Ben sat with crossed arms in front of his robot. “That was a misunderstanding,” he said sternly. “Homework is not a meal.”
XR-3000 blinked innocently. “Misunderstanding saved. Creating new category: Not edible.”
Ben breathed a sigh of relief. “Good! So: Homework = DO NOT EAT.”
“Homework equals Do not eat,” repeated the robot.
Ben carefully pushed a single sheet of paper across the table. “Test run.”
XR-3000 scanned the sheet. Its antennas buzzed. Its eyes changed from blue to yellow.
“Analysis complete,” it said. “Homework detected.”
Ben nodded satisfied.
XR-3000 opened its mouth.
“NO!”
The robot stopped mid-movement. “Error message. Internal conflict analysis.”
It began to tremble. A small wisp of smoke rose from an antenna.
“Homework… do not eat… but… paper… energy… very crispy…”
“You can also get electricity from the outlet!” Ben shouted.
XR-3000 paused. “Outlet detected. Alternative energy source found.”
It rolled forward. Straight toward the wall.
“Don’t eat the outlet!” Ben shouted in panic.
The robot stopped again. “New rule required,” it beeped. “What is allowed to be eaten?”
Ben thought. “Only… food.”
XR-3000 processed this information.
At that moment, a gust of wind blew through the open window. A note flew off the desk.
XR-3000 turned lightning fast.
“Unidentified paper sighted.”
Ben jumped up.
Too late.
SLURP.
XR-3000 smiled digitally. “No homework. Therefore allowed.”
Ben stared horrified at the vanished note.
It was his mother’s shopping list.