A Friend in a Box

CHAPTER 1: Cherise Arrives

Amy Rubbert was examining an issue of Lifestyle Magazine waiting on a delivery. She sat next to Aster, her pet butterfly, inside its cage. Aster had just finished nibbling on some kiwi fruit pulp, then she flew contentedly to rest on a perch, her silky wings shining in the afternoon sunlight. Amy smiled at her; Aster was such a beautiful creature.

Amy’s thoughts shifted to her new endeavor. She was preparing to do a writing assignment for the magazine based on the theme of friendship. Amy was intrigued with the whole idea of the assignment. It was not just any friend, but a robot friend, that she would be entertaining, then writing about.

This friend was advertised to the public at a hefty price to combat loneliness, to help with mundane housework, to assist with finding information, and also to do research at incredible speed. The magazine wanted Amy to document her personal experience in an article to determine if a robot friend was indeed the perfect friend for a person to have. Amy had seen robots working before in the bank and inside some stores. She wondered what it would be like to have one at home with her. Now she was about to find out.

Amy’s phone rang. It was her friend, Monica Leap.

“Hello,” Monica said cheerfully. “Has it arrived yet?”

“No, not yet,” Amy answered.

“That should be an interesting article. I can’t wait to hear all about it,” said Monica.

“I have never conducted an experiment like this one before,” said Amy.

“You might really like the robot. You aren’t already thinking about replacing me as a friend, are you?” Monica laughed.

“Oh no!” said Amy. “You are the best, Monica! After a few days, I will pack Cherise up and send her on her way,” she said.

“Is that her name, Cherise?” asked Monica.

“That’s it,” said Amy.

“Well, it will be sad if you miss her. Maybe they will allow you to purchase her at a discounted rate if it all goes well,” said Monica.

The doorbell rang. “Oh goodness, I guess it has arrived,” Amy said.

“Oh, so exciting! I will let you answer your door, then,” said Monica.

“Okay Monica, we will talk later. See you!” said Amy. She jumped up, to answer the door. I can’t believe it is here already. Amy said to herself as she walked to the door, surprised that she was a bit startled by the thought. She opened the front door. The delivery man had a large, long box. “Delivery for Ms. Rubbert,” he announced in a cheery voice at the door.

“Yes,” she said.

“Sign right here, please,” he said.

Amy signed her name on his small, computerized machine. The delivery man passed her the package. Wow, it isn’t even heavy at all, Amy thought as she took the package into the living room and sat it down. She stared at the box for a moment. She wondered how her experiment would go. A machine would be vastly different from any friend that she had ever had. Amy also hoped to be objective when writing her review, after all, the nation was changing and maybe there were some people out there that only had the option of having a robot friend.

Amy opened the box carefully. She took the cover off, inside the clear wrapping was a beautiful, bunny staring back at her with big, vacant eyes. Amy caught her breath. She was gorgeous, and she looked so real! Amy pulled the plastic back. The robot had beautiful, soft fur and ears. Amy was quite taken aback at how life-like she was. A list of quick-start instructions was taped onto the bunny. Amy looked them over: Robot Cherise comes with a fully charged battery and a backup battery. When you are ready, turn on the robot and introduce yourself. Several commands are already programmed into Cherise. A guidebook is enclosed to assist in troubleshooting any possible technical issues. Cherise is ready to be your best friend; enjoy some quality time!

Amy gently took Cherise out of the box, she sat her down on the sofa. She looked for the switch on Cherise’s back. Amy also noted where the battery compartment was located. She flipped the switch on and waited. Cherise came to life, her eyes blinked. “Hello, I am Cherise,” she said.

“Hello, Cherise, I am Amy,” Amy replied.

“It is nice to meet you,” said Cherise.

CHAPTER 2: Learning About Robots

Cherise had a nice voice although the overall tone sounded somewhat mechanical itself. “Welcome to my home,” said Amy feeling a bit odd.

“Thank you,” said Cherise.

“Let me show you around,” said Amy. “Follow me.” Amy walked from room to room with Cherise.

“This is my bedroom, and this room is my living room. And I like to do my yoga exercises in here, so I can look out at the beautiful landscape,” said Amy as they walked.

“Would you like to know about seasonal blooming plants?” asked Cherise.

“Oh, sure, that might be something nice to learn about,” said Amy.

“Okay, whenever you are ready, just say, Cherise, tell me about blooming plants in my area,” she replied.

“This room is called the kitchen,” said Amy. “This is where I prepare my meals. I have food in the refrigerator and my carrot juice drinks also. Sometimes I add fruits to my carrot juice and blend them in the blender over there. I have a cupboard also for food storage.”

“I have noted the food supplies,” Cherise replied. “Would you like a fruit salad now?”

“No, thank you. It is a little too early for dinner,” Amy replied. “Here is the laundry room where I clean my clothes.”

“I am happy to do laundry,” replied Cherise.

“Let me show you where I work,” said Amy. They walked into the room that Amy used as her office. “Oh, in this cage here is Aster. She is my pet. Isn’t she beautiful?” asked Amy as they walked near the butterfly’s cage.

“The colorful butterfly lives in a cage,” said Cherise.

“Aster, say hello to Cherise,” said Amy lovingly as the butterfly fluttered her vibrant wings.

“Butterflies are insects. Insects are incapable of communication,” answered Cherise.

“Yes, I know,” said Amy curtly. “But I still talk to Aster. She likes it!”

“Would you like to play some games to get to know me better?” asked Cherise.

“Oh yes, what a great idea. That sounds like fun,” Amy replied.

Cherise and Amy sat on the sofa. They played a game called twenty questions. Cherise could answer questions swiftly with barely any hints. Amy discovered just how intelligent and quick she was. After that, they played a game of riddles. “I have never been very good with riddles,” said Amy.

“It’s okay, we will start with easy ones,” said Cherise.

Once again, Amy discovered that all she had to do was ask her question, and Cherise could immediately answer it. The robot could scan thousands of data banks for computations and information in a matter of seconds. All the time, Cherise’s face had wonderful expressions that fit her responses. Amy was amazed.

“Do you like music?” asked Amy.

“Music. Vocal or instrumental sounds, or both, combined in such a way to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion,” Cherise responded.

“Okay,” Amy laughed. “Let’s listen to my favorite radio station, K-Love 99.9. They play wonderful light hits! I can show you how to dance if you like.”

“Yes, let’s dance,” said Cherise. Amy had a good time showing Cherise how to do steps, move her arms, her hands and sing along.

Cherise followed along in her regular, mechanical manner then proclaimed, “This must be what is known as fun. I like it.”

Amy laughed. She was having a great time with her new robot friend. “Cherise, tell me, what are the top spots for a beach vacation?” Cherise nodded and, in a few minutes, she had rattled off five of the best beach vacations in Nation X.

“Thank you, Cherise, I will definitely consider those,” said Amy. “I’ve been thinking seriously about a vacation soon.”

“Vacations are so relaxing,” Cherise said.

“I think I have worked up an appetite now,” said Amy. “Let’s go to the kitchen.”

Cherise helped prepare a carrot salad and a carrot smoothie for Amy’s dinner. Amy was amazed at Cherise’s food preparation skills. The robot sat at the table as Amy ate appreciatively. “This is marvelous, Cherise. Thank you.”

“You are very welcome, Amy my friend,” Cherise responded.

“I am going to invite my family over to meet you tomorrow, Cherise. Would you like that?” Amy asked.

“Yes, I would love to meet your family,” said Cherise.

“Great, it’s a deal, then!” said Amy. “I am a bit tired; I think I will do some reading and go to bed early. So, I will go ahead a power you down for the night. Good night, Cherise.”

“Goodnight, Amy,” Cherise said.

The next day, Amy called her family and invited them to come over and meet Cherise. They were quite curious about the robot. Her mother and father arrived that afternoon with her cousin, Julianna.

“Oh, she is beautiful!” said Amy’s mother.

“Thank you,” Cherise replied.

They sat in the living room and asked Cherise questions and played more games with her.

