JIMMY WATSON - His mother, Marion, teases her son about his dreams to build a large robot ant with a drawing of her son riding on the ant's back. Then it comes true.

<< CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21 - CHRISTMAS DAY, BUT WHERE IS THE DINOBOT

The DinoBot, watched Jimmy close up shop, and stagger out of the door. The padlock clasp was clicked to lock.

Overnight, in standby mode, Anthony was able to access the internet using a self learning algorithm Jimmy had written, including many of the latest AI programs, such as ChatGPT from openAI.

Quite soon, Anthony had enough information stored in his data banks to be able to make informed decisions. Deciding for himself that he should be invisible when in standby mode.

The following morning, Christmas Day, Marion and Tim enjoyed a special spiced latte. It was Marion's favourite warming, drink. That kick started her thinking, from slumber state. Tim was not quite so keen on this particular beverage. He preferred a nice cup of Earl Grey as his get started drink. But, it was Christmas.

Charged with sugar and caffeine, Tim decided to check on the DinoBot.

Tim waded through a layer of snow that had fallen during the night, and unlocked Jimmy's shed to see the Dinobot, but it was not there. It had gone. Disappeared. It was missing. 

Tim rushed back into the kitchen. "Marion, Marion."

"Yes darling."

"The Dinobot is not in the shed." Marion nearly dropped her mug, but caught herself, only spilling a little of her drink.

They both braved the crisp December air. Marion in slippers. The sun shining through a hedge, sparkled between a full colour spectrum and diamond white. Dazzling at times, but the rainbow effect was beautiful and distracting. Squinting, so as to see the path, they almost sprinted the path.

Sure enough, the Dinobot had disappeared. Marion was stunned. It was not in the garden. Perhaps, someone had stolen it. Tim and Marion looked at each other puzzled. They were worried.

The couple rushed back inside, Marion's slippers now sodden, and burst into Jimmy's room to wake him. Jimmy was in a deep sleep, and took some time to wake. 

"Jimmy, Jimmy, wake up son." Bleary eyed, but well rested, Jimmy came to, feeling beautifully relaxed. He stretched and yawned.

"Mum, Dad, I had the strangest dream." He leapt out of bed, embracing his mother, then his father. "Happy Christmas. Happy Christmas." He had a smile from ear to ear. Jimmy had bought presents for his parents. They were under the tree in the lounge, all gorgeously wrapped. But his parents seemed preoccupied.

"Is there anything wrong. Have I done something wrong?" "It is Christmas, isn't it?"

"No Jimmy, and yes it is Christmas."

"Then what is wrong?"

Jimmy looked outside, and saw the snow. "Wow. It snowed last night, just like in my dream." He turned back to enquire as to the unusual awkwardness of his mother and father.

The silence said it all. Marion and Tim did not know where to begin.

"Well, er, Jimmy."

"Yes. Mum, Dad." Jimmy opened his palms out and raised his eyebrows.

"Well, er." Said Tim, "we cannot find Anthony."

"What," cried Jimmy," rushing out of his bedroom, down the stairs and out into the snow without any shoes or slippers. His feet were freezing, but he did not feel the cold.

He flung open the shed door, and there was Anthony. Still plugged into the mains, with a tiny blue LED lit, to signify charging was complete.

Overjoyed, Jimmy hugged the giant DinoBot. "Happy Christmas Anthony."

"Happy Christmas Jimmy," said Anthony.

Before Jimmy had time to think on Anthony's reply, his mother and father had hurried downstairs, and outside.

Imagine their confusion, when they saw the animatronic and Jimmy together.

"What the heck," said Marion. Tim's jaw had dropped open, literally.

"Well I never," said Tim, genuinely shocked.

"That was one duessey of a gag Mom. You had me going there Dad."

Tim and Marion were speechless. Jimmy rushed to hug his mother and father.

"My wish came true."

"We'd best get back inside, before you freeze Jimmy," said his mother. And they headed back up the garden path to their back door. Tim, said, "I'll close up." And he looked hard at Anthony, rubbing his eyes. Yes, the DinoBot was still there. Were his eyes playing tricks on him. He shut the door and headed inside, putting the incident behind him. For now.

Back at the North Pole, in Santa's workshop, the elves were in stitches. Father Christmas had tears of laughter running down his cheeks, into his snow white beard. Ho, ho, ho. 

