Post by sparkpikachu on Sept 26, 2021 18:12:14 GMT -7
Author's note:
I was inspired to write this by a brief comment in the Teddy Ruxpin Adventure Series story, "Uncle Grubby." In that story, Teddy mentions that Fuzz lost his family, which led Gimmick to adopt the baby Fob. I wondered how that might have happened and decided to write my own version. Apologies if Gimmick seems out of character. He's still the absent-minded inventor but I wanted to show his more fatherly side towards Fuzz. Let me know what you think of this story.
Gimmick and Fuzz
It was a beautiful spring morning. The sun shone brightly and the air smelled fresh. It had rained the night before. Not a downpour but enough to leave that clean, moist quality in the atmosphere.
Newton Gimmick had just finished a quick breakfast. He wanted to finish as much work as he could on his new invention, the Airship. It was nearly complete. He needed to finish sewing the airbag. After that, only a few more modifications were necessary to make a test flight possible. Gimmick was eager for that to occur. If he could make it fly, the Airship would be his best invention yet.
Before Gimmick got started, he decided to step out onto his front porch for some fresh air. It really was a beautiful day. The sun was warm on his face. He could also smell the sweet scent of opening flowers. The sounds of chirping birds greeted his ears. Thankfully, his neighbor, Tweeg hadn't started firing his canon yet. Gimmick was used to the regular booming by now. When he had first moved into this valley, the sound was quite a shock. The other comfort about Tweeg was his horrible aim. He couldn't hit anything if his life depended on it, meaning that Gimmick's house was a perfectly safe place to be.
Gimmick took a deep breath. "You know," he said to himself with his characteristic stutter, "I think I'll go for a walk before getting to work. It's such a nice day. Besides, the Airship can wait a little longer. I'm not expecting company."
Gimmick was in a more rational frame of mind today, being able to remember to take time to enjoy his surroundings. Sometimes, he would get wrapped up in his work to the point of frustration, which was never fun.
Gimmick left the porch, heading for the nearby woods. After walking for a while, he heard a strange sound.
"Peep peep peep," said a tiny voice.
Gimmick stopped walking. "What was that?"
"Peep peep peep," came the voice again, a little to his left.
Gimmick looked around for the source of the voice. "Hmm, it's coming from under that bush. Oh my, a baby Fob."
It was a baby Fob, no bigger than Gimmick's hand. The Fob's fur was damp. It looked to be no more than a few weeks old. It was shivering pretty badly too.
Gimmick knelt down to get a closer look. "Easy now, little one. I won't hurt you," he said gently, putting out a hand for the Fob to snif.
The Fob's hard little beak brushed against his fingers as the tiny nose took in his scent.
Gimmick laughed softly. "Good. See? won't hurt you. Oh dear, you look so cold. I have something here that should help."
Gimmick searched his lab coat pockets. "Magnifying glass, no. Oh, that's where I put my monkey wrench. It's always getting lost. Aha, found it."
The Perloon pulled out a clean towel, big enough to wrap around the Fob's tiny body. "This should warm you up a bit. Now, will you let me pick you up?"
The boy Fob didn't put up any resistance when Gimmick attempted to lift him. Gimmick smiled. The Fob was about as heavy as a young kitten. Gimmick soon had him wrapped snugly in the towel. Not long after that, the baby's shivering calmed considerably.
"Well little one, I think I'll stay with you until your family comes back," Gimmick said.
The Fob looked up at him sadly.
"Oh dear. You don't have a family, do you?"
The Fob shook his head.
Gimmick sighed sadly. There was no knowing what had happened to the Fob's family. They could have been chased off or worse. The baby could have even been stolen from his nest. In any case, there was only one course of action that Gimmick could take.
"Do you want to come home with me? I live alone and it would be nice to have some company."
The Fob peeped excitedly. He knew Gimmick had a kind heart and could be trusted.
"Okay little, uh, wait a second. You need a name." Gimmick stroked the fuzz between the Fob's antennae. "Fuzz, that's it! I'll call you Fuzz. Is that okay?"
The newly named Fuzz peeped excitedly again.
"Well Fuzz, let's go home."