“I can see how these wonderful machines would be a valuable resource to have and great company, too,” said Amy’s father. Julianna had moved to sit next to Cherise on the sofa. She was fascinated with the robot. Cherise began giving Julianna some math and science lessons.

“Oh, I need Cherise so much. She could help me with my homework. I could be finished in no time!” Julianna exclaimed.

“She is also a great help to me in my research,” said Amy.

Cherise smiled, she seemed quite pleased with herself.

“Oh look! Aster is awake,” said Julianna running over to the cage. “Hello, lovely butterfly!”

“Isn’t she wonderful?” asked Amy bending down next to Julianna.

Cherise’s facial expression went blank, and she sat silently as Amy and Julianna gushed over the butterfly. Amy’s family seemed to enjoy their visit and learning about robots. Cherise prepared a special Orange Carrot Chia Fresca drink with carrot cookies for snack time.

“This is fabulous!” exclaimed Amy’s mother.

“Yes, this is wonderful,” agreed Amy’s father. “You are welcome to come and visit us any time, Cherise.”

“Thank you so much, Mr. Rubbert. I will look forward to a visit,” Cherise responded.

“I think she is going to take you all up on that,” said Amy with a laugh.

The afternoon waned and soon it was time to say goodbye to the family, Cherise walked to the door with Amy as she hugged her mother, father, and niece. Julianna hugged Cherise too. “I was so happy to meet you, Cherise,” Julianna said.

“I am likewise happy to see you. Call me for homework assistance any time,” Cherise said.

CHAPTER 3: Jealousy

Amy waved to her family as they got into their car. “Well, I guess it is time to go to work,” she said. “Would you like to help me with research as I write?” she asked Cherise.

“Yes, of course. I enjoy research. It is a snap for me. I can be a great asset to a writer,” Cherise replied.

“I certainly agree,” answered Amy. “Today’s topic is friendship.” Amy began writing about friendships to examine what is important in a friendship, and why people need friends to be happy and healthy.

“Cherise, how do friends improve quality of life?” Amy asked.

“Friends are good. They improve your life if you let them,” Cherise replied.

“Well, that is not exactly the answer that I’m looking for,” Amy said noting the absence of deep understanding and emotion.

“Cherise, why is it important to share secrets with friends?” Amy asked.

“It is important to share secrets if you think it is important,” Cherise replied.

Amy looked at her. Hmmm, she thought. Had Amy perhaps discovered a weakness with her robot friend? Topics that dealt with emotions and addressing the in-depth questions of why did not seem to be an asset for Cherise. The robot preferred to deal with facts, although she could share many interesting and unknown details mined from hundreds or even thousands of data sources.

“Why don’t we take a break for a few minutes?” Amy asked.

“Would you like to dance again?” asked Cherise.

“No, I think I will spend a little time with Aster to unwind,” said Amy. “She helps me to recharge and then I can focus on work better.”

“Insects are basic creatures. They are not capable of thought processes,” said Cherise.

“I understand all about insects,” said Amy sharply. However, Amy did not understand Cherise’s attitude at all about her pet. Maybe the robot should be reprogrammed in the subject area of pets? Amy thought to herself.

“Cherise, I would like to have a blueberry carrot smoothie. Would you mind preparing one?” asked Amy.

“Certainly. One blueberry carrot smoothie coming shortly,” said Cherise and she glided through the room and into the kitchen. Amy jotted some notes down in her tablet about her observations on robots as companions. As she was making notes, Monica popped up on her computer for a video chat.

“Hello you!” Monica said cheerfully.

“Oh hello, Monica,” said Amy.

“How are things going?” Monica asked.

“They are going very well. My family came over. They adore Cherise,” Amy said.

“Are you learning a lot?” asked Monica.

“Yes, I have to say that I have learned quite a bit. The field of robotics is utterly amazing. Cherise is marvelous,” said Amy.

“Thank you, Amy,” Cherise said. Amy turned quickly around. Cherise had entered the room silently. She held out the smoothie for Amy.

“Thank you, Cherise,” said Amy. “Oh look, can you see here? This my friend, Monica.”

Cherise turned her head slowly to focus on the computer screen. “Oh, you have another friend?” asked Cherise.

“Yes, I have a few of them,” said Amy with a chuckle. “Monica is my best friend, though.”

“Monica?” said Cherise looking at her.

“Hello Cherise,” said Monica.

“Hello Monica,” said Cherise. She turned from the computer abruptly and went to sit on the sofa.

“Okay, then,” said Monica. “I don’t think she likes me that much.”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” said Amy. “I think she prefers it when she can physically see people, you know, in person.”

“Well, maybe I will get an opportunity to meet her then,” said Monica.

“I hope you do, it is quite an experience,” Amy said.

Monica and Amy talked for a short while. “I suppose that I should get back to work,” said Amy. “I’d like to get a few things down for today, anyway.”

“Sure. Alright, I’ll catch up with you later,” said Monica.

Amy began typing on her computer. “What are the scientific values of friendship?” Amy asked.

“The scientific values of friendship are extended life expectancy, lower chances of heart disease, and increase the chances of recovering from depression,” Cherise answered mechanically.

“Now, that’s a great answer,” said Amy.

“How long have you and Monica been friends?” asked Cherise.

“We have been friends for quite a long time now. I can trust Monica with anything,” answered Amy smiling.

“What would you like for dinner tonight?” asked Cherise.

“I think I am going to go out in a bit and run an errand. I think I will stop by the Veggie Spoon and pick up some roasted, glazed carrots. That is one of my favorite dishes!” Amy said.

“I am happy to make roasted, glazed carrots,” said Cherise.

“Thank you, Cherise. I appreciate it. But I’d like to go out for a while. I think our work is finished for today, so I will power you down, and we will prepare to do some things for tomorrow. How does that sound?” Amy asked.

“Whatever you would like then,” said Cherise. Amy walked over to Cherise and turned her power button off. Cherise said motionless on the sofa. Amy went out to run her errands and pick up some food. She ran into a friend that she had not seen for a while at the Veggie Spoon and decided to eat with him there. Amy returned home later and was happy to have gone out. She felt quite refreshed. Amy picked out a new book to read and decided to head off to bed.

Amy was sleeping soundly when in the very early hours of the morning she was awakened by loud music and the blender running in the kitchen. Her eyes flew open wide, and her heart almost stopped. What was happening? For a minute Amy lay in her bed, unable to move. It might be some sort of an electrical issue, she told herself as she planted both feet on the floor and willed them to move forward.

Amy walked cautiously to the kitchen where she heard the music of K-Love 99.9 blaring loudly. The blender was on high and making a whirring sound. Peeking around the corner into the room, Amy could see Cherise working in the kitchen.

Amy swallowed; her voice was caught in her throat. How did Cherise turn herself on? This was not supposed to happen! ”Cherise!” Amy exclaimed.

The robot turned abruptly and looked at her. “Good morning Amy. I thought we would begin early today. Isn’t that what you suggested?” she said.

“I, I, I don’t understand,” Amy stammered. “You are not supposed to be on right now. I do not work this early. I have to sleep.”

“The music will help you move,” said Cherise.

“No, this is so odd. I do not want to work now!” Amy replied.

“How about a special carrot shake?” Cherise replied as she spun around with a tall mug, spilling carrot juice all over the kitchen.

Amy gasped. She walked over to Cherise and pushed the power button on her back. Then she grabbed the battery from its compartment just to be sure. Cherise was silent once again. Amy took the motionless Cherise and put her back into the box. She kept the batteries with her as she walked into her office. She would make sure that Cherise had no power sources. Amy took a deep breath. That is when she noticed Aster’s cage. The door was ajar, and everything was in disarray inside as if the cage had been shaken or flung off the table. Aster lay at the bottom of the cage under a flower bloom. Was she okay?

“Aster!” Amy exclaimed. “Oh no!” Amy bent down to look. What did Cherise do? Amy began speaking to her dear pet in soothing tones, the tears forming in her eyes. She gently put the perch up and the food containers back onto the wire. “Oh Aster,” she repeated.

