Monday came in with a bang. For once I felt alright. Not great, but I wasn't dizzy or tired or anything else, I felt almost normal. Well, whatever normal meant now; I was probably misremembering the feel since it had been months. Human memory wasn't really good on things like that, once enough time passed.

Still, Jeanette barely helped me at all, and for once the normal service with coffee was not present. She was still there of course, but the implication was clear: 'you feel fine, you need to get the coffee at the table today'.

That was fine by me. I'd had a shower last night this time, because there was nothing like working on a car to get you covered in oil and grease. Skipping steps was great, and having an excuse to do so was even better.

My health didn't stop Jeanette from picking out my clothes though; some nice thick jeans and a light blue sweater. With my coat, that would keep me warm enough, and that was fine with me.

I flopped back to my ultra super comfy bed and dragged everything on. Jeanette helped with my shoes and dragged me up - which was a shame, really - and then threw my coat around me.

I found the sleeves as I crossed the hall to wash my face. I'd been told washing my face every morning was important, and Sam seemed to know when I skipped a day, somehow.

She'd just stare at me with that stare of hers, her arms crossed. It was a little weird. Then again, her face always seemed clean, so she at least practiced what she preached. I didn't get it though; how could your face get dirty from just sleeping on a bed? My sheets were clean, after all.

Whatever. I was out in plenty of time to let Ian get ready, I felt great, and I was craving coffee. It was down already at my usual spot and smelled terrific. It wasn't black though, it had foam on top of it and sported a tan color. So what was this about?

Breakfast today was even weirder; it was a loaf of what looked to be italian bread cut in half and topped with fruits, like strawberries, raspberries, and mango of all things. It looked good, but it was just... weird.

The coffee tasted of caramel, of all things. With a hint of cinnamon? Something like that.

I looked to Jeeves.

"I thought something different might not go amiss. This is a traditional Dutch breakfast, called 'hagelslag'."

That was cool, Jeeves was expanding his knowledge and recipes. Surely bread topped with fruit couldn't taste bad, right?

It did not. In fact I was sure I'd want another piece. There better be another one handy.

My parents' places were set, and they had waffles. My brother's place was set with his favorite cereal, and there was toast and juice for all. Where were Mom and Dad?

"Your father is in the garage. Your mother is still asleep."

Setting Jeanette's odd new mind reading power aside, that was unusual. "Is Mom okay?"

"She is likely fine? She entered rather late last night, and stayed up for over an hour after. She is likely just fatigued."

Mom seemed to have energy to spare most of the time - but every once in awhile she just seemed to run down and sack out. It was kind of like what happened to me, only far less often.

Dad being in the garage was more normal. He was probably running one last check on the work we'd done, or putting all his tools up. He might even be cleaning any spills off the floor; I wasn't sure if he'd done that last night, but he hated having anything out of place.

Speak of the devil, or think of him... the garage door opened and Dad came in, still shuffling around in his pajamas, robe, and slippers. White pajamas, now stained slightly in spots with dirt and grease. "Good morning!" he called.

Then he eyed my coffee with suspicion. I picked it up and drank a good amount to let him know it was safe.

He made a suspicious noise while turning to his own, very black coffee. "You've got a little stuff on you."

Ah, my face! my precious just cleaned face!

I reached for a napkin, outwardly unconcerned.

A quick wipe later and I was clean again.

"You got it all," Dad offered. Rather unnecessarily in my opinion, since I'd wiped my entire face.

"Thanks. So, Mom okay?"

Dad shrugged. "You know her... she won't hesitate to tell us if she isn't."

That was true, at least about most things... Mom would let us know if she found anything lacking in what was going on around her. However, she did have a tendency to do too much and push herself a little too hard. Both of my parents did, to be honest. Did Dad recognize that in Mom? Surely he did, right?

"Alright." It was unusual to see both parental units at home on a non-weekend, but I wouldn't press, at least for now.

Upstairs I heard the bathroom door close, which meant Ian was up.

Dad picked at his waffle, then looked to my plate. "I think Jeeves is getting a bit more lazy."