Gimmick walked home, holding Fuzz carefully in his arms. By now, the Fob was warm and content to observe his surroundings. Gimmick brought him into the kitchen, gently setting him on the counter, away from the edge. This way, he could keep an eye on Fuzz while searching through the cupboards.
"Let's see. You're probably hungry. I'll find you something to eat. I know that Fobs eat a variety of foods. Here we go. I have some fresh strawberries. You'll like these..
The Perloon got out a bowl and spoon. He mashed the berries into a gooey mixture. Once everything was ready, Gimmick sat in a chair with Fuzz on his lap, ready to feed him.
"Try this," he said, holding a spoonful of mashed berries out for the Fob.
Fuzz's little beak snapped hungrily, taking in a mouthful of food. Before long, he had eaten the entire bowlful.
The Perloon laughed. "You were hungry. Don't worry. From now on, you'll have plenty to eat."
"Peep peep peep," said Fuzz happily. He let out a big yawn making himself comfortable on Gimmick's lap. He was safe and warm now. What more could he want?
Gimmick stayed like that for a while. While Fuzz napped, the Perloon thought about his life. He had always dreamed of being an inventor. Gimmick had moved to this valley because he liked the quiet. Without too many people around, he was free to spend as much time as he wanted on his inventions. However, the solitude of living alone could be lonely at times. Gimmick reflected on the ways his life could have been different if he had chosen differently as a young man. Maybe he would have married and had children. It had almost happened once. However, neither he, nor Eunice, the girl he loved, were ready to take that step back then. Both had their own dreams to fulfill before they settled down. In Eunice's case, she wanted to be a doctor. They had lost contact over the years. Gimmick wondered how Eunice was. Had she achieved her dream? He didn't know but wished her happiness wherever life had taken her.
Fuzz's presence meant that Gimmick would have the chance to experience a little bit of family life. The baby Fob would be a constant companion for Gimmick to talk to and care for. Of course, this meant that Gimmick would have to experience all aspects of parenthood. Prepared or not, he was willing to embrace the challenge. He already knew that this arrangement would bring them both happiness.
The first major order of business was building Fuzz his own bed. Gimmick had some leftover wood from the Airship that worked well for the purpose. He small boards together to make the bed frame. The finished product resembled a simple box. Gimmick used a pillow for the matress and made a small blanket and pillow with some spare fabric. Things were shaping up nicely.
Gimmick was surprised at how quickly a routine with Fuzz formed. Feeding and playing with the baby became a significant part of his days. Gimmick didn't have as much time to work on the Airship as he used to but that was all right. Making sure Fuzz was happy and well cared for was more important. Fuzz was usually cheerful, making the Perloon's care efforts easier.
Food was sometimes a challenge. Gimmick quickly learned to appreciate the Fob's likes and dislikes. Fuzz enjoyed sweet food. Like Gimmick, he did not like oatmeal. Fuzz could be quite temperamental about the foods he disliked. If he didn't want to eat a certain food, no amount of prompting was helpful. It was best to let Fuzz try new foods at his own pace. Thankfully, the Fob was willing to try new things after a while and liked many of the ones he tried.
The first real difficulty came about a week after Gimmick brought Fuzz home. Gimmick and Fuzz had been playing in the yard when Tweeg started firing his canon again. Of course, the loud booming made Fuzz cry. What could Gimmick do? With the few visitors he had, Gimmick could explain that Tweeg was no threat. This was a little tricky to explain to a baby. Another problem was that anybody else firing a canon would certainly mean danger.
"Come on Fuzz. Let's go inside," Gimmick said, picking up the baby and heading for the house. "See? No more loud noise."
Gimmick continued to talk and rock Fuzz to calm him down. Once the baby was settled, Gimmick wiped the tears from his face. Soon, Fuzz was giggling happily.
This created another new rhythm for the pair. If Tweeg started shooting again, Gimmick would immediately take Fuzz inside. When Fuzz was old enough to understand, Gimmick would explain about Tweeg's lousy aim. Right now, this was the best solution he had.
Another problem was getting the baby to sleep that night. Gimmick thought that it was due to the day's excitement. Most nights, Fuzz was tired quickly and slept soundly. Tonight, the Fob was still going strong at midnight. This understandably frustrated Gimmick.
"Come on Fuzz. It's late," the Perloon yawned. "You need sleep. I need sleep. Please relax."
