Children flocked to the school bursting with excitement. Boxes, bags and carts bravely accompanied the young minds inside. For today was the Grand Science Fête. A cheerfully bright banner had been draped across the door frame. Posters littered the walls at quirky angles.

At last there was a child at every table, organised according to their project. Except for the table at the back of the large hall. It stood quiet and sorrowful, forgotten and unloved. Despite being promised a part in the fête. Just as it’s legs began to shake a tiny pair of arms shoved a heavy box onto the surface. “Sorry, I’m late,” those three words barely a whisper in the hubbub.

Clambering onto a chair the child carefully removed the contents of their box. A single robot emerged from hiding. Square head with bright red button eyes, blue triangle nose and a stretching smile. It’s neck was made of a movable tube allowing a clear two-hundred-and-forty degree view. Rectangular chest puffed out proudly as its tube-like arms dangled by its side, hands curled around into capital “C’s”. Gentle hands moved the robots feet to make the legs stand smartly together.

“There you go Charlie. Look how many people are here! If you behave today I promise to take you to the big sapphire lake,” the child murmured to their robot. Jumping off the chair, they stood proudly next to Charlie. Waiting for the questions and stares.

Together they felt the air fizzing with excitement, and heard the hum of the bright lights. From across the hall the scent of rotten eggs drifted in rolling waves contaminated every human nose. It must be time for the volcanoes and other experiments. “Bet you’re glad you can’t smell anything,” giggled the child.

After an eternity of chattering away to their best friend, a teacher approached the child’s table. Eying the robot with cynicism she asked, “Why have you bought a robot to a science fête?”

“This is not any robot, Miss Evens, this is Charlie! I bought Charlie along because engineering and the mechanisms are all impossible without knowing some science!” Indignation laced their bubbling words. A soft hum and the teacher clicked away in her heels rapping on the wooden boards. “Don’t worry about Miss Evens, she’s just a sour cow.” They tried to reassure their robot by validating his legitimacy.

By lunchtime only a few parents had taken pity on Charlie and his human friend. No one seemed to care how special this robot was. “I’m just going over there to get a hotdog, I will be able to see you at all times. Promise that I will be back,” the child pointed to a food stand a short distance away, before patting Charlie’s arms lightly.

Their hurried footsteps seemed to be amplified by the vast space, or were they just being paranoid? Glancing over their shoulder they saw the group of mean boys crowding around their table. ‘Will Charlie be alright?’ They wondered. Muttering their thanks to the vendor, who had seen the trouble brewing and had a hotdog prepared already.

Tripping over each step they rushed back towards Charlie. When there was a sickening crash and pained whir. “CHARLIE!” Screamed the child lurching into a run, dropping their food. Scattering the mean boys like startled geese, the child dropped to their knees staring at the fractured body parts.

Gently, they began scooping the parts together trying to find every lost part of their best friend. “No, Charlie, be alright buddy. I got you,” their frantic words got swallowed by heaving sobs. Tears started to drip from panicked ocean eyes, before turning into a deluge. Yanking the box off the table, the child reached inside to find the tools that their Grandfather had used. Uncaring that a crowd had gathered or the whole room was deafeningly silent.

The tangle of wires and shattered parts beyond repair. Deep down the child knew that Charlie was forever broken, laying down the oily screwdriver they felt their heart crumble into thousands of tiny pieces. Pulling out the soft plum felt blanket, the child placed all of Charlie’s parts inside. Wrapping up their best friend, like the ambulance people had done to their grandfather.

Lowering him into the cardboard box, the child surrounded the deceased with all the tools that the ‘Toymaker in the sky’ would need to let Charlie live on with his father. Compassionately, they picked up the box and walked solemnly from the school hall. Ignoring the teachers who tried to stop them, Charlie was dead. Their heart was smashed and aching.

Until the sparkling sapphire waters of the lake lapped at their shoes, their feet didn’t stop moving. Sitting down heavily on the big oak log the child perched the box at their feet.

Reminiscing about the months they had spent in their grandfathers shed helping build Charlie, and eating biscuits swiped from grandmas baking tin. They could still hear their grandfathers rumbly laugh and warm voice explaining everything about building things; from cars, to lawnmowers, to robots. He had been a mechanic and engineer in his day, eager to pass on this knowledge to his only grandchild.

Swearing on a digestive biscuit the child had promised to look after Charlie, their best friend in the entire world. Now there was no more Charlie. No more best friend. Pulling off their socks and shoes the child waded out into the cold waters, carrying the box aloft. Only when the water reached their armpits did the child slowly lower the box into the deep waters.

“Sorry grandfather I couldn’t look after Charlie, he got broken at school. I just wanted to show how clever you were. So now he is joining you with the Toymaker in the sky, I hope he finds you safely.” Their tiny voice trembled and shook as they spoke. Knowing that, putting Charlie in the same lake where their grandfather now lived, there was a better chance of them finding each other again.