I wouldn't know about that, the waffle clearly hadn't touched a store shelf. Though where we got a waffle maker tucked away, I didn't know.

"They can't all require two hours slaving over a hot stove, or whatever else. I'll trade you, if you're unhappy."

"True I guess, and heck no, I'm allergic to fruit."

He wasn't really of course, but did Jeeves know he was making a joke?

It looked like he was... or he didn't care. His focus was on making me a new - whatever the coffee had been, complete with more of that dangerous foam.

In a clear response, Jeanette stepped forward from behind me and tapped a nail on my water glass.

"Right, I get it." I drained as much of the stuff as I dared, finding it to be wonderfully chilled. My body seemed to appreciate or crave it this morning; a well-known phenomenon, as the body used that craving to let you know what it needed. Even so, my stomach was only so big, so I was going to put more of this dutch breakfast in it.

"Morning," Ian mumbled at us, stumbling into his chair and pulling his cereal close.

"Good morning."

Ian glanced up, then did a classic double take. "What even is that?"

"Laziness," Dad answered promptly. Good thing Jeeves didn't seem offended.

"A traditional Dutch breakfast. Hagel-something."

"Hagelslag," Jeeves answered promptly.

Ian just mouthed the word then shrugged and went back to pouring his sugary tooth decay into the clean bowl before him. "Mom?"

"Still sleeping."
Ian poured his milk. "Weird."

I didn't answer that comment... because of course it was a little weird, and I'd already noted it.

"So, you doing anything cool today?"

"Nah, not really. Got a chess club meeting after school, but I don't think that'll take long."

Dad was still hoping Ian would take up football, and worse, we both knew it. But he wouldn't press, and I wasn't going to hold out hope. Ian was as much a nerd as I was now. Maybe even more, since his nerdiness wasn't dictated by health reasons but pure interest.

Not that I'd wish Ian get sick or anything, that would be awful. Instead I was hoping the tests were right, and Ian was normal. Maybe I should...?

No, I'm sure the tests we both took are as good as anything I could make. Even so, a healing, or rather a regeneration machine, beckoned....

"Mistress Min."

Right, that could wait. I finished off my bread thing to find another one set before me, right along with that all important cup of caffeine that I would need to make it through to lunch... probably. I did feel alright today; full of energy, almost like I could play basketball.

Not football of course, the loss of several inches of height, fifty pounds of muscle mass, and a sturdier frame killed all possibility of that sport for me forever. But since basketball did not require me to slam into two hundred pound guys at top speed with regularity, maybe I'd try to shoot a few after school. Nothing was really wrong with my aim after all, just my noodle arms.

"How about you, you doing anything cool?" Ian asked. He was trying to play it cool, but it was pretty obvious that he wanted something more interesting than sitting in the living room watching television.

"Just the final construction and checks on Jill's body. I'll transfer her into it tomorrow, after I'm sure everything is working correctly." Any proper check of all the systems would take hours, after all.

Compared to all that, the actual suit I'd made for her to use was far less complex, and would be ready to go some time tomorrow, if I worked while some of the software checks were being made.

"Sounds cool." Ian offered, sounding hopeful.

"Think I'll try and play a little basketball before all that though, if I can."

Jeanette perked up as Ian drooped. He definitely wanted to hang out in the lab.

"An excellent plan," Jeanette complimented. "You do need more exercise."

"No argument here," Dad agreed. "You're getting a little pasty."

It was almost winter! "I'm bound to get a little pasty, the sun is angling away from us."

Dad shrugged. "I call 'em as I see 'em. You need more vitamin D."

I pointed to my fruit covered bread, and took a bite. I wasn't insane though, and wolfed it down before countering: "I have plenty of vitamin D."
Dad shrugged again. I get what he was saying, that I needed to spend less time in the lab, but he didn't understand. He just couldn't understand the desire, the pure compulsion to build, to invent. Resisting that was hard... by far the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I was certain that Dad never had anything like this in his life, prior to me or now. It was...

