{"id":120,"date":"2014-12-02T18:30:53","date_gmt":"2014-12-02T18:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dlakewriter.com\/home\/?p=120"},"modified":"2014-12-02T18:30:53","modified_gmt":"2014-12-02T18:30:53","slug":"robodoc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dlakewriter.com\/home\/robodoc\/","title":{"rendered":"RoboDoc"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"401cover<\/a>RoboDoc is the story of Jerry Kindall<\/span>, a high school senior and the best video game player anyone had ever seen, his girlfriend Sarah, who gives Jerry a Christmas present of her pregnancy, Jerry\u2019s first job, his hard-nosed ex-Marine boss Hank, and Max, the robot he brings to a level of success unimagined by any and all involved. Jerry and Sarah make the difficult choice of having their baby. Although they are not ready for the physical and emotional hardships that decision entails, they take on the challenge. Jerry, Sarah, and Max grow and mature until Max\u2019s success triggers greed in those around them, and potential mortal danger to them all. Set in the development laboratory of a medical technology company and the surrounding San Diego neighborhoods, spotlights the best of America\u2019s youth and its innovation.<\/p>\n

[toggle title_open=”Close Excerpt 1″ title_closed=”Excerpt 1″ hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]She sat waiting on the lowered tailgate of a faded green, old pickup jammed into a spot in the student parking lot. She didn\u2019t wave when she spotted him starting down the stairs next to the Grossmont High School sign. \u201cWhat took you so long? I\u2019ve been waiting here forever!\u201d she said when he reached her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, the bell only rang five minutes ago and the science building is all the way across campus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He slid up onto the tailgate next to her. When he leaned to put his arm around her, she yelled, \u201cDon\u2019t touch me! Stay back.\u201d<\/p>\n

He dropped his arm. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? Our last Christmas break in high school starts today. No classes for two weeks. Presents for everybody. You\u2019re supposed to be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I\u2019m sure,\u201d she said in disgust. \u201cI\u2019m three weeks late for my period, so I took the test today. I\u2019m pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding me, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. You promised you\u2019d be careful. You did it. Beast!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was. We were,\u201d he stammered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019ll I tell my father? He\u2019s gonna kill me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re pregnant,\u201d he said, stunned.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so loud. Everyone can hear you.\u201d She put her hand over his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019ll I do? I\u2019m scared. What\u2019ll I tell mom? What\u2019ll I do?\u201d<\/p>\n

He wrapped his arms around her. She stopped shaking, put her head on his shoulder and started crying. He held her until he felt her go limp. \u201cJust don\u2019t tell anybody, Sarah. Don\u2019t tell your mother. Don\u2019t tell your friends, nobody. Don\u2019t say a thing to anyone. We\u2019ll figure it all out by the time school starts again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d she sobbed. \u201cI can\u2019t, I mean, I\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is all going to be all right. Don\u2019t worry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am worried. I\u2019m scared. What\u2019ll I do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK then, be worried. Be scared. It\u2019s natural. Just don\u2019t tell anybody. Don\u2019t act nervous. Act like you\u2019re having a great Christmas,\u201d he said. \u201cReally. Who knows what next Christmas will be like?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah stared to cry again.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, don\u2019t tell anyone until we figure out what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try. I\u2019ll try my very hardest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll do fine, I know you will,\u201d he said. Then he hugged her again.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

The day after Christmas Jerry\u2019s dad somehow managed to hear the doorbell over the sounds of the video game blasting from the family room. He opened the door just as the sound of the loudest explosion yet echoed through the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Sarah,\u201d he said. \u201cCome on in.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two walked into the family room. \u201cJerry,\u201d his dad said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got company. I\u2019ll be in the shop if you need anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHang on a second,\u201d Jerry said without turning his head. The action on the 54 inch wall mounted monitor continued for a few seconds before it paused. A second or two later the screen went dark. Satisfied, Jerry swiveled his chair around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s you. I didn\u2019t expect you so early,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is the upgrade to GI Sweeper. Got it for Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wrinkled his brow. \u201cAre you feeling OK? You look a little pale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little sick this morning, but I didn\u2019t throw up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerry jumped up from his chair. He moved to Sarah\u2019s side, took her hand, and led her to the leather couch. \u201cHere, sit down.\u201d He put his arm around her and gave her a hug.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve decided what to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Jerry sat quietly, waiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve really thought about this. I\u2019m not too good at school, so I decided a career isn\u2019t for me. I haven\u2019t got any special talents. All I know is that I really like kids.So, I decided that what I\u2019m here on earth for is to be a mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerry stared into her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to have my baby, Jerry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerry\u2019s head dropped. He put his hand over his forehead. He gazed down at his lap. Neither spoke for several moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to have my baby. I\u2019m going to raise it, care for it, and turn it into a wonderful person. I\u2019m going to do it whether you\u2019re around or not. It\u2019s my baby. I\u2019m going to take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our baby,\u201d Jerry whispered.<\/p>\n

It was Sarah\u2019s turn to stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve thought a lot too,\u201d Jerry said. \u201cI decided that it was your choice. I\u2019m glad you made it. I decided that if you were going to have it, then I would be right there with you, all the way, no matter what. I\u2019ll be there to take care of you and the baby. That\u2019s what I\u2019m supposed to do. That\u2019s what I want to do. That\u2019s what I\u2019m going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah hugged him. She cried. When she could finally talk, she asked \u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerry whispered into her ear. \u201cI don\u2019t know. All I know is that a zillion others have gone through it and lived happily ever after. We will too.\u201d
\n[\/toggle]<\/p>\n

