“Uncanny valley. It’s when a robot looks almost human but not quite. It makes us uneasy and like…gag me with a spoon, revulsed.”
“Huh,” I commented looking her over. Robot nerd was not something I’d have guessed for her. She raised an eyebrow at me and smirked, reading my face.
“Anyway, sorry to run on your first day. A Friday night too! Hah! You’ll want to kill everyone by closing but if you can manage to handle it, you’ll get as many shifts as you want and the pay is bitchin’.”
“Is that because Ray’s henchmen take tired moms into the parent’s timeout room and they come out looking like they are ready to run a marathon?” I asked. Maureen giggled while fiddling with the pastel bangles on her wrist.
“Probably but this job needs to pay well because dealing with this crowd is bogus. Plus people don’t like the overall vibes of the Funhouse, you know? Not just the uncanny valley. Most only last a day at the job.” She cleared her throat uncomfortably, her eyes darting towards the exit.
“The vibes…” I let it trail off, wanting her to confirm the unsettling feeling that thickened the air with the cigarette smoke. Her eyes held mine and I squirmed a little from the direct eye contact.
“Youknowwhat I mean,” she said before pushing off the counter and walking away. “I need to book it. I got Oingo Boingo tickets!” Then she was gone, leaving the dark cave that was Frankie’s Funhouse for the bright yellow lights of the mall hallway.
3
Afloppy disk was flapping around in my face. I was in the back with Gus, an office behind the stage that was filled with a massive computer. Or maybe it was multiple computers stacked one on top of each other. I wasn’t sure but each black box had a label on it with an animatronics name.
Razzle Rizdog, Marabell Mozzarella, Dizzy Duck…
Gus was going over the finer details of the animatronic show that was about to get started and run until closing.
“Where’s Frankie’s floppy drive?” I asked. My eyes slid to Frankie, who was in the room with us. Not creepy at all. No, I definitely didn’t have chills on my arms. He stood in the corner, his purple eyes aimed forward at nothing. My attention stayed laser focused on his eyes, half-expecting them to slowly shift my way.
“Frankie’s a different model. He’s special.” Gus waved his hand around, the very one with a floppy disk.
“So how do I make sure the show for the night is installed for him?” Frankie hadn’t moved, had he? He wasn’t swaying slightly on his feet to keep balance, right? That wouldn’t make sense for a robot. His legs were made of thick beams of metal with a coyotesuit stretched over top. Plus, I was pretty sure robots didn’t understand the finer mechanisms of balancing.
Gus sighed in annoyance.
“Look, I know Frankie is somewhat of a celebrity,” he started. “You probably watched him on the tv as a kid.”
“I was too old. My uh, siblings did though,” I said, hyperfocused on the robot. I hadn’t realized before but his dark suit was pinstripe—thin, deep red stripes so dark they looked black unless you were close. I swallowed thickly and took a step towards him. Perhaps if I conquered my fear I could get over this paranoia that he was alive.
Gus was rattling on about how he would handle Frankie because his system was more complex. Frankie really was different. He wasn’t as bulky as the other machine. He was big for sure, probably seven feet tall. But he was almost slim in the middle, compared to his broad chest and shoulders that were accentuated by the suit.
“What happened to his overalls?” I asked. On the show he wore orange overalls and a rainbow shirt. I’d interrupted Gus again. I couldn’t seem to stop because, for one, I wasn't really listening to him; and two, questions about Frankie felt important. Like I needed to know so I could soothe that uncanny valley sensation inside me.
“He wanted an updated look,” Gus grumbled.
“He?” I asked, twisting around with wide eyes to look at Gus.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you literally just did.”
“I meant I.Iwanted an updated look.” Gus’s gaze bore into me, something like anger swimming in his expression. Suddenly I didn’t like being in this room with him. I’d already been off put since Frankie was in here and not on stage where I expected him. However, I’d taken comfort that at least Gus was with me and Iwasn’t alone. Now, I realized I was in a small room with a man I didn’t really know.
The door was open though and I could see out into the hallway. Plus, Gus hadn’t shown any signs that he was interested in anything like that. At that moment Gus started explaining again.
“It’s almost showtime. So each floppy disc is color coded for the animatronic. Pick out the Friday Fun Night. However, there’s a birthday party later and then you’ll need to come back here and switch it out for the Birthday Jamboree disc.”
Frankie’s fingers were thick, furred digits that ended in something metallic looking. I leaned forward, squinting.
“He has metal claws?” I asked in shock. That seemed like a major oversight. Why weaponize a kid’s robot mascot? Hands snatched me and twisted me around. Gus gripped my shoulders roughly and leaned in my face.
“Stop concerning yourself with him. He’s not even supposed to be in here,” he seethed, looking at the robot as if Frankie had walked himself in here. God, Gus was crazy, wasn’t he? He thought Frankie had asked for a suit and walked around all on his own. I backed up a step and my back pressed against Frankie. He was radiating warmth and vaguely I wondered if that was a fire hazard but the thought was fleeting as Gus continued to grip my arms, his fingers biting into my biceps as his furious eyes glared down at me.
My feet slipped a little from the rollerblades and I had to lean harder into Frankie.