"Weee!" Fuzz said, bouncing on his bed.
It was no use. There must be something Gimmick could try, but what? Then, an idea hit him.
"Come here, Fuzz. You'll stay with me tonight."
The Perloon picked up the baby and settled in bed. Fuzz curled up like a cat beside him. Gimmick stroked the Fob's fuzzy head, humming a wordless tune. Fuzz sighed contentedly and was asleep in a few minutes. Now Gimmick could get his rest too.
The baby Fob grew quickly. Within a few weeks, he was waddling after Gimmick everywhere. Gimmick made sure that anything dangerous was well out of Fuzz's reach, especially in the workshop. Being absent-minded did not mean he could forget about safety.
Fuzz even became involved with Gimmick's work on the Airship. He would play nearby, listening to Gimmick's explanations of what the Airship was for and how it worked. The Perloon was sure to keep an eye on the Fob while working. For now, sewing the airbag was his main focus.
"I'll attach the airbag under the ship with ropes and pump hot air into it," Gimmick explained one day. "The heat will create vertical thrust, thereby causing the ship to fly. We'll be able to travel all over Grundo."
Fuzz didn't understand much of what Gimmick said. Flying sounded like fun, though.
Gimmick often spent time away from inventing playing with Fuzz. The Fob loved small toys. Even something like a bottle cap amused him, though Gimmick made sure to provide a variety of toys. One of Fuzz's favorite games was sneaking up on his toys and pouncing, which was funny to watch. Fuzz would approach slowly, keeping an eye on the toy. When he was close enough, he would jump, successfully pinning it. He would then pummel the toy with his feet and tail, sometimes biting as well. Gimmick made a mental note to be careful not to be in the position of one of the toys. Even a small Fob could pack quite a punch.
Some of the most enjoyable moments came on quiet evenings. Gimmick and Fuzz would sit together on the couch with a hot drink, either talking or reading. Gimmick had a big book of fairy tales that Fuzz loved to hear. These were the same stories that Gimmick grew up hearing. They were full of distant places and great adventures. Maybe Gimmick and Fuzz would go on an adventure someday. the Airship opened many new possibilities to them. For now, they were happy just to be together as a family.
I was inspired to write this by a brief comment in the Teddy Ruxpin Adventure Series story, "Uncle Grubby." In that story, Teddy mentions that Fuzz lost his family, which led Gimmick to adopt the baby Fob. I wondered how that might have happened and decided to write my own version. Apologies if Gimmick seems out of character. He's still the absent-minded inventor but I wanted to show his more fatherly side towards Fuzz. Let me know what you think of this story.
Gimmick and Fuzz
It was a beautiful spring morning. The sun shone brightly and the air smelled fresh. It had rained the night before. Not a downpour but enough to leave that clean, moist quality in the atmosphere.
Newton Gimmick had just finished a quick breakfast. He wanted to finish as much work as he could on his new invention, the Airship. It was nearly complete. He needed to finish sewing the airbag. After that, only a few more modifications were necessary to make a test flight possible. Gimmick was eager for that to occur. If he could make it fly, the Airship would be his best invention yet.
Before Gimmick got started, he decided to step out onto his front porch for some fresh air. It really was a beautiful day. The sun was warm on his face. He could also smell the sweet scent of opening flowers. The sounds of chirping birds greeted his ears. Thankfully, his neighbor, Tweeg hadn't started firing his canon yet. Gimmick was used to the regular booming by now. When he had first moved into this valley, the sound was quite a shock. The other comfort about Tweeg was his horrible aim. He couldn't hit anything if his life depended on it, meaning that Gimmick's house was a perfectly safe place to be.
Gimmick took a deep breath. "You know," he said to himself with his characteristic stutter, "I think I'll go for a walk before getting to work. It's such a nice day. Besides, the Airship can wait a little longer. I'm not expecting company."
Gimmick was in a more rational frame of mind today, being able to remember to take time to enjoy his surroundings. Sometimes, he would get wrapped up in his work to the point of frustration, which was never fun.
Gimmick left the porch, heading for the nearby woods. After walking for a while, he heard a strange sound.
"Peep peep peep," said a tiny voice.
Gimmick stopped walking. "What was that?"
"Peep peep peep," came the voice again, a little to his left.