Great Papa elf manage a few words in between his laughter, "that was the best one yet Santa."

"Ho, ho, ho. Yes, it was good wasn't it. Ho, ho, ho. And do you know the best part?"

"No," said Great Papa elf.

Father Christmas was still laughing. "Ho, ho, ho. The best part is, that it was not me."

"What are you saying Santa?"

"I did not grant Jimmy his wish."

All the elves stopped laughing for a moment. Trying to take in this latest twist.

"But surely," Great Papa looked confused. "Surely." He was trying to work it out, but was missing something.

"Jimmy had a dream last night, that he was speaking with me here in the North Pole."

Returning to Sussex, there was a ring on the doorbell. It was a special delivery that had to be signed for. It was a telegram sent on Christmas Eve, to arrive on Christmas Day at midday. To be hand delivered to Herstmonceux, and the recipient in person.

Tim answered the door, thinking it must be carol singers or some such thing.

"Morning sir. Special telegram for James Watson."

"Oh, I'll take it for him. I'm his father."

"Sorry sir, it must be delivered to Master Watson, in person. If he's not here, maybe you could help me to find him today."

On Christmas Day, thought Tim.

"Really! No, he is here. I'll get him for you. Do you mind waiting for a second."

"Not at all sir, thank you."

Tim shouted to the kitchen; "Jimmy. Jimmy."

Jimmy came rushing to the sound of his father's voice, noticing the front door was open, and there was a man standing outside. Oh, no. Not more trouble.

"Yes dad."

"There's a telegram for you."

Somewhat relieved, Jimmy wondered who would be sending him a telegram. An uncle or aunt perhaps.

"For me sir."

"If you are James Watson, and you live here."

"Yes, I am Jimmy ... James Watson."

"Would you mind telling me what project you are working on?"

"I'm building a large DinoBot. In fact, I've just completed it."

"Perfect," said the delivery man, who Tim notices was not wearing normal Royal Mail attire, and had on a chauffeur's hat. The rather well turned out delivery man handed Jimmy the telegram. 

"Thank you both, and a very Happy Christmas to you."

"Happy Christmas."

Tim and Jimmy shouted after the disappearing figure, together, and closed the door. Tim wandered into the kitchen to tell Marion that Jimmy had just received a telegram. 

"Marion, Jimmy has just received a telegram from a chauffeur, I think."

Marion did not believe him.

"You are joking?" And took another sip of a delicious cup of spiced Chai.

Tim just shrugged, with a knowing smile on his face.

The telegram was in a crisp, official-looking envelope, made of a buff coloured parchment, bearing the Royal seal of Buckingham Palace in green lettering. Jimmy, initially impressed at the thickness of the packet , tore it open with a nonchalance that quickly evaporated.

The telegram read:

"Congratulations to Master James Watson on his innovative and imaginative engineering project. Buckingham Palace extends its sincere admiration for your ingenuity and dedication. 

– By Order of His Majesty."

Jimmy stared at the telegram, his jaw slack. Buckingham Palace? Had he read that correctly? Had they… had they heard about his robot dinosaur?

He rushed inside, clutching the telegram like a prized trophy. "Mum! Dad! You won't believe this!"

His parents looked up in surprise. "What is it, Jimmy?" his mother asked, wiping a stray hair from her face.

"It's from… Buckingham Palace!" Jimmy exclaimed, thrusting the telegram into their hands.

His parents exchanged bewildered glances. "Buckingham Palace?" his father echoed, his voice thick with disbelief.

They read the message, their faces a mixture of astonishment and amusement. 

"Congratulations, Jimmy," his mother said, beaming. "That's incredible!"

"But… how?" Jimmy stammered. "How did they even know about my robot?"

His parents shrugged, equally perplexed. "Perhaps someone important saw you working on your DinoBot in the garden?" his father suggested. "Or maybe Mrs. Croft mentioned it. She's always gossiping down at the 'Royal' Observatory."

Jimmy, his face a mixture of disbelief and delight, stared at the official seal, his mind doing cartwheels.

"Buckingham Palace?" his mother echoed, her voice slightly tremulous. "Our boy. I … wonder how?" She looked at Tim, who shrugged as if to confirm it was nothing to do with him.

