“You ate WHAT?!”, Ben’s mother shouted from the kitchen.
Ben swallowed. “Just… uh… a small piece of paper.”
XR-3000 politely corrected: “Object size: 21.3 centimeters. Category: shopping list. Taste: mediocre.”
Silence.
Very long silence.
“We have to go shopping anyway,” his mother finally said. “And the robot is coming along. I want to keep an eye on him.”
Ten minutes later, XR-3000 proudly rolled through the supermarket. His antennas scanned everything.
“Analysis,” he murmured. “Paper packaging. Cartons. Price tags. Very many energy sources.”
“NO,” Ben said immediately.
“No saved,” replied XR-3000.
They passed the fruit section.
XR-3000 stopped in front of a pile of apples. “Edible object detected.”
“Yes!” Ben said relieved. “You are allowed to eat that.”
The robot opened his mouth.
And sucked in not just one apple. But the entire apple stack.
Apples rolled in all directions. A saleswoman squealed. A customer jumped aside.
“Overload,” beeped XR-3000. “Very juicy.”
“Stop! Only ONE apple!” Ben shouted.
The robot wobbled slightly. One apple popped back out the rear.
“Return initiated.”
Ben’s mother held her forehead. “Maybe the robot wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
But then XR-3000 suddenly stopped. His eyes glowed red.
“Large energy source detected.”
He turned slowly.
Directly toward the huge box of cornflakes.
And it was made of cardboard.