Gimmick looked around for the source of the voice. "Hmm, it's coming from under that bush. Oh my, a baby Fob."
It was a baby Fob, no bigger than Gimmick's hand. The Fob's fur was damp. It looked to be no more than a few weeks old. It was shivering pretty badly too.
Gimmick knelt down to get a closer look. "Easy now, little one. I won't hurt you," he said gently, putting out a hand for the Fob to snif.
The Fob's hard little beak brushed against his fingers as the tiny nose took in his scent.
Gimmick laughed softly. "Good. See? won't hurt you. Oh dear, you look so cold. I have something here that should help."
Gimmick searched his lab coat pockets. "Magnifying glass, no. Oh, that's where I put my monkey wrench. It's always getting lost. Aha, found it."
The Perloon pulled out a clean towel, big enough to wrap around the Fob's tiny body. "This should warm you up a bit. Now, will you let me pick you up?"
The boy Fob didn't put up any resistance when Gimmick attempted to lift him. Gimmick smiled. The Fob was about as heavy as a young kitten. Gimmick soon had him wrapped snugly in the towel. Not long after that, the baby's shivering calmed considerably.
"Well little one, I think I'll stay with you until your family comes back," Gimmick said.
The Fob looked up at him sadly.
"Oh dear. You don't have a family, do you?"
The Fob shook his head.
Gimmick sighed sadly. There was no knowing what had happened to the Fob's family. They could have been chased off or worse. The baby could have even been stolen from his nest. In any case, there was only one course of action that Gimmick could take.
"Do you want to come home with me? I live alone and it would be nice to have some company."
The Fob peeped excitedly. He knew Gimmick had a kind heart and could be trusted.
"Okay little, uh, wait a second. You need a name." Gimmick stroked the fuzz between the Fob's antennae. "Fuzz, that's it! I'll call you Fuzz. Is that okay?"
The newly named Fuzz peeped excitedly again.
"Well Fuzz, let's go home."
Gimmick walked home, holding Fuzz carefully in his arms. By now, the Fob was warm and content to observe his surroundings. Gimmick brought him into the kitchen, gently setting him on the counter, away from the edge. This way, he could keep an eye on Fuzz while searching through the cupboards.
"Let's see. You're probably hungry. I'll find you something to eat. I know that Fobs eat a variety of foods. Here we go. I have some fresh strawberries. You'll like these..
The Perloon got out a bowl and spoon. He mashed the berries into a gooey mixture. Once everything was ready, Gimmick sat in a chair with Fuzz on his lap, ready to feed him.
"Try this," he said, holding a spoonful of mashed berries out for the Fob.
Fuzz's little beak snapped hungrily, taking in a mouthful of food. Before long, he had eaten the entire bowlful.
The Perloon laughed. "You were hungry. Don't worry. From now on, you'll have plenty to eat."
"Peep peep peep," said Fuzz happily. He let out a big yawn making himself comfortable on Gimmick's lap. He was safe and warm now. What more could he want?
Gimmick stayed like that for a while. While Fuzz napped, the Perloon thought about his life. He had always dreamed of being an inventor. Gimmick had moved to this valley because he liked the quiet. Without too many people around, he was free to spend as much time as he wanted on his inventions. However, the solitude of living alone could be lonely at times. Gimmick reflected on the ways his life could have been different if he had chosen differently as a young man. Maybe he would have married and had children. It had almost happened once. However, neither he, nor Eunice, the girl he loved, were ready to take that step back then. Both had their own dreams to fulfill before they settled down. In Eunice's case, she wanted to be a doctor. They had lost contact over the years. Gimmick wondered how Eunice was. Had she achieved her dream? He didn't know but wished her happiness wherever life had taken her.
Fuzz's presence meant that Gimmick would have the chance to experience a little bit of family life. The baby Fob would be a constant companion for Gimmick to talk to and care for. Of course, this meant that Gimmick would have to experience all aspects of parenthood. Prepared or not, he was willing to embrace the challenge. He already knew that this arrangement would bring them both happiness.
The first major order of business was building Fuzz his own bed. Gimmick had some leftover wood from the Airship that worked well for the purpose. He small boards together to make the bed frame. The finished product resembled a simple box. Gimmick used a pillow for the matress and made a small blanket and pillow with some spare fabric. Things were shaping up nicely.