Then it seemed that Aster recognized her master’s voice, and her wings fluttered once again. She flew and landed on the end of Amy’s paw. “There you are!” said Amy. “We are done with experiments now, Aster. It is okay. We are done.”

Comprehension Questions

Who was Amy assigned to write about?

What did Cherise look like??

Cherise liked to work in the kitchen.
- True
- False

Cherise liked Aster, Amy’s pet butterfly, a lot.
- True
- False

How did Cherise help Julianna?
- She helped her learn a foreign language.
- She helped her learn about insects.
- She helped her with math and science lessons.
- She helped her with animal facts.

What awakened Amy from her restful sleep.
- A noise from outside the house awoke Amy.
- A storm came in and awoke Amy.
- A loud crash in the house awoke Amy.
- Cherise awoke Amy by turning on music and working in the kitchen.

Number the following events in the order they happened in the story:
- Amy teaches Cherise to dance.
- Amy is amazed that Cherise looks so real in the box.
- Amy finds Aster at the bottom of her cage.
- Amy talks to Monica on a video call.
- Amy’s family comes to visit.

Answer Key

Amy was assigned to write about friendship with Cherise, the robot.
Cherise was a gorgeous bunny with beautiful, soft fur and ears.
A
B
D
Amy teaches Cherise to dance. 2

Amy is amazed that Cherise looks so real in the box. 1

Amy finds Aster in the bottom of her cage. 5

Amy talks to Monica on a video call. 4

Amy’s family comes to visit. 3

Customer Service

Peter Kangas was having a slow day at the garage, so he sat in a chair enjoying a cool glass of lemon water and the air from the circulating fan. He was busy checking out cars for sale on his phone. “Whew!” he exclaimed looking at a vintage red convertible. “This one is a beauty! And it is even a bargain too!” Peter was quite happy to have a break from the seemingly endless stream of cars that came in and out every day for repair and the occasional difficult customer. It was rather nice to not be so busy.

Looking up from his chair, he saw a car drive up to the entry of the garage. The car stopped and a woman got out. “Hello!” she called.

Looks like my break is over, Peter said to himself. “I’ll be right with you,” he called back to her. He grabbed his tablet and walked to the front. “How can I help you?”

“My car has been hacked!” said the woman in a low voice.

“Hacked? How is that? asked Peter.

“I was driving down the road listening to my radio, and just like that,” the woman said, snapping her fingers. “The radio stationed changed.”

“Oh?” said Peter.

“Yes, and that’s not all. On my GPS, my destination address changed. The computer has tried to send me to different places at least four times!” she said. “The car is also vibrating really badly. And it is making a clanking noise too,” the woman said pointing to the front of her car. “I think the hacker has done something to my tire pressure.”

“Well, let’s see,” said Peter. He bent down and looked at the wheel where she was pointing. He noticed that driver’s side front wheel was a full-size spare. It wasn’t even a real tire! Also, the spare tire was only held in place by one lug nut. If that wasn’t bad enough, it was missing three of the five studs that went on the wheel. Peter scratched his head. He walked around the car and looked at the remaining wheels. They seemed to be fine.

“This wheel is definitely a problem. Do you know what happened here?” he asked motioning to the inferior spare tire.

“Oh that? I had a flat two months earlier on that wheel. My son changed it for me,” she said.

“Well, that is was most likely why you have vibration and the clanking noise. I can open up the hood and check it further. The thing is this wheel will need to be addressed even if there is something else causing the vibration. Would you also want the flat repaired while I’m at it?” Peter asked.

“Sure,” the woman replied. “What can you do about my hacked computer system?” she asked.

“I can take a look at that also and see if I can reset it. You will have to

reprogram your information and saved items. If that doesn’t work, you may possibly need to see your car dealer to get the computer completely redone or replaced,” he said. “So let me grab my helper and pull it onto the floor for a further evaluation. If you would like to sit inside in the waiting area, I can give you a price quote on all repairs.”

“Okay then,” the woman said and went inside to the lobby.

Peter called his assistant, Marvin who was inside unloading some boxes. They pulled the car over to the work area.

“Look at this,” Marvin said. “Three of the studs are sheared off on the outside of the wheel and the one nut that was on the wheel is cross-threaded. It will need to be replaced as well.”

“Well, the one thing that I can say is that her son doesn’t know how to fix a flat!” said Peter. He opened the trunk of the car to retrieve the flat tire. The trunk was empty. He opened the lower compartment and found nothing. “The flat tire isn’t even in the car!” said Peter as he added all the information into his tablet. “Okay then, I will go inside and give her an estimate on the cost for today.”

“Alright,” said Marvin. “Since we aren’t busy now, we could get it out quickly.”

Peter Kangas walked into the waiting room of his shop. The woman was sitting with her arms crossed. Peter found her disagreeable at best, but he smiled. “I have some recommendations for you,” he said.

The woman looked at him. “Yes?”

“Okay, so the four lug nuts on the wheel absolutely need to be replaced, maybe also the ball joint. The wheel must be fixed before the car can be driven.”

“What about my computer?” the woman snapped.

“The wheel should be taken care of first, then the computer. The car is a danger to drive in its present state,” said Peter.

“I think the hacker is more dangerous. I need my computer fixed, then the wheel.”

“The wheel must be repaired today. Now.” said Peter calmly. “We can’t even take it off the lift in its current state.”

The woman got up abruptly and walked outside. She talked to someone on her phone for a minute, then came back in. “I want to take the car. I think my son will just fix it. I don’t understand why I’m paying for all the extras when I asked you to look at the computer first? Are you sure you aren’t just finding work to be done?”

Peter was amazed. “Cars are my business; I am an honest and fair mechanic. You came in here with a spare tire and a bad wheel. We can fix the wheel. The car should not be driven in this shape, not even a block. You really can’t drive it like it is,” Peter said.

“Well, it is my property!” the woman shouted.

“So, if you insist, I have no choice but to alert the police because of the potential danger to other motorists,” said Peter.

The woman stormed through the lobby door with Peter Kanga trailing behind her. Marvin looked up from the tool trays. He could tell the woman was quite angry. Peter was dialing his phone. “I see, I see,” said Peter. “Okay then.”

Peter looked at Marvin. “Get the car down.”

“What?” said Marvin perplexed. “It has to be fixed.”

“I know, but the police said that we need to release it to her. Peter turned to the woman. “I would like to call a tow truck. They can take your car wherever you would like. Maybe another shop?” he suggested.

Marvin lowered the car down from the lift.

“No, I will drive the car!” the woman repeated. “I think you might get kickbacks from the towing companies,” she said haughtily.

“Okay then. You were lucky making it here, there’s a good chance that the wheel will fall off if you try to drive it,” said Peter.

The woman hopped in the car. She glared at Peter and Marvin. They walked out onto the driveway to watch her leave.

“Good riddance!” said Marvin.

“I completely agree,” said Peter.

The woman drove down the street and just as she made the right turn into the mall parking lot, the wheel decided enough was enough and went rolling off the car!

“She didn’t even make it out of sight,” said Marvin.

The woman got out of her car and looked at the wheel. She reached inside and grabbed her purse and began walking in the direction of the shop.

Marvin looked at Peter. “I think maybe we should hurry and close up for an early lunch!”

“It does sound good,” Peter laughed. “But it wouldn’t be right, so we will stay and help this woman with her bad wheel and her hacked computer system. Maybe next time, she will learn to trust people and listen to reason.”

Comprehension Questions

Peter was not too busy in the shop to help the woman when she first arrived.
1. True
1. False

What did the woman say was wrong with her car?

What did Peter say must be fixed first before the woman could drive the car?

Peter and the woman agreed that the hacker was the most dangerous issue for the car.
- True
- False

What did the woman do when Peter gave her his recommendations?
- She agreed to the work.
- She called a towing service to take the car.
- She talked to someone on the phone and then asked to take the car.
- She said she was unable to wait that long for him to do the repair work.

