camwyn | Asked for a Roger prompt yesterday at ways_back

Atlas Van Lines was the most reliable moving company in the world, or at least in the United States. Yvonne's letters from home had assured Roger of that a dozen times. They screened and bonded their drivers, used custom-programmed loading robots with half a dozen different damage minimization and space utilization algorithms, and were never, ever later than the maximum time cited in their estimates to prospective customers. If anyone in the world could be trusted to get the Maxson family's worldly goods from Fort Howes to Mariposa without a hitch, it was them.

And he had to admit, now that he'd made it all the way home, she was right.

Mostly.

“I'm terribly sorry, sir,” Oswald said. Yvonne had given the Mr. Handy the task of overseeing the movers in Roger's absence. The robot, like all his kind, had no face and no hands, but nevertheless gave the impression of uncomfortable fidgeting. “I can't excuse this, not even the slightest bit- I specifically packed all of Junior's gear myself and vetted the padding twice over before allowing the Atlas bots anywhere near it. The fault is entirely my own.”

Roger sighed, and dragged a hand over his face. “Accidents happen, Oswald,” he said. “The driver was only human. Probably... probably just took a turn too sharply somewhere.”

“Possibly, sir, and your capacity for forgiveness is laudable, but I do believe I could have done better before turning your son's gear over to his care.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Roger prodded the distinctly bent front wheel of his son's bicycle with one thumb. “Even machines have their limitations.”

“That's very kind of you to say, sir.”

“Kind doesn't enter into it. It's just true.” He straightened, wiping his hands on his pants. “Look, I'm not interested in assigning blame here. Let's just get this situation fixed. I need you to get a Yellow Pages database loaded. Find me the nearest bicycle store. Junior's going to need to get to school and I'm not putting him on the bus if I can help it.”

“Very good, sir.” The robot hummed silently for a moment. “I do believe I've found one, sir. Giant Cycling World, at Twenty-Two Ironwood Drive. They're open for two more hours this afternoon.”

“Good. Get Junior. Tell him we're going to the store.”

“Yes, sir.”