Well, it was a thing. It was life now, and there was nothing I could do but my best. Most days I just didn't feel well enough anymore to go outside and blow the dust off, as Mom always used to say.

In general, I needed to try harder to strike that perfect balance between doing other things and the lab work... but it was hard. Heh. Maybe I should try out a schedule. I could delegate now if I had to, to Crash and Jeeves.

Whatever, that was a problem for future me. Present me had to finish breakfast and get going before the school called to ask where I was and why I was late.

This worried Dad of course: "Slow down, you're going to choke!"

The seconds were gone, and I grabbed the coffee. "Not likely, the one thing I'm confident in is my ability to swallow things mostly whole."
Ian choked and sprayed his milk everywhere; thankfully he missed me. "What got into you? Did you actually choke? Are you three again?"

Why was Dad laughing? Hew as trying to hide it, but he was.

Ian managed to calm down. "You can't ever say that again. Think about it a second."

Think about what? All I'd said was I was confident in my ability to eat food... oh. Oh. "You're a very dirty minded little brother, you know that?"

Ian jumped up and tried to loom at me: "Me!?! You're the one who said it. There isn't a person alive who wouldn't think about... that!"

I wanted to test that hypothesis, but I think the damage to my reputation would be too great. I'd known why he wanted to see the pictures of my friends over the weekend, but this clinched it: "I think you're wrong, but I won't argue. Come on if you're coming."

He would want to at least walk to school with us. He always wanted to walk to school with us.

"Hey, wait up sis!" Ian slurped his bowl of milk down, wiped his mouth with the napkin rather than his sleeve (this time) and ran past me for his shoes. My shoes were already on of course, and clean so that Mom wouldn't yell at me for having them on in the house; Jeanette did good work.

Which reminded me, I needed to check Jeeves's power system. I didn't worry about Jeanette's so much, but Jeeves had been cobbled together out of garage parts. I really should get around to switching some of those, but I'd been busy with the bigger and better.
Jeeves hadn't even uttered a peep of complaint either. I really shouldn't wait until he felt he needed to.

But if I took Jeeves apart, even a little, he wouldn't be able to make me - make us - food. No, that was wrong and a bad thought! I'd give Jeeves a look this week, see if anything was wearing out.

The light in the foyer changed; Ian was finally done cramming his shoes on his feet... without undoing his lace knots, he just stomped his feet in them! He had the door open, and was now heading out of it. A sunny day today, with some clouds that looked like they were holding rain in the distance.

The usual tails were outside of course, making no effort to hide their presence. Which was for the best, really: I don't think Mom would be happy if her friends tried to hide themselves from me. Jeanette wouldn't be happy either, of course.

Speaking of, she was stepping along lightly behind me; she had grabbed my umbrella from the rack by the door, and had my bag hanging from a shoulder. In short, she looked more like a girl going to school than I did, with only the maid uniform spoiling the illusion. Maybe I should try and get her to wear some other clothes; I hadn't been successful so far, but hope sprang eternal and it was a new day, and all that.

"You know, I could carry my bag today."

"You could," Jeanette admitted from behind me. Then she added: "But you won't."

I could hear the smile. She meant nothing by it, and she was learning how to banter, just a bit.

Speaking of banter, Ian was ahead, moving quickly, which meant he must be seeing something he liked; no one willingly skipped like that to school. Well, no one normal anyway.

Yeah there they were; my eyes finally resolved the blobs in front of me into actual objects I could recognize... and people. My friends, headed this way, with Ricky in the lead as usual.

I waved. I wasn't going to shout and hurt my voice, or look like a goober. That honor was Ricky's.

"Morning Min!" he bellowed. Loud enough to set off car alarms, it sounded like to me.

I pointed to my waving hand.

Everyone else, being more sane, just waved back.

We fell in together, now headed toward school, and Ricky once again took the lead. It seemed rather inconvenient for my friends to all group up and head for my house first, but I wasn't going to question it; they were safer around my bots and I than just walking down the street. Probably.

