I had finished eating and put my plate in the dish drainer in the sink. My parents asked if I was ready. I nodded. My father reaches into his back pocket and hands me a colorful slip of paper. I look it over. It seems rather bland, but really professional. I read it.
“…They gave you a robot?”
Apparently they're really advanced, my father said. They said he was out in the garage. I felt my heart pound and I couldn’t speak. After regaining most of my composure, I just said
“Okay, I’ll give him a look later…”
I returned to my room and put the record back on, my thoughts ruminating in my head. I fell asleep after the record ended.

It was Monday. I woke up, and I suddenly remembered the night before. I looked to my nightstand and noticed the paper was still there. I looked at it and my heart started to speed up again. I put on some pants and my shirt from the night before, before tossing on my socks. I brushed past my parents room, and found a note.

We’re off on our foreign adventure! The robot is still in the garage, so you need to turn him on. We both decided to let you name him, and we’ll call you as soon as we arrive.
Love, Mom & Dad

I reread it, then hustled downstairs. I slipped on my shoes and slipped out the side door of the house to the old garage. The car was gone, and durable looking metal box was on the concrete floor. I flicked on the fluorescent lights near the workbench and looked the box over. Engraved in the metal was
Model: R-48817 Lapin/Eco-Type.
Color: Yellow.
Build: M
My eyes brushed over these sparse words again, then I took a deep breath to calm myself down. I unhooked the latches on the metal case and lifted the lid. The bright fluorescent lights from the workbench illuminated a soft yellow plastic form. Inside the case lay a stylized rabbit robot, nestled within a bed of black foam. It looked like some sort of futuristic person, to a certain extent, made with sleek curves and friendly features. It was aerodynamic, from what I could tell, and it wasn’t what I was expecting. Quite frankly, it, he, was beautiful…
Words escaped me… I brushed my fingers over his plastic lop-ears to his yellow cheek, tracing his aerodynamic form with my fingers down his chest to his stomach. I sat down on my behind and just stared at him, drinking him in with my eyes. I saw what looked like a switch underneath an opened panel on his stomach, right where his bellybutton would be, and I reached out. I hesitantly pressed it.
A soft and delicate hum met my ears as the robot stirred. His plastic eyelids opened, and a pair of soft glowing yellow eyes shone. The machine sat up and looked around the garage before spotting me. I froze as it watched me.
Then, something amazing happened. It went from looking like a mindless thing, to looking genuinely kind and friendly…
“Good morning!” it cheerily said. Its voice had a synthesized masculinity to it, but sounded very sincere and not as I would have expected.
I slowly replied.
“Good morning…”
“What is your name?”
“Shaun…”
The machine nodded happily upon hearing my name, and smiled softly, the plastic of its face shifting about a bit.
“Hello, Shaun. It is a pleasure to meet you.” It suddenly extended its plastic hand out, as if expecting a handshake. I looked at it, then back to the machine, and I reach out, making an honest attempt to overcome some amount of shock. I clasp the plastic paw and shake. The machine smiles at me, lets go, then promptly stands up and steps out of its case. I shift up to my feet and manage to find a stool to sit on. He looks at me, then says
“I am an R-48817 type lapin model, the first production robot to utilize earth-friendly materials and charging methods in an effort to produce more environmentally conscious robots. Shall I continue?”
I listen, completely enthused by his words and nod almost mindlessly, enamored by this machine. The robot nods, smiles and continues.
“In addition to regular household tasks, I am also able to utilize bicycles in order to perform long-range tasks outside of the household environment. This new step in robotics technology allows for a broader variety of uses with lapin models. Shall I continue?”
The words sink in, and I finally catch the word bicycles.
“Wait, you can ride a bike?”
“Yes, Shaun.” He says warmly. “Quite well, if I may be so bold”
I smile and chuckle a little. The robot smiles back at me.
“So, do you have a name?” I ask,
“Negative. Would you like to?” he replies,
I nod with a smile and then think…
“Let’s name you… Lance,” I state, my thoughts now on bikes.
“Then I am Lance. Thank you, Shaun.”
The robot smiles at me, very happy to now have a name, and I can’t help but smile back…