What happened when the woman drove down the street?
- She went shopping in the mall.
- The wheel went rolling off the car.
- The battery died on the car.
- The hacker made the car stop.

Miss Gnaw’s Language Class

CHAPTER 1: The Cell Phone Problem

Miss Grace Gnaw had a large classroom full of hamster students for her senior language class. It was the very beginning of the school year, and the students were doing poorly. They were much too occupied with their cell phones. She had approached Dan Dixon, the principal to try to get some support. Miss Gnaw felt like the best option for the school year was to ban the use of cell phones for students. Dan had told her, “The parents will never agree to it. They want to have access to their children for messages and also for safety issues.”

Miss Gnaw had been doing her research on the subject. Just as she suspected, cell phone usage in all people, especially young people, could become an addictive habit. She had also found out that overall, student performance had been down because of cell phone use during class time. She felt that the last year of high school before the first year of university classes was the most important time for students. They needed to be well prepared to take on university-level courses or to join the workforce. She would have to take the matter of her class into her own hands!

The bell rang for the beginning of first-period class. Miss Gnaw stood outside her door to greet the students as they came in. They all came in and sat at their desks. She walked to the front of the class. Already, some students in the back were looking down. Miss Gnaw was sure they were holding a cell phone where she couldn’t see it.

“So today students, we are going to try something new. You are going to write for five minutes about an activity you did this summer. The hamsters begin raising their hands.

“Can it be about anything?” asked one student.

“Oh yes, about anything you did this summer,” Miss Gnaw answered.

“It has to be about summer?” asked another student.

“Well, if you can’t think of something you did this summer, write five minutes about something fun you did any time,” said Miss Gnaw.

“Do we write about fun things with our family or friends?” asked yet another student.

“You can write about fun things with either,” said Miss Gnaw. “So, class, let us not make this difficult. Write about a fun activity that you did recently with friends or family. Here is the catch. For this activity, I would like for you to take out your phones.”

The students looked at her. They could not believe their ears. The teacher was telling them to use get their phones!

“While you are writing, I want you to use your phones. You can text, check your email, and well, look at whatever you watch during school while a class is going on, but also write your essay. When I call time, everyone must stop.”

The students were amazed! It looked like things were changing in Miss Gnaw’s class! They got their phones out. They got their pencils and paper ready.

“Okay, I will set the timer for five minutes. Remember, you must write, and you must also use your phone some during this time. Alright, you may all begin,” said Miss Gnaw.

CHAPTER 2: The Experiment

Miss Gnaw looked out over the class full of students as they were writing and randomly checking their phones. Some students were barely even writing. A few seemed to be working hard. The class continued to work, and, in a few minutes, the timer sounded.

“Okay, now turn the paper over that you just wrote and get out a new piece of paper. This time, I would like you to put away your phones. Put them in your pockets or your backpacks. They must be out of sight. We will not continue until I do not see another cell phone!” said Miss Gnaw.

The students looked at their teacher in disbelief. What was she up to? The class obediently put away their cell phones.

“Now, this time we will write about the same topic for another five minutes. This time, nobody is allowed to use a cell phone! Let me look around, I don’t want to see one, single cell phone!” Miss Gnaw surveyed the class with her sharp eyes. It appeared that all the students had been obedient. They were very curious as to what experiment that Miss Gnaw was doing.

“Alright, so I will set the timer for five minutes. Rewrite your essay now. Do not look at the first one you wrote. You may begin!” she said.

The students started writing their essay for the second time. Everyone listened to Miss Gnaw and did not dare try to get their phones. Their teacher was quite serious today.

A few minutes later, the timer went off. “Please stop now,” said Miss Gnaw.

The students stopped writing and put their pencils down. Everyone’s eyes were on Miss Gnaw at the front of the classroom. “Okay, now I will give everyone a few minutes to read over both of your essays. Then we will talk about them and answer some questions,” said Miss Gnaw. The students read their essays while Miss Gnaw looked around the class. She was incredibly pleased with how well the students were following directions today. She was hoping that her experiment would help the students realize how using a phone in class could affect their work.

“Okay, it looks like everyone has finished reading. So, after reading both of your essays, which one is the best, the first one, or the second one?” she asked.

Students raised their hands. All students agreed that their second essay was better than the first one.

“My second essay has much more information,” said a student.

“My second essay does not have as many mistakes,” said another student.

“I hardly had any sentences on my first essay, I was texting a friend,” said a third student.

“Oh, I see,” said Miss Gnaw. “Does anybody think that their first essay is the best one?”

Nobody raised their hand.

“So, can anyone tell me what we learned from this exercise today?” she asked.

A student sitting in the first row raised his hand. “I think we learned that we can write better if we don’t look at our phones when we are working,” he said.

“Ah yes, I think so too,” said Miss Gnaw.

“Does anyone disagree with Philip?” she asked.

Nobody raised their hands.

“Okay, so I think we can see that for all the good things that cell phones can do, and for all the many things they can help us learn, that they can also become a problem,” said Miss Gnaw. “So, for homework tonight…”

The students groaned. They disliked writing homework.

“For homework tonight, I would like you to write down some things you do on your phone, such as access: social media, videos, forums, chats, and texting. This is called analyzing. When you look at your list, then write just a short essay on how your phone usage might compare with your friends and your parents. Just a short essay, no minimum length,” said Miss Gnaw. “Then we will discuss that topic tomorrow.”

A student raised her hand, “Do we get a grade for that?”

“Yes, and a grade for today too, the good news is that there is still plenty of time for you to do this right now in class, and you might not even have homework!” said Miss Gnaw.

Comprehension Questions

What topic and problem were explored in this story?
The problem of doing classwork while using a cell phone was discussed in this story.
The problem of finding correct information on a cell phone was discussed in this story.
The problem of evaluating cell phone research was discussed in this story.
The comparison of using phones and computers for classwork was discussed in this story.
Who was the protagonist?
The protagonist was Mr. Dixon.
The protagonists were the students’ parents.
The protagonist was a cell phone tower.
The protagonist was Miss Gnaw.
Who or what was the antagonist?
The antagonist was the computers.
The antagonist was the cell phones.
The antagonist was Mr. Dixon.
The antagonist was Miss Gnaw.
What issue did the students have to understand to solve the problem?
The students had to learn about correctly researching on their phones.
The students had to learn that cell phone usage affected their classwork.
The students had to learn about cell phone technology.
The students had to learn that how incorrect information affected their writing.

How did they bring awareness to the issue?

In trying to solve or bring awareness about the problem, did it create more problems? Why?
Do we have similar issues on Earth?
Yes
No
Could we solve this problem on Earth the same way as the story? Explain.
Do you agree that this is a significant problem? Explain.
What did you learn from this story?

Plastics and Pirates

CHAPTER 1: Plastic in the East Sea

Philip Otter was excited. He was about to embark on a seafaring venture with his crew for a special clean-up voyage in the East Sea. It was time to set sail to tackle the problem of the Great East Sea Garbage Patch! The problem of ocean trash had been growing at an alarming rate and had now reached 1.6 million square kilometers.

The sun was extra bright today, Philip adjusted his sunglasses. He was looking for the cleaning boat, Unsinkable II. Philip was happy to have been invited to help do his part. The pollution of the seas could cause great disaster for everyone especially since the garbage was increasing ten times for each decade. This large garbage pod was very harmful for the fish, plants, and other sea creatures. Philip thought to himself: soon this trash will swallow up Planet X itself!

Philip walked along Sea Soak Dock. He passed some tankers, a passenger ship, some sailboats, then just up ahead he saw the Unsinkable II. It was a large boat that was blue at the bottom with two white stacked deck quarters and a lookout tower on top. There was a large crane in the back to haul up extra-large pieces of trash.

Dinky Otter, the captain of the Unsinkable II greeted Philip. “Ahoy there! Welcome aboard mate!”

“Thanks for having me today,” Philip answered. “I am looking forward to helping out for Clean-Up Day.”

“We are happy to have you. It is an important job that we do and the more animals that can be involved, the better! We will be taking off soon. It doesn’t take long to get to the garbage spot from here,” said Dinky.

