“A miniature animal!” Shortcake looked confidently ahead and then at Polly. “Come on, follow me.”
Both robots entered a store selling painting supplies, DIY items, and various other goods. There was everything there, even miniature animals! Both hurried over to where there were two entire shelves, full with miniatures of animals, dinosaurs, plants, robots, action figures, and even famous actors.
“See, Polly? Tiny, cute little animals!” Shortcake said tenderly.
“I see, yes...” Polly looks around and finds the animals cute, but doesn't show much interest.
“Look at these. They even have beavers and chimpanzees. And baby chimpanzees!”
“Hm. They're cute, I guess.” Polly wasn't that attached. She wanted something different.
“So, which one are you going to choose?” Shortcake asked her enthusiastically.
“Aaaaa... I don't know.” Polly didn't know if she really wanted a miniature from the store.
“Hmmm... I’ve got it!” Shortcake had another idea. “What if we make our own animals?”
“Oh. Yes!” Polly smiled, excited by the idea.
The girls ended up buying modeling clay instead of miniatures. They left the mall and went to a table in a nearby park to try out their modeling clay.
Each made a unique miniature for the other. Shortcake made a big, powerful elephant, while Polly made a beautiful sea lion.
The two had a lot of fun making their creations together and spent a good while doing so. And in the end, that was exactly what Polly needed.
They said goodbye with a big hug and lots of emotion, and each took the other's pet home. Neither of them ever forgot that wonderful day they spent together.
The End.