Introducing the Kids

It’s spring in 1987, the Wednesday before Easter. The air is still little cold, but everyone can feel the crisp chill of the winter is about to break. Tomorrow, on Thursday, the new line of robot toys, Our Friends the Machines, arrives in the local toy shop Toy Corner, as promised by the huge media blitz that preceded the launch. The excitement in town, especially among younger kids an adolescents, has been palpable all week at school.

(sounds good)
Janet looks exhausted, considering she has to work selling these crazy robots.

The bell rings for lunch at Boulder City High School, and the teens pour out of their classes and into the cafeteria. The double doors swing open as the throng stampedes over the discolored vinyl tiles to get in line. Someone is blasting "Human" by The Human Touch on a boombox as the lunchladies dole out sloppy joes and chocolate milk onto the styrofoam trays.

Kids are talking about their plans for the long weekend - hiking, cookouts, church, family dinner... and of course, the launch of Our Friends the Machines tomorrow.

Janet doesn't have a ton of friends, but I imagine a tone who knows she works at the toy store and is interested is asking her about the toys. She is busy. scribbling lyrics a d chords into a note book. I dont know if anyone is in her band atm, what say you GM?

Burt probably sits with his jock buddies at lunch, but its conceivable Janet is close enough that one of his chums might rope her into the conversation when the topic of the new toys comes up. Remember that Burt's jock buddies are not of the popular variety -- a lot of kids in high school think of wrestlers as "a bunch of boys rolling around on mats wearing water polo helmets" so they're not super popular (in contrast to a football, basketball, or baseball player).

(makes sense to me)
I'll be happy when the toy crazies are over.... she says to Burt.

"What do you mean? Why do you care?" Burt says. It sounds gruff, but it's not intended that way.

At a nearby table, two freshman in the computer club argue about their favorite robots in the series.

"The Deceivers are sweet! They, like, turn into cool things. Like Amfitrax - he's so awesome, his tank could destroy, like, anything!"

"Yeah, but the Deceivers are dicks, dude! How can your favorite character even be a Deceiver?"

"Why, who's your favorite?"

"...Tell me, in a world without pity/Do you think what I'm askin's too much/I just want something to hold on to/And a little of that Human Touch/Just a little of that Human Touch..." The song floats over the din of the lunchroom.

Because I work there...at the toy store I meanShe looks up at him and smiles. You dont play the drums do you? Or Synth?

As you ask Burt about his musical inclinations, one of his wrestling buddies, Jerry Caldwell, launches a tater tot at Burt's face with his spork, and the whole table erupts with hoots and laughter. Davis and Leslie roll their eyes at each other as Burt is distracted.

"You're not seriously asking him to be a Spider, are you, Jan?" Leslie asks, leaning in towards you. "I mean, I know we need a drummer, but like... him? He's so... eck."

"Cut it out, Jerry! Man, you're such a dork!" Burt says as he wipes tater tot crumbs from his eyebrows. He turns his attention back to Janet, "Nah, I don't play anything, I don't have time for that, but I love synth music. It's pretty rad." After a beat he adds, "So, since you work at the toy store, do you get any free stuff?"

He ignores the friend, Leslie's, comment.

Drummers need to be flexible Leslie... She laughs. Sometimes. But we aren't even allowed to open the boxes until the morning of. They've been so secretive. She looks down at her cafeteria pizza. Pokes it with a fork. It stays in that perfectly pizza shaped rectangular slot on her food tray.
Do you think this is actually edible?

"Doubt it."

You hear a voice from behind you and turn to see Clarke Ritter, the best swimmer on the school's team, standing over your shoulder and smirking. His golden blonde hair is swept back, and his blue eyes sparkle at you like the water of a swimming pool. He smiles down at you as he speaks.

"What's up, Spiderwoman? You gonna be ready for all those crazy kids tomorrow?"

Burt makes some snide comment about swimmers to his wrestling buddies. He's not trying to be very subtle about it.

"Hey, Schmidt," Clarke says, suddenly wheeling on you. He stands over you with his arms folded for a moment, squinting. Then suddenly, he cracks a wide smile.

"Heard you crushed it on the mat this weekend. Killer job, man." He holds out his fist for a bump.

"I should have done better," Burt says but accepts the compliment from the fellow athlete. "But getting to state as a freshman was one of my goals."

Clarke nods. "I hear you. Don't worry, kid, you have three more years. Wrestling team's lucky to have you."

He wheels back to Janet. "So check it out, Spiderwoman. I have a favor I need to ask you."

Although Clarke is a talented athlete, Burt doesn't care for his patronizing tone, but he lets it drop, confident that he and his buddies will make fun of him, and the entire swimming team, later.