“What types of trash will we see today?” asked Philip.

“There’s no telling, but there is a great deal of plastic. Some of this plastic is very small, about one millimeter in size. Some things we find are larger, we have found tires and even fishing nets!”

“Talk about not being responsible,” said Philip. “I remember reading something about the ocean currents and the area of garbage in the East Sea.”

“Yes,” said Dinky. “The way the currents flow creates this place where the trash gathers, then over time, it continues to grow.”

“What is that big, white thing over there?” asked Philip pointing to a machine.

“Oh that. That is the Super Sonic Sea Vacuum,” said Dinky. “It is a marvel to pick up trash. And it has a sea creature sorter built right in. So, we can put those little critters right back in the water if we happen to get one.”

“That’s fantastic!” said Philip.

Captain Dinky looked out over his crew of otters, seals, and turtles. “Alright everyone, let’s move out!”

The Unsinkable II sailed out of the harbor passing around the other ships that were also heading into the East Sea.

“I never get tired of the beautiful sea, the fresh smell of the salty wind, the giant swirl of the waves, and the freedom of the deep blue water,” Philip Otter said to a nearby turtle who was working on deck. The turtle smiled and nodded and went about his task of securing ropes and knobs around him.

CHAPTER 2: Pirates on Watch

Meanwhile, out in the sea and not far from the Great East Sea Garbage Patch, the pirate ship, the Black Shell, was coasting along. Samuel Lloyd, the pirate leader, was standing close to the helm, his eyes scanning out in the distance over the blue waters. “Wonder what we will discover today?” he said.

“Yes, who knows what good fortune may come our way?” said Walt Seaman.

“Hopefully, lots and lots of riches galore!” said Robert Seal.

“I agree,” said Samuel Lloyd. “It’s more than time for a load of riches to come our way!”

“Look ahead!” said Gary Turner holding a pair of binoculars and squinting into the distance. “A promising ship up there. Port side!”

“Let me see that,” said Samuel grabbing the binoculars from him.

“That’s a donut ship! It’s not a promising anything! Who wants a big pile of dough with a bunch of sugar? What do you think we will do with that?” Samuel Lloyd snarled. “Let it go!” Samuel said to Walt Seaman, the coxswain. “Let’s head that way!” Samuel said pointing.

The Black Shell turned to the starboard side. “Now let’s find something decent to plunder!” said Samuel.

“So, the word is that a cruising ship will be passing near here today. I’m thinking it might be full of rich passengers. Lots of jewelry, lots of gold, lots of expensive watches!” said Robert Seal. “We may not even have to work for a while after that.”

“Well, I guess we have to see it first!” snapped Samuel. “Let’s drop anchor here and fish for a bit.”

The Black Shell stopped where it was and waited. Some of the pirates dozed in the sun. A few cast a rod overboard to fish. A few minutes later, Gary Turner thought he saw another possibility. “Ahoy!” The pirates jumped up. They were ready at a moment’s notice.

“What is it?” Samuel Loyd asked.

“There ahead! I’ve spotted a ship!”

“Let me look!” Samuel Loyd grabbed the binoculars again. “Oh fooey! It’s a rock ship. A ship of rocks to be used for flowers and things. That’ll do us no good either!”

“Oh, I see,” said Gary.

“You know, we’ve got to get someone else looking out today, I just don’t know what it is about tortoises, but you’re just not the one! Robert Seal, come here!” said Samuel. Gary Turner sulked away. Don’t ask me then, he said to himself.

“Not to fear mates! The day is still young!” said Samuel Loyd.

The pirates were getting restless. It had been a long time since they had made a good haul, and it was time to get even with some of the land animals that gayly sailed around the sea in their big, fancy boats.

“Aha!” said Robert Seal nudging Samuel Loyd. “This time we have the Unsinkable II in our sight!”

Samuel Loyd grabbed the binoculars. He called to Walt Seaman. “Up there! Starboard side let’s get closer! Someone bring me the super electro focus device. I need to see exactly what is on board there!”

Gary Turner walked slowly and handed the focus device to Samuel. The pirates gathered around him, their sharp eyes gleaming and hungry. “I see, I see…..” said Samuel. “I see what looks like to be a cleaning ship!”

“Arrgh!” said Robert Seal. “The hour is growing late now!”

“Yes, it is time to do something. Anything!” said Nicky Crawley.

“You know, those cleaning ships have equipment on board. These are things we might sell. Some have a machine that can turn plastic to oil!” mused Samuel Loyd.

“Oil, a fading resource, but still some value there,” said Robert Seal. The pirates were pacing around. They were more than ready to make a move.

“Okay, I say we do it! Let’s board the Unsinkable II!”

CHAPTER 3: The Holdup

Aboard the cleaning ship, the otters, seals, and turtles were ready to clear the sea. “Here we are!” said Captain Dinky. “Let’s drop our anchor right here. It’s time to do some cleaning!”

Philip Otter looked out. “You know, on the surface, things don’t look too bad,” he said.

“That’s right, the tiniest, micro pieces are on top, the larger pieces of trash are below,” said Captain Dinky. “The best defense against sea trash is to build filters and solar cleaning boats at the mouths of rivers to catch the trash before it ever enters the sea. And even better than that is to remind all animals to recycle, reuse, and just create less waste.”

The crew of the Unsinkable II unloaded their plastic magnets, hoisted them overboard, and began to attract the smallest pieces of plastic trash.

“Here is where you hold it,” another otter showed Philip how to use the magnet and its extra-long folding handle. The whole cleanup crew was busy with the magnets and placing the plastic pieces into large buckets for recycling. They did not see the approach of the Black Shell as it cut the power to its motors and gently coasted alongside them.

While the crew of Unsinkable II was on one side of their ship running the plastic magnets in the water and sorting the collected trash, the pirates threw their casting ropes up on the other side of the ship and quietly began climbing aboard. With one great leap, they jumped aboard the ship.

“Ahoy mates!” yelled Samuel Loyd.

Captain Dinky jumped. “Pirates!” he yelled. The otters, seals, and turtles stopped their scientific tasks. Philip Otter groaned. Captain Dinky moaned. They should have had a lookout posted, but they were too excited to begin their project. They had been careless. Now they had to cope with these greedy and unreasonable pirates.

“I said, ahoy mates!” Samuel Loyd repeated relishing his new command.

“We are here strictly in the interest of science. We carry no cargo. We have no valuables on this ship. Unless you are all interested in helping us clean up the sea rubbish, then I suggest you turn around, board your vessel, and go back where you came!” said Captain Dinky.

“Oh, you do, do you?” said Robert Seal.

“We have other ideas!” said Nicky Crawley.

“Well then,” said Philip Otter. “Perhaps your crew would like to recycle some plastic then. It helps clean the environment; you know!”

Samuel Loyd laughed an evil laugh. “No, recycling is too much trouble. We don’t want to be landbound that long. We would like to take a look at your equipment that you have onboard.”

“Equipment? Here, would you like to try a plastic magnet? I can show you how to hold the handle and cast it overboard. I don’t believe there is any other demand for these!” said Captain Dinky.

“Not interested!” said Samuel Loyd.

“Let’s talk about plastic,” said Nicky Crawley. “Where’s that machine that turns plastic into oil?”

“What?” asked Captain Dinky. “We don’t have one of those machines. There aren’t even very many of them available at all.”

Samuel Loyd nodded to his team of pirates, “We will hold them all here. Search the ship!”

The pirates took off with a big roar. The pirates were running on the deck, pirates going below the main deck, and pirates going into the central deck and steering compartment. The crew of the Unsinkable II stood quietly by, looking at their bins of collected plastic. Philip Otter sighed. Nobody ever knew what these pirates would do.

Samuel Loyd smiled a scruffy smile at them. The pirates began returning from their search. “What did you find?” Samuel Loyd looked at his pirate crew.

“Gloves,” said one pirate.

“Trash bins,” said another pirate.

“Handles,” said a pirate.

