The Lazy Robot

Thirty years from now, the world is going to look a whole lot different! Instead of regular cars rumbling down the street, flying cars will zoom high in the sky. And in almost every home, there will be a very special family member: a super-smart robot. These robots will have an amazing secret talent: they can learn how to do absolutely anything just by watching humans.

In one of these homes lived Jude, a cheerful and energetic little boy. His mom and dad were always super busy and worked long hours. So, being the sweet and helpful boy he was, Jude became the little manager of the house. Every day, he would sweep the floors, wash the dishes, and tidy up his room.

One day, Jude's dad decided that his little boy was working a bit too hard. He wanted to help, so he bought the newest, most high-tech robot from the store to handle the daily chores.

This new robot was perfectly plump and round, so Jude decided to name him Roundy. Jude took his time showing Roundy exactly how to take care of the house. He grabbed a broom and demonstrated how to sweep. Roundy's mechanical eyes flashed a bright, happy blue, and he learned how to do it in an instant! Then, Jude showed him how to wash the dishes, and right away, Roundy knew how to scrub the plates until they sparkled and shone. Roundy was incredibly smart; there was simply no chore too tough for him to tackle. Little by little, Roundy took over every job in the house.

As the days went by, Jude realized he didn't have to lift a single finger anymore. Suddenly, he had all the free time in the world! But without his chores to do, Jude started getting a little bit lazy. When he came home from school, he wouldn't do much of anything. He would plop down on the sofa to watch television, hide away in his room to take long naps, or just play with his toys for hours on end. Jude thought that having a robot to do all the work was the greatest thing in the whole wide world.

But Jude forgot one very important thing: Roundy was a learning robot.

Every day, Roundy watched Jude play and snooze, recording every single move in his computer brain. Roundy figured that if Jude watched television and slept all day, then that must be exactly what robots were supposed to do, too! So, Roundy decided to copy him. He dropped his broom with a clatter. When Jude watched television, Roundy sat right next to him and stared at the screen. When Jude took a nap, Roundy closed his glowing mechanical eyes and rested right along with him.

A few days later, some very strange things began to happen. When Jude woke up and got ready for school, he opened his closet and gasped. It was completely empty! All of his clothes were piled up in a giant mountain next to the washing machine because nobody had washed them. Jude didn't have a single clean school uniform to wear.

With his tummy rumbling, Jude wandered into the kitchen, only to find the dining table completely bare. No one had prepared anything to eat, which meant Jude had absolutely no breakfast. He peeked into the living room and groaned. His toys were scattered everywhere, a thick layer of dust coated the tables, and the entire house was one giant, topsy-turvy mess!

When Jude's dad came home from work and saw the chaotic disaster, he called Jude over. In a gentle but serious voice, his dad taught him an important lesson. He said, "Jude, a robot is just like a mirror. Whatever you do, it reflects and learns. If you decide to be lazy, your robot will become lazy right along with you."

Hearing this, Jude's cheeks turned red. He felt terribly ashamed and decided right then and there that it was time to turn over a new leaf.

The very next morning, Jude woke up bright and early. Without anyone asking, he picked up a rag and started wiping down the dusty tables. Then, he gathered his scattered toys and put them away neatly, one by one. Roundy watched Jude working so wonderfully hard, and his computer brain knew exactly what to do. He hopped right off the sofa, scooped up his broom, and happily started sweeping the floor right beside Jude.

From that wonderful day on, Jude and Roundy became the greatest team ever. By working together to do the chores, they made sure their home was always clean, cozy, and full of happiness.