Richard Robot

A children's story about a robot

Richard is a robot

He's made from sheets of metal.

He's full of nuts and bolts

and clever computer chips.

Richard lives with the Salmon family in a house in the woods.

There's Steven Salmon, Sharon Salmon, and their six year old son Simon.

He helps them with their chores.

Or at least he tries to!

One Sunday he tried to help Mr Salmon wash his car. ­ “Beep­a­dee Boop”

“Oh really Richard!” cried Mr. Salmon.

He tried to help Mrs. Salmon cook dinner, but he dropped the pie

“Oh really Richard! Go and play with Simon” she said.

Richard wheeled off to find Simon.

They played football for over an hour.

Richard wasn't very good . . .

“Come on Richard, it's time for dinner”

Richard wheeled along behind Simon. ­ “Boop boop, sigh”.

When the Salmons ate, Richard would go to the garage for his favourite oil.

This particular Sunday, Richard couldn't find his oil.

“Maybe it's behind the garage” he thought.

“Maybe it's under the tarpaulin”.

Just then, a large owl swooped down from a tree in the woods.

The owl crashed into the robot, hitting one of his logic switches. BANG!

The owl picked herself up, and dusted herself off. She looked at Richard, then flew away.

Something strange was happening to Richard's circuits.

BUZZZZ, FIZZZ, CRACKLE.

He felt funny. Some of his circuits had been reset.

He felt lighter, smarter and faster than before.

­ “Woweee " Bleep Bloop!”

He went to the garage to look for his oil. He was thirsty.

He found it straight away!

He put the oil back on the shelf and started to tidy up.

After a while he had tidied the whole garage. It had never looked so good.

Richard wheeled back to the house where the Salmon's were already sleeping.

He was still full of energy.

He went downstairs to clean up after dinner . . .

The Salmons awoke to find the whole house spick and span.

It was spotless!

He had cleaned the kitchen, fixed the leaking radiator and found Mr Salmon's favourite tie.

“Thanks Richard!”

“Can Richard come to school with me?” asked Simon.

“Of course, but make sure he doesn't cause any accidents. He's always causing accidents” said Mrs. Salmon.

They arrived to class and all of the children crowded around Richard.

“Oooh . . . aah”.

“What can he do?” one boy asked Simon.

“He can fix things”.

“He can make great stuff”.

“He can calculate”

­ “Beep­a­dee Boop 124”

“Oooh . . . aah”.

“And he's my best friend” said Simon.