"You're looking good today Min!" Maggie exclaimed, and Sam nodded. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good actually. I'm thinking I might be able to participate in P.E."

Maggie cocked her head. "Best not to tempt that, the coach gets easily confused when people who have excuses start getting active; he might come to expect it."

I caught myself frowning. Coach wasn't that bad, was he? Whatever, I could do the warm up calisthenics and go from there at least. I didn't even need to change clothes for that - I had gym clothes, but I'd only used them a few times. I mean, I should, but I just wasn't feeling it; it was a nice day for now, but I could feel the chill in the air. Even in the gym, I would likely get cold.

It was weird, or maybe even ironic, that I could overheat my brain while all but freezing to death. A joke of biology.

"Well, whatever. I feel like doing something. Maybe just walking around after school or playing some twenty-one in the park."

Ricky was right in front of me, just like that. "I'm down!"

Should have expected it, really. Ricky was always down for something basketball related. I shoved him away and towards the school. "I get it, walk or we'll be late!"

Everyone else was smiling. They looked interested too. "Twenty-one is more fun with more people."

Maggie answered. "Of course we'll come, Min."

Sam nodded, then poked me in the shoulder. "Think less."

What could I say to that? "I'll give it my best shot."

Ralph and Ian were mostly silent, mumbling to each other off to the right.

Whatever, they would be following me home anyway, they could either opt in or not then.

"So, what's for lunch today?"

I turned back to Maggie. "No idea at all. Breakfast was a kind of bread with fruit on top. Supposedly a traditional Danish thing."

"Huh. Cool."

"What's next?" Sam asked.

A good question. "After Jill and the suit?"
Sam nodded.

"Not sure." It was obvious people were worried I'd just make more androids, but that wasn't my intention. After Jill, I was done, we had enough. At least, I think we had enough. There were other applications one could turn an android to, like a full medic rather than a home care model, but... no, leave it alone for now. New bots should have a clear purpose anyway.

"Drone?" Sam asked.

A drone? Like one of those military ones? That would get me in so much trouble.

"You mean like those little RC things?" Maggie butted in. "That would be so cool! We could... er you could fly it around and maybe take pictures and stuff. Whatever those things do."

"Oh, you meant those little ones. Yeah I could probably do that. And they take video too, you can even watch where they go if you want." It wouldn't be that hard to make. Heck I could probably just go to the nearest tech store and buy one, it wouldn't be anything we hadn't seen before.

If I made it big enough, I could add a few things though. A few bells and whistles to make it a bit more fun.

Sure, why not?

"Jeanette. how are we fixed for petty cash?" I had some shipments of rare metals coming this week, and a few pallets of odds and ends which Dad was going to let me store in the garage provided I didn't order too much, but I hadn't seen my bank statement in a month.

Jeanette sped up, then slowed in front of me, walking backwards with no apparent difficulty. Then the showoff pulled a monocle of all things from the pocket of her apron and fitted it on her right eye. "I do believe the correct term is 'filthy rich', mistress Min. Which seems odd since you are clean, but I will not argue with the internet."

I stifled the laugh at the haughty tone and silliness. "See that you do not, that way lies madness."

My android maid bowed perfectly, still walking backwards, the monocle still in place. "Of course. What is your will?"

She came back up and smiled, her eyes flicking between us all, gauging the reaction.

I mean, she got a solid ten out of ten from me. "So, if I were to ask Jeeves to go to a tech store and pick out a drone, he could do so?"

The response was immediate: "With ease, mistress Min. Would you like him to? Would you like any particular model?"

"Sure, if he can get there." I mean the nearest tech store was the next town over, so it was miles away. Oh, I better lock that down. "I mean get there without breaking any laws. No grand theft auto or other shenanigans. The model doesn't matter."

"Of course," Jeanette assured me again. He shall depart and buy the item after seeing to your lunch."

"Thanks. Tell him thanks too." Always best to thank your bots.

Ralph closed in: "How does she do that?"

"Do what?" I looked back to Jeanette, now walking normally. She did have an ear half pointed our way though. "Walk backwards?"