Gimmick was surprised at how quickly a routine with Fuzz formed. Feeding and playing with the baby became a significant part of his days. Gimmick didn't have as much time to work on the Airship as he used to but that was all right. Making sure Fuzz was happy and well cared for was more important. Fuzz was usually cheerful, making the Perloon's care efforts easier.
Food was sometimes a challenge. Gimmick quickly learned to appreciate the Fob's likes and dislikes. Fuzz enjoyed sweet food. Like Gimmick, he did not like oatmeal. Fuzz could be quite temperamental about the foods he disliked. If he didn't want to eat a certain food, no amount of prompting was helpful. It was best to let Fuzz try new foods at his own pace. Thankfully, the Fob was willing to try new things after a while and liked many of the ones he tried.
The first real difficulty came about a week after Gimmick brought Fuzz home. Gimmick and Fuzz had been playing in the yard when Tweeg started firing his canon again. Of course, the loud booming made Fuzz cry. What could Gimmick do? With the few visitors he had, Gimmick could explain that Tweeg was no threat. This was a little tricky to explain to a baby. Another problem was that anybody else firing a canon would certainly mean danger.
"Come on Fuzz. Let's go inside," Gimmick said, picking up the baby and heading for the house. "See? No more loud noise."
Gimmick continued to talk and rock Fuzz to calm him down. Once the baby was settled, Gimmick wiped the tears from his face. Soon, Fuzz was giggling happily.
This created another new rhythm for the pair. If Tweeg started shooting again, Gimmick would immediately take Fuzz inside. When Fuzz was old enough to understand, Gimmick would explain about Tweeg's lousy aim. Right now, this was the best solution he had.
Another problem was getting the baby to sleep that night. Gimmick thought that it was due to the day's excitement. Most nights, Fuzz was tired quickly and slept soundly. Tonight, the Fob was still going strong at midnight. This understandably frustrated Gimmick.
"Come on Fuzz. It's late," the Perloon yawned. "You need sleep. I need sleep. Please relax."
"Weee!" Fuzz said, bouncing on his bed.
It was no use. There must be something Gimmick could try, but what? Then, an idea hit him.
"Come here, Fuzz. You'll stay with me tonight."
The Perloon picked up the baby and settled in bed. Fuzz curled up like a cat beside him. Gimmick stroked the Fob's fuzzy head, humming a wordless tune. Fuzz sighed contentedly and was asleep in a few minutes. Now Gimmick could get his rest too.
The baby Fob grew quickly. Within a few weeks, he was waddling after Gimmick everywhere. Gimmick made sure that anything dangerous was well out of Fuzz's reach, especially in the workshop. Being absent-minded did not mean he could forget about safety.
Fuzz even became involved with Gimmick's work on the Airship. He would play nearby, listening to Gimmick's explanations of what the Airship was for and how it worked. The Perloon was sure to keep an eye on the Fob while working. For now, sewing the airbag was his main focus.
"I'll attach the airbag under the ship with ropes and pump hot air into it," Gimmick explained one day. "The heat will create vertical thrust, thereby causing the ship to fly. We'll be able to travel all over Grundo."
Fuzz didn't understand much of what Gimmick said. Flying sounded like fun, though.
Gimmick often spent time away from inventing playing with Fuzz. The Fob loved small toys. Even something like a bottle cap amused him, though Gimmick made sure to provide a variety of toys. One of Fuzz's favorite games was sneaking up on his toys and pouncing, which was funny to watch. Fuzz would approach slowly, keeping an eye on the toy. When he was close enough, he would jump, successfully pinning it. He would then pummel the toy with his feet and tail, sometimes biting as well. Gimmick made a mental note to be careful not to be in the position of one of the toys. Even a small Fob could pack quite a punch.
Some of the most enjoyable moments came on quiet evenings. Gimmick and Fuzz would sit together on the couch with a hot drink, either talking or reading. Gimmick had a big book of fairy tales that Fuzz loved to hear. These were the same stories that Gimmick grew up hearing. They were full of distant places and great adventures. Maybe Gimmick and Fuzz would go on an adventure someday. the Airship opened many new possibilities to them. For now, they were happy just to be together as a family.