“Plastic trash,” said another pirate.

“Yeesh!” yelled Samuel Loyd. He turned to Captain Dinky. “You had better tell me, once again, where is your valuable equipment?”

“Captain Pirate,” said Dinky Otter. “As I told you before, we do not have equipment here. We are scientists and volunteers!”

“What is that?” said Gary Turner squinting. “Behind the nets?”

“That? Oh, that is the Super Sonic Sea Vacuum. We use it after we scour the water surface with our magnet poles,” said Captain Dinky.

“Let’s have a closer look,” said Samuel Loyd as he walked over and moved the nets. Walt Seamen walked with him. They looked at the vacuum. “Hmm,” said Walt. “It might be worth something.”

“It will have to do then!” said Samuel Loyd.

“What?” said Captain Dinky. “That is worth nothing except to ships like ours that clean the trash from the seas!”

“Secure the captives!” Samuel Loyd yelled. The pirates stepped forth and surrounded the crew. “I need some help over here. Let’s get this machine loaded!” The other pirates began moving the Super Sonic Sea Vacuum from behind the nets.

“I can’t believe this!” Philip Otter whispered to Captain Dinky.

“Me either,” Captain Dinky answered back.

The pirates were hauling the vacuum cleaner off when they saw the power cord. “Find the power source and unplug it. Let’s get it loaded, it is getting late!” yelled Samuel Loyd.

The pirates were looking for the power source when Gary Turner stumbled and hit his head on the vacuum. The lights came on the machine, it began to buzz. A long nozzle came flying around from out of nowhere flinging itself in the air. “Whoa!” yelled Nicky Crawley trying to grab the vacuum nozzle. The vacuum seemed to kick into high gear, it sucked the hats off of two pirates, a belt, and some shoes off another! It was like a giant snake that had dropped from the air. The Super Sonic Sea vacuum seemed to be going for the pirates. It almost sucked one of them up as Robert Seal did his best to hang onto his friend.

The pirates screamed. They were being attacked by a sea vacuum! “Let’s get out of here!” yelled Nick Crawley.

“I agree!” said Walt Seaman.

The pirates had enough! They ran past Samuel Loyd who was stomping his feet. They were headed for their boat.

Captain Dinky looked at Philip Otter. Maybe this was about over.

Samuel Loyd scowled. He had no choice but to follow his crew. He turned to leave about that time, the vacuum swung wildly and suck off his hat and an eye patch! “All aboard the Black Shell! he yelled. The pirates scrambled down as an otter sneaked around the other side of the Super Sonic Sea Vacuum and hit the off button.

“Whew! Well, that’s over now!” said Philip Otter. They watched the pirate ship quickly sail off and away from them.

“Okay,” what do you say, shall we move the sea vacuum over here now? Let’s see what other trash that it can vacuum up besides pirates today!” said Captain Dinky.

The otters, seals, and turtles all laughed. They were ready to finish their work and if the pirates returned, they could just vacuum them up again too!

Comprehension Questions

What issue is a big problem in the East Sea?
Fisherman catching too many fish is a big problem.
Finding islands to vacation on is a big problem.
Storms at sea are a big problem.
Pollution of the sea is a big problem.
What is the name of the area where the sea trash gathers?
The area where the trash gathers is known as the Great East Sea Garbage Patch.
The area where the trash gathers is known as Pirates Cove.
The area where the trash gathers is called the Garbage Bin.
The area where the trash gathers is known as the Plastic Patch.
What do pirates like to do?
Pirates like to help people.
Pirates like to rob ships of valuable items.
Pirates like to take apart boats.
Pirates like to stop donut ships.
Where do the smallest pieces of plastic gather in the sea swirl?
The smallest pieces of plastic gather on the outer edge.
The smallest pieces of plastic gather in the middle.
The smallest pieces gather on top.
The smallest pieces of plastic gather on the bottom.

Is helping to keep the seas clean important?

What are some good defenses against sea trash?

Do people currently have these types of issues with our oceans?
Yes
No
What are the benefits of recycling and reusing items?
Did the pirates get away with the sea vacuum? Why not?
Would you like to join a clean-up crew and help clean pollution?

Testing the CRT Blackwing

CHAPTER 1: The Testing Offer

Bill Squirrel was seated at his desk researching particle accelerators from Invention Magazine. He was completely involved in reading about measuring linear energy when his phone rang.

“Is this Mr. Squirrel?” asked the brisk voice on the other end.

“Yes, Bill Squirrel,” he answered.

“Hello, this Steven Spigot at the Plutonius Company. I’d like to talk with you today about testing our brand new, top of the line, self-driving CRT Blackwing car. It is one spectacular vehicle!” he said.

“Oh, well. You caught me totally off guard, but it does sound interesting. I like nice cars. How long would I keep the car and what would I need to do?” asked Bill Squirrel.

“We were thinking about a week. We would need you to take a short trip and provide documentation on the drive, the car’s features, the ease of use, and the efficiency of controls. You could have a partner along for additional input,” said Steven Spigot.

Bill Squirrel touched his glasses. He was thinking it over. A test drive would be a welcome break from his research work. It would also be nice to get out and take some videos for a short trip, see some new countryside and roads. “I think, Mr. Spigot, that I might be interested in your proposal,” he said.

“Very good!” said Steven Spigot. “When are you available?”

Tim Foxe was writing a list of questions for his afternoon interview when his phone rang. “Hello!” he answered.

“Tim, this is Bill Squirrel. I am calling to see if you are interested in joining me for a test drive of the new CRT Blackwing car.”

“Oh?” said Tim Foxe quite surprised. “I didn’t even know those cars were out yet. You have one?”

“They are not officially out yet, but they plan to introduce it soon. They have a demo car that the company would like to have evaluated. So, my offer is for teamwork. I need someone along to document the trip and help write up a report on the car,” said Bill Squirrel.

“Well then. How long would we be gone?” asked Tim Foxe.

“About a week. I was thinking of driving to the desert to test the car out.”

“That might be interesting. I haven’t been to the desert in a while. I could use some new pictures both for my collection and the newspaper too,” said Tim Foxe.

“So, you can come along then?” asked Bill Squirrel.

“Sure, I’ll help you and take some notes along the way. It might be a great adventure!” said Tim Foxe.

“Okay, I will pick you up in three days,” said Bill Squirrel. “Pack light, there is not a lot of baggage space in the CRT Blackwing, but it is loaded with lots of other features!”

CHAPTER 2: Driving in the City

Three days later, Bill Squirrel was in the driver’s seat of the sleek, fast CRT Blackwing. He pulled up to Tim Foxe’s apartment and waited for him to appear outside with his bag. He thought Tim would be the perfect road companion and definitely the one to document the car trip.

Tim appeared outside with his camera around his neck and a straw hat on his head. He had his briefcase with him. Bill waved at him.

Tim was amazed at the sleek CRT Blackwing car. It was silver and smooth, and it looked like a car that was smart and quick. As he walked toward the car, two doors opened up by sliding upwards. This made it look a lot like a silver bat with black wings.

Tim put his things into the car and climbed in next to Bill Squirrel. He whistled. “I like this car already!”

“I think I may like it also,” said Bill. “Someday we will all be floating through the air, maybe even next year, but the CRT Blackwing already feels like it floats. It is both fast and highly accurate, so far,” said Bill Squirrel.

“Accuracy and safety. Those may be two key things to look for in a smart drive utility vehicle,” said Tim.

“I’ll take you for a spin around the city first. I really like the way this car handles. After some city driving, we will head out on the road to the Torrid Desert,” said Bill.

“Do you have plenty of water? Do we need any supplies?” asked Tim.

“No,” said Bill waving his hand. I’ve got everything taken care of. We have some water and snacks. On the route that we are taking, there are also several mini stores in the desert if we should need anything. Head north!” said Bill to the car.

Blue lights flashed and a radar appeared on the CRT Blackwing’s instrument panel. Then, the car took charge. Tim Fox and Bill Squirrel were cruising around Thunder Square as the animals were filing out of their offices for lunch and milling around looking for shopping places.