[toggle title_open=”Close Excerpt 2″ title_closed=”Excerpt 2″ hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Jerry trailed behind the wheelchair across the large open room. Hank threw open a set of double doors and rolled into a small room, not much bigger than a walk-in closet.<\/p>\n

The two of them stopped in front of what Jerry thought might just pass for a very large beer keg; round, silver, and flared at the base like bell bottom pants. Protruding from each side was one of its four arms. Equally spaced around the top were twelve high-speed combination color, black-and-white, and infrared television cameras. The whole assembly sat on a chassis sporting a pair of caterpillar treads. Three different antennas poked up out of the top.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice,\u201d Jerry whispered under his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let it fool you,\u201d Hank said. \u201cThere\u2019s really not much to it. Disposable you know. Your truck has much more in the way of mechanical stuff than RoboDoc. It\u2019s a simple machine. Except for the electronics, of course. They\u2019re really something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, I figure the first thing is to make it move,\u201d Jerry said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight on, Boot. There are four wheels under that belly. Two steer, two are fixed. You get to decide which two are which.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWheels, sir? I just see tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWheels for smooth surfaces. He\u2019ll do thirty on a road,\u201d Hank said. \u201cThe tracks are for rough terrain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVision, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDay, night, bright, dim, he can see in any condition. In any direction. Binocular vision too. All you have to do is pick which cameras to use.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan he recognize where he\u2019s going, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood question, Boot,\u201d Hank laughed. \u201cThere\u2019s basic daylight road capability already installed. Night, especially night off-road, well, we\u2019ve got to teach him that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he know any evasive moves? Any moves at all?\u201d Jerry paused a moment before adding, \u201cSir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow then, Boot. You\u2019re the video game expert. You\u2019ve got all the moves down pat. All you have to do is teach them all to him.\u201d
\nJerry shifted his gaze from RoboDoc to the man sitting in the wheelchair beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got \u2018em,\u201d Hank said. \u201cYou teach \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, I crashed a zillion times learning some of those moves. What if RoboDoc crashes and breaks?\u201d Jerry asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cStart slow, but RoboDoc\u2019s tough. I doubt you\u2019ll break him. If you do, it\u2019ll give the lads up front something to work on to improve him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides, you\u2019ll have everything worked out on the simulator first,\u201d Hank said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, sir. I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it simulates right and crashes in the field, or the other way around, well, the guys up front need to know that too,\u201d Hank said.
\nJerry went up and touched RoboDoc\u2019s arm, and then the shiny body. \u201cIt\u2019s cold, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course it is, Boot. You haven\u2019t given it life yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be your second life this year, eh, Boot?\u201d[\/toggle]<\/p>\n

[toggle title_open=”Close Readers Group Discussion Questions” title_closed=”Readers Group Discussion Questions” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What does the title \u201cRoboDoc\u201d suggest to you? When does Max appear in the story as a baby, and how does he mature? Is the prospect of having robots become doctors a good thing or not? Why?<\/li>\n
  2. Throughout the novel, Jerry, Sarah and Max must face life changing decisions at different stages of their individual maturation. How does each character\u2019s response evolve as the story progresses? Are the characters able to understand the relative importance of each decision when t occurs?<\/li>\n
  3. Few high school boys ever try to support the girls they impregnate, and fewer still succeed. Jerry does. What elements in his character and background compel him to make the effort? As the pregnancy progresses, what elements reinforce his resolve?<\/li>\n
  4. The character of Sarah undergoes dramatic changes in the novel. She goes from her first appearance as a frightened, pregnant teen-age girl, to a secure bride-to-be and mother-to-be. Why do you think she originally choose to have intercourse with Jerry? Do you think she fell in love with him then, or at any time in the story? When did she consciously realize he was the right boy for her?<\/li>\n
  5. Jerry is forced to work in a strict military like environment all night, yet must change into a high school environment tempered by romance during the day. How does he manage that? Do the other characters relate to his plight? If so, how?<\/li>\n
  6. Hank fills many rolls in the novel; disciplinarian, teacher, counselor, protector, savior mentor. What essential elements of his character remain steadfast during all these rolls? Is his identity influenced by those around him? In what ways does Hank represent the typical R&D first line supervisor?<\/li>\n
  7. Jerry realizes early in his job that he is, in a very important way, giving \u201clife\u201d to his infant robot. How does that realization affect his relationship with Sarah? Does she understand and relate to his relationship with Max?<\/li>\n
  8. A family\u2019s religion can affect teenagers in a variety of ways. How did her family\u2019s religion affect Sarah? How did it affect Jerry? How did it affect Sarah and Jerry\u2019s relationship?<\/li>\n
  9. What is the significance of removing Max\u2019s programming after every shift? Did Hank choose to do it too soon? When confronted, did he reveal his order too soon? Did this activity make Jerry and Hank good or bad employees?<\/li>\n
  10. Max\u2019s unexpected success has a significant impact on all the authorities within the company, and by the company\u2019s customer, the US military. The affects include greed, technical admiration, protectionism, and exploitation. Which characters were affected in which ways, and why?[\/toggle]<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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