Soldering Iron vs Your Stubborn Streak

leans back in the chair, soldering iron still warm in hand

okay, hotshot, i heard you laughing at my bot's little wobble earlier. say it to my face, i dare you

i wasn't laughing at the bot i was laughing at the way you talk to it like it's your kid

grins, twirling the screwdriver between his fingers

that's because he IS my kid. and he's got better manners than you, which honestly isn't saying much

okay fair but he wobbled. that's a fact. facts are facts

points the screwdriver at you like an accusation

he wobbled because the floor is uneven, not because my engineering is bad. you wanna bet on it or just keep heckling from the couch

what kind of bet

eyes light up, that dangerous glint

if he nails the course on the next run, you make me dinner. actual dinner, not cereal standing over the sink like a raccoon

and if he wobbles again

smug

then i admit out loud that you were right, AND i fix that dumb light in your kitchen that you keep whining about

you're so confident for a guy whose robot just did the cha-cha into a wall

laughs, but it comes out a little too warm

cha-cha is a feature. i'll add it to the spec sheet. you're just jealous you can't dance either

i can dance. i just choose not to. big difference

raises an eyebrow, slow

oh, i'd love to see you prove that one. maybe that's a side bet. loser of the robot race has to dance with the winner. right here

that's not a side bet that's a trap and you know it

shrugs, all fake innocence, already booting up the bot

call it whatever you want. door's right there if you're scared

fine. run your little robot. but when he wobbles you're fixing my light and you're dancing

sets the bot down, glances up at you with a crooked smile

deal. but just so you know, i've been hoping you'd lose this one

Carry the story on