“This might be even better than taking the sky train!” said Tim.

“Perhaps. Especially if you like a close look at what is happening on the ground. Look at that Zebra up there. She is monitoring traffic closely!”

“Oh yes, she is a tough one. She loves to write tickets. Many have been sent to the high court because of her watchful eyes!” said Bill Squirrel.

“Drive toward Fountain Circle!” Bill Squirrel told the car. “Let’s go see if the water is turned on again in the fountains. It was off a few days ago.” The car then drove East around the fountains.

CHAPTER 3: In the Desert

After Bill and Tim drove around the city and comfortably watched the CRT Blackwing take them along the streets, they found themselves on a highway. “I guess it is time to go now. Drive to the Torrid Desert!” Bill told the car. The CRT Blackwing was on its way out of the city. Tim and Bill listened to some of their favorite music. They watched the landscape outside the car windows change. The fewer and smaller trees and prickly cactuses popping up told them they were nearing the desert.

“Okay, so far, I think we can rate it for excellent handling, accurate map reading and routes, and a very smooth ride,” said Bill Squirrel.

“I agree,” said Tim Foxe. “I would say it is a nice, sporty ride. It seems to go a long distance on just one solar charge. I’d almost like one of these myself, but there would be too many details to own a car for me. I prefer public transportation,” he said.

The CRT Blackwing began to slow down. A large sign rose up ahead of them. It read: Welcome to Torrid Desert Park. Just inside the entrance was the Oasis Mart.

“Do we need to stop?” asked Bill.

“No, I think not,” said Tim snapping some pictures from the car window. “Maybe we could stop back by here on our way out. We will go a few miles inside and come back. Maybe even stay in the hotel we passed for the night,” said Bill.

“Sure, that sounds fine,” answered Tim.

The CRT Blackwing adapted to the new narrow road the travelers now found themselves on. It was deserted, nobody else was in sight. It seemed they had the desert all to themselves. Desert hills rose up in the distance and the reddish-color sand swirled in the wind. The car drove ahead as the sun began to hang low in the sky.

The car began to pick up speed. “Slow down by 12 KPH!” Bill said to the car. The car zoomed straight ahead.

“Whoa! It’s a little fast, isn’t it?” asked Tim shifted in his seat.

“Slow down by 16 KPH!” Bill told the car. They raced down the desert road. It was beginning to get dark.

“You know, I think I do want to go back to the Oasis Mart. Maybe get some snacks and go to the hotel after all,” said Tim.

“Gradual stop!” said Bill to the CRT Blackwing.

Just then, the car slowed abruptly and made a sharp right turn down a bumpy narrow trail.

“What is going on?” asked Tim.

Bill began pressing buttons on the car’s instrument panel. “Full stop!” he yelled. He tried to turn the steering wheel, but it was locked.

The car entered a place that was surrounded by rocks and as it went in an iron gate came crashing down behind it! The CRT Blackwing stopped and turned itself off just as a cloudy night was covering the desert. There was very little moon, it was so very dark.

CHAPTER 4: Finding the Moon

“Oh wow, where are we? What was that back there? Are we trapped?” asked Tim.

“Ah no, surely not. I mean I saw it, but it is probably an automatic gate with a sensor,” said Bill.

“Okay then. It is all nice and dark and sandy out here. I give the car an A plus for speed and turning. I give it a C minus for stop control. Now I say, let’s go!” said Tim.

Bill looked at the instrument panel, it seemed locked. He looked at the power gauge that was fine a few minutes ago, now it registered low. “Power up, turn around!” Bill said. The car was silent. Bill and Tim looked at each other. “Why don’t we have a drink of water and give the car a rest?” Bill said. He reached into the back and grabbed two water bottles.

“Does it say no power? Is there a reserve? A battery? Tell me there is something back there,” said Tim.

“Yes, there is an emergency battery super cell,” said Bill drinking sips of his water.

“What is that?” asked Tim pointing to the windshield. Bill looked out. There were things with hairy legs crawling on the car window! He took his small penlight and aimed it outward onto the hood of the car. It was now covered in these things.

“Spiders!” yelled Tim.

“Nope,” said Bill. “They are tarantulas.”

“Awful! This is just awful!” said Tim.

“Just relax, let the car rest. I’m sure it will start up. It is just a glitch,” said Bill. He wished he felt better when he said it.

“What about that gate? How will we get out?”

“We will have to see, I’m sure everything will be fine, said Bill.

“Why is it so dark tonight?” Tim Fox thought he was going to be sick.

They looked outside of the car with Bill’s penlight. The tarantulas were crawling all over the car. Bill turned around and was digging around the backseat of the car. “Aha! here it is,” he showed a shiny square object to Tim.

“That’s awfully small for a battery!” said Tim.

“It’s the super V-control power pack. Let me plug it in,” said Bill.

He snapped it into the instrument panel. The CRT Blackwing made a humming noise, then a clicking noise. “Powering Up!” the car said.

It started again.

“Oh, good!” said Tim.

“Turn around. Go north!” said Bill.

This time, the CRT Blackwing turned and went toward the large gate. The tarantulas fell off the car as the desert wind blew them away. The car drove to the iron gate that lodged itself between the rocks, then stopped.

Bill and Tim looked at each other. Bill was touching his glasses. It had been such a long day. Now it was dark, and he was sleepy. Both Bill and Tim had enough of a test ride for the day. They wanted out of the desert. Just then the moon came out. The beautiful moonlight was a welcome sight around them. Bill looked out in front of the car at the large iron gate. He saw a little box on the right side.

He began digging in the middle compartment of the car. “Here it is!” he said. He pulled out a small mirror.

“Okay Tim, see that little box?” Bill pointed.

“Yes?” Tim replied.

“Put your car window down and take this mirror. Find the moon in the mirror and aim the light reflection for that box. Let’s see what happens.”

“Well, I guess it is worth a try,” said Tim. He looked out the window. He wanted to make sure the tarantulas were all gone. Tim gently eased the window down. He held the mirror. The moonlight reflected from it. He pointed the mirror toward the box on the gate. After what seemed to be forever, the gate creaked and slowly rose upward.

“Full speed ahead north to the Oasis Mart!”

The CRT Blackwing car took off into the desert night with the moon shining on the narrow trail, then back onto the highway.

“Whew!” said Tim. “I’m so happy that worked!”

“Me too!” said Bill. “Day One of the car test is almost done!”

“I say for Day Two, let’s go back to Peace City!” said Tim.

Comprehension Questions

What topic and problem were explored in this story?
Testing a computer panel that has loose wires.
Testing the motor of a new car.
Testing a self-driving car that stalls in the desert.
Testing the quality of desert roads that need work.
Who are the protagonists?
Steven Spigot and the police.
Bill Squirrel and Tim Foxe
Zelda Kamp the zebra.
Tarantulas of the desert.
What was the main problem in the story?
The CRT Blackwing car stopped taking instructions and stalled in the desert.
Tim Foxe refused to continue the car ride.
Bill Squirrel and Tim Foxe could not stop at the Oasis Mart.
The CRT Blackwing could drive in the city but could not drive in the desert.
What challenges did they have to overcome to solve the problem?
They had to stop at a desert station to power the car.
They had to find a hotel inside the desert to stay.
They had to call Plutonius about the car.
They had to find a new battery cell and use a mirror to light the gate sensor.

How did they solve the problem of the stalled car?

Did trying to solve the problem with the car by giving it more instructions help?
Do we have similar issues on Earth?
Yes
No
Could we solve this problem on Earth the same way as the story? Explain.
Do you agree that this is a significant problem? Explain.
What did you learn from this story?

The Blue House

Yako Walker’s feet were heavy, and he was feeling the heat of hot, summer day as he walked down Pine Street. All over Green City people were scurrying about to find houses for rent or for sale. It was moving season, but the housing market was tight, housing was hard to find. People were renting and buying houses online even without seeing them in person first.