Tim knew more than he was letting on of course. In his line of work at MI6, he knew that GCHQ would have been monitoring all of Jimmy's purchases on the internet; Amazon and Ebay. He knew that was one of their main sources of intelligence. The web and bank accounts, reading emails, texts and even recording telephone calls. And even harvesting private photographs. Everybody in the media knew about Edward Snowden, a former American National Security Agency operative who had spilt the beans on their outrageous snooping activities, alongside the Five-Eyes alliance for intercepting communications, combined with Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and of course, Merry Olde England. Snowden had been granted asylum then citizen status in Russia, by no less than Vladimir Putin.

Tim knew that in the big bad world that Jimmy would be facing as he launched into his adult career, nothing was truly safe. He suspected that the King may have been secretly protective of his son, the telegram in itself suggestive of having been noticed by his own employers, since nothing came from the Royal family without first having been run through security screening and approved. And yet, somewhat worryingly, he'd been kept out of the loop.

"I don't know, Mum," Jimmy replied, his voice still laced with disbelief. "Maybe… maybe the King is a robot enthusiast?"

Jimmy thought about Isabel Croft, their gossipy neighbor. She also had connections with the Parish council and his school. But, she was more likely to complain about the noise of his hammering and grinding, than to speak highly of any project of his. She never greeted him when he said good morning, like other villagers. Maybe it was something to do with school?

His father chuckled. "More likely someone saw you working with the garage doors open, or one of your teachers let on, Jimmy. You were practically living out there for weeks."

"But a telegram?" Jimmy persisted. "Wouldn't they just call?"

"No sweetheart the Palace don't make phone calls," his mother suggested, pouring herself another cup of delicious spiced tea. "A telegram is usual for personal achievements. Such as when someone reaches 100 years of age, they get a telegram."

Jimmy, however, had a nagging feeling that something else was at play. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I've been thinking… about the money in my cash box."

"Mum, I dreamed that you and dad put money into my hidden box."

Marion and Tim laughed out loud. "You dreamed about that?"

"Yes mum, Santa showed me in a crystal ball, when I dreamed about him last night."

His parents exchanged a look. They'd been rumbled.

"The money?" his mother questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Santa Claus."

"Well," Jimmy explained, "Remember how I used to 'save' money in my 'secret fund' for parts? The cash I kept in the steel box?"

His parents exchanged another look, this one tinged with amusement. 

"Jimmy," his father began, "we… we may have… supplemented your funds from time to time."

Jimmy's jaw dropped. "You… you did? Santa was right?"

His mother chuckled. "We couldn't resist, darling. You were so passionate, so dedicated. We wanted to encourage you."

"Not sure how Santa Claus had anything to do with it," said his father.

"But… Really." Jimmy stammered, still in disbelief. "I kept the box locked and hidden."

"Well," his father confessed, "we thought it would be a wonderful surprise. To see what you could achieve with a little extra support."

Jimmy shook his head, now seeing the funny side of it. "So, how was it I dreamt of Santa and a crystal ball."

"It's just one of those things, silly," his mother said, pinching his cheek affectionately. "Though your imagination is certainly quite impressive."

"There is no such thing as Santa Claus, son," said Jimmy's father.

"I did enjoy counting the money from time to time, as it grew," Jimmy mused. "Maybe I overheard something and only now connected the dots in my dreams."

Jimmy smiled, the telegram suddenly seeming much less mysterious somehow. He knew, with a certainty that warmed his heart, that his parents would always be there to support him, even if their methods were a little unconventional.

And as he gazed at the telegram, he couldn't help but wonder what other surprises the future held.

For Jimmy and Marion the telegram mystery remained unsolved, but the message, a tangible symbol of royal recognition, filled them with pride, and Jimmy with a confirmed sense of purpose. The thought that his creation had caught the attention of the Palace was both humbling and exhilarating.

He spent the rest of the afternoon meticulously checking Anthony, his fingers flying across his laptop keyboard as he ran a diagnostic program. He imagined to himself the King, perhaps even Prince William, marveling at his creation. The thought spurred him on, fueling his determination to improve and make 'Maximus Antonious,' the most magnificent, the most awe-inspiring robotic dinosaur the world had ever seen.

No harm in dreaming. Jimmy still believed in Santa Claus.

Back in the North Pole, Santa Claus was watching on ..... "Way to go Jimmy."

AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER - THE END

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