In the middle of a very bright, very happy playroom lives a little robot named Tink. Tink has clever hands and a heart that goes 'thump-thump-thump.' But Tink’s tummy is made of metal. Tink’s arms are made of shiny steel. When Tink bumps into friends, it goes 'clink!' and 'clonk!' and sometimes even 'boing!'
Tink thought, 'I want to feel soft. I want to feel warm. I want to give a big, velvety squeeze!'
So, Tink went to the Workbench of Wonders. Tink picked up a hammer—'Tap, tap, tap!' Tink used a screwdriver—'Twist, turn, squeak!' Tink found pieces of soft velvet ribbons, fluffy cotton clouds, and bouncy marshmallow springs. Tink was building the Great Hug-Machine!
'Whirrr-Zip-BAM!' The machine was finished. It was big and blue and very, very fuzzy. Tink pulled the Velvety Lever. But oh no! The machine went 'ZAP-TICKLE-POP!' It was too fast! It was too wiggly! Poor Beep-Boop the robot was so surprised. 'BEEP?!' said Beep-Boop, and all the robots scurried away like little silver beetles.
Tink stopped. Tink looked at the machine. A hug shouldn't be a 'BAM!' A hug should be a 'shhh.'
Tink reached into the machine and found the Golden Heart-Bolt. Tink turned the dial to 'Gentle.' Tink turned the dial to 'Snugly.'
'Puff... puff... shhh.'
Now the machine was humming a quiet song. It smelled like warm cookies and clean blankets. Beep-Boop came back, walking slowly—'climper, clamper, climper.' Beep-Boop stepped into the machine. The big, fuzzy arms wrapped around him. It was a slow, marshmallow-soft squeeze.
'Ahhh,' said Beep-Boop. He felt warm. He felt safe. He felt like a sunbeam in a jar.
Next came the Giggling Gears. Next came the Wooden Block Family. Everyone wanted a turn! Tink watched as every clanky, clicky, metallic friend came out feeling fuzzy and happy.
Then, all the robots looked at Tink. They opened their arms wide. Together, they gave Tink one giant, soft, velvety squeeze. No 'clinks.' No 'clonks.' Just a long, cozy 'mmmmm.'
And that is how the clankiest robot in the playroom made the world the warmest place to be. Can you feel the soft hug too?
Snuggle up tight. The end.