"No, not walk backwards," Ralph scoffed. "How does she contact Jeeves?"

Oh right, normally she'd use my cell phone, which I was sure she had on her somewhere. Probably in my bag. "Well she has a type of cell phone in her head."

It wasn't really in her head, but I wasn't going to tell anyone where things actually were in my androids. Too much risk.

"Huh. Cool. So they can all talk to each other?"

Was he not paying attention at all? "Yes. And web surf, and look up stuff on the internet, and even run their own web sites if they want. Jeanette is particularly fond of kitten videos."

At least, that was what we watched together when she borrowed my laptop to amuse me.

Ralph gave Jeanette another look, clearly seeing her in a new light."Huh. Kittens, I guess I can see that. More of a dog person, myself."
Yeah dogs were cool, cooler than cats were. We'd never had one, Mom wouldn't stand for it, but we'd always wanted one. The closest we'd come to that was our pet rats, Snarky and Lefty. We'd taken good care of the little guys, and they'd lived a good long rat life, but they'd both died within days of each other years before.

They'd also both been afraid of Mom, which I didn't blame them for. Mom and animals in general just did not get along. Some people had it, and some people didn't.

As a result though, I didn't know if I had it or not. I'd only find out when I moved out at eighteen.

"Kittens," Sam nodded along in solidarity, Jeanette moved again so they could share a fist bump. The school sprang into my view, and Jeanette finally stowed her monocle.

Everyone else let us by, and that was certainly not because my android was in the lead and ready to ever so gently move people out of my way. It was kind of like how people got out of the way of the cool kids... except we weren't the cool kids. Were we the cool kids?

No, surely not. I'd been cool kid adjacent before, but my reputation had taken a serious hit with my transformation. At least it wasn't bad enough for me to get picked on. Well, no more than a few harsh words at least. Besides, being popular seemed to be exhausting; it hadn't done any favors for Pamela after all.

All Pamela did now was run around scowling, constantly unhappy.

Flash was staring at me as we all came in. Just backed to the wall like everyone else and flat staring at me, again. At least he wasn't doing anything else; as long as he just stared I was fine.

I made it to my first class and we all split up; we'd meet again under the tree for lunch of course, for as long as we could do that.
Physics was still childishly easy anymore, I was scoring an A plus while just skimming the book, and even carrying Ricky through our group projects. Ralph was right behind that, but I think he put more work in.

Mr. Welch was there of course, and he spared a smile for me as I passed. Or maybe it was for Jeanette, who was right behind me. It didn't really matter, he was a teacher, his heart wasn't in it. I took my customary seat and Jeanette moved to stand in the back, as per usual.
We weren't due any surprises right now - we might get an assignment back today, if Mr. Welch had managed to grade them all. That wasn't always a certainty, but with it being a Monday, it was highly likely.

We also started a new chapter in the book, which I'd already read because I'd been bored. Speed reading was both a gift and a curse, because one often ran out of things to read.

As expected, after the bell rang and the roll was taken the papers came back. Ricky showed me his while I folded mine. He'd missed two questions, but that was enough for an A. I hadn't missed any, but this wasn't about me and what I could do. I wouldn't be throwing my grades in anyone's face.

Well, maybe some of the other nerds, if they got uppity at me. Nah, that was stupid.

I could probably just stop coming to school at this point and still pass. It was obvious by now that my many sick days weren't messing anything up; I could just make the work up when given the chance. I had every single time before. My grasp of science especially seemed almost instinctive... it was a little frightening if I were being honest, even in the comfort of my own head. How had that information got there? The understanding?

Another thing to look into, once I found the time. I needed to bank that fire though, or I'd find myself in the nurses' office or something similar.
At least Jeanette hadn't moved, which was a good sign.

The droning began, Mr. Welch's lecture bearing the feel of a well-worn path he'd trod a thousand times before - which he probably had. I settled back in my seat to listen; maybe he'd surprise me with some hidden gem of knowledge of ray optics I didn't already know from the book.