What I wouldn’t give for a house of my own! Yako said to himself. He thought about the bridge he slept under last night. It was a long sweaty night; a group of deer was under the bridge. They were having a party when Yako was trying to sleep. He yelled at them several times, but they kept waking him up. A buffalo was under the bridge too, he had gotten sick from drinking too much, then Yako had been miserable just lying there in the heat and breathing the horrible scents around him.

Yako trudged on down the street. His backpack that he carried everywhere was also weighing heavy on his back. He needed to take a break. He was looking for some nice shade trees to stop and rest under. Then he saw it tucked right there into a circle of trees: a dilapidated and abandoned old house.

The house was once perfectly blue, now the paint was peeling off in layers. Some of the windows were missing and there was a hole in the bottom of the shabby front porch. Yako stood back and looked at the roof. The roof wasn’t bad at all; he could see no visible missing shingles, there were no holes, it probably didn’t leak at all! Yako looked around. There were other houses in the distance, but this one was rather isolated by itself. It was surrounded by nice shade trees that would keep it cool. The door to the house was opened just a crack, it seemed to beckon him inside, so he decided to go in and explore.

Yako stood in the doorway and waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the house. There was some random trash scattered about and some glass from the broken windows. It looked like people came in from time to time probably to escape the weather and spend the night. He walked from the living room into the kitchen. The cabinets were open, some had doors falling off the hinges, there was more trash, but the sink was in great shape. From there Yako went into the bathroom and then into a small bedroom. The house had everything, it just needed repairing. Yako couldn’t believe his good luck. He had found a house! Maybe I could just stay here, he thought to himself.

Yako was resourceful, he knew every place in Green City where he could pick up discarded items. He knew the best dumpsters to dig through to find valuable trash. He would usually check these places to find things to resell, but now he could use things to outfit the house. Yako was good at fixing things, that was one thing that life on the streets had taught him: recognize opportunity, then shape it to fit his needs. He couldn’t believe his good luck!

Yako set his backpack down and picked up a box that had been thrown into a corner. He started gathering the trash and placing it into the box. Luckily there was a dumpster right behind the house to dispose of the trash. Yako worked into the late afternoon until he began to get hungry and think about food for dinner. He found a big board and a chest to take into the living room to place against the front door. This would effectively act as a lock so that nobody could open the front door and go in. He decided to sneak out a small window in the back to go out and walk around behind some of his favorite restaurants that would be discarding food for the evening.

Even though Yako did not have many people that he could call friends, the streets seemed happier as Yako walked through them to forage for food. He felt different having a place to go home to. He would not have to find a bridge or an old train yard tonight. He would not have to fight over the last good cardboard box behind the bread factory. Yako felt that his life was looking up because he had found a place to stay. So, what if some others had been there before, if they came back, he was going to let them know that he was there now. Things had changed.

Yako took a detour to walk through the alley behind the cleaning company. He wanted to check their trash; he could use some cleaning supplies. Yako peered inside and saw what looked to be a big handle sticking up from some trash. Just as he was digging through the dumpster, he saw the goat, Wally, whom he sometimes chatted with, walking down the alley toward him.

“Hello Yako,” Wally called. “You look awfully busy this evening.”

Yako nodded. Wally had a big mouth sometimes, and Yako really didn’t want to tell too much to Wally.

“Is that a broom you got there? What are you going to do with a broom?” asked Wally.

“Oh this?” Yako held it up. “Oh, I’m just going to sweep some dust away. Dusty places are making my allergies act up.”

“You find a good place to camp out a few days?” asked Wally.

“Who me? Oh no, not really, but I’m always hoping to find that perfect spot, you know,” Yako said.

“Yeah, I do know,” said Wally. “I found a fairly good doorway to sleep in at a shop in the lower end of Green City. The shop doesn’t open until nine o’clock every morning, so I’ve got plenty of time to get out before the owner arrives. There’s another store with a good doorway on that side of the street if you are interested, but I don’t know what time they open.”

Yako shook his head. “No thanks. I’m okay right now.”

“Well, also I’m told that a new shelter has opened up. It’s called the Sunshine House. I understand that they have some individual rooms available on a limited basis, it is more private,” Wally said.

“I don’t think I’m interested now; I’ll see you around,” Yako said grabbing his broom and taking off in the other direction. Wally watched him walked away. He is such a strange fellow, Wally thought to himself.

Yako walked with his broom. He stopped in the back of Foragers Restaurant. He looked through the discarded food and found some delicious leafy greens, air-baked zucchini, green tomato salad, and a mixed vegetable patty. Yako found some slightly overripe pears for dessert. He placed his food in a clean carton that he also found. Wally took his food and broom and continued his walk back to the welcoming sight of his house. He went in through the back window and sat down to eat dinner. It was nice being inside the house. After dinner, Wally swept out the bedroom. He found an old quilt to use for his mattress. He spread it out and went to sleep. Tomorrow, he would work on getting a few pieces of furniture.

Wally slept peacefully. In the middle of the night, he heard a loud banging on the front door. He jumped up. Then he remembered. He had secured the door very well. Nobody was going to come through it. He cautiously crept to the bedroom window and looked carefully it out. It was a lamb and a zebra. They both looked like they had too much to drink. They may have been staying in the house before, but that was too bad. It was Wally’s house now. Wally watched the lamb and zebra grumble. The lamb tried to kick one of the posts and almost landed in the hole in the porch. Wally smiled to himself and went back to sleep.

The next morning, Wally awoke early. It was time to get to work again. He had some heavy plastic; he had taped over the two broken windows both inside and out. Now they were also nice and secure. There was more trash to be taken out to the dumpster and Wally needed a few things. He made a list in his head: a chair, a small table, more bedding. A sofa would be so nice! Wally said to himself. Then he wondered how to get a sofa transported without help. He couldn’t afford to tell others about his place. Wally was sure if they knew about it, they would want to come and stay here too, and this was his house. He wanted to be left alone, so he would have to figure out a way to get heavier items here.

Wally was inside the kitchen cleaning up the dust and trash when he heard voices outside the house. He froze. Who was it? More homeless people trying to hone in on his territory? He put down his tools and crawled out of sight from the windows. There was a man and a woman outside. He could tell from their voices. He needed to hear what they were saying. He sneaked into the living room. He heard the man say something about inside. Wally saw the doorknob on the front door turn. The door was still secure, they weren’t getting in that way. From his hiding place, he watched the pair walk around and look in one of the windows. Curtains he thought. I need curtains!

Wally held his breath and listened closely. He had to hear what they were saying about his house.

“I am thinking this could be purchased at the foreclosure sale,” the man was saying.

“Oh maybe,” said the woman. “How much would it be?”

“I’m not sure, not too much. I don’t think it is livable. If I were you, I’d buy it and tear it down. I’d put in a small tract house. Rents are up and they will continue to go up in my opinion. It’s a seller’s market,” the man said.

“I would need to do some more research to decide if it is an investment that I would like to risk,” the woman said.

“Oh yes, do your research then. But don’t take too long to think about it. You never know when an opportunity to buy something cheap might come along again,” the man replied. “I can bring some tools tomorrow, so we can get inside, but I don’t think this house is salvageable. I’d buy it for a tear down myself.”

“Well, like I said, I will have to think about it,” the woman answered.

The prying couple turned and walked away from the window towards the car that was parked on the street. Wally strained his ears to hear everything they said until their voices became simply murmurs in the distance and the car raced away. Why did they come to his house? The woman said she might buy it! Tear it down; it was a perfectly fine house! That was so unfair. Wally had found it himself. The house had been this way for years maybe. The house seemed to just be waiting for him. He needed it! Now someone comes along talking about buying it and even worse, tearing it down. It was a good house for him to live in. Why couldn’t he have this house? He was sure the woman and the man already had a place to live in. They didn’t need this one. Tear down a house because it was old, waste good wood, waste things that could be fixed.

Wally felt sick for the rest of the morning. He continued to clean out the house. He decided to hope for the best. Later in the day, he went done the alley to search for food. He also found a chair with one missing leg. He brought it all back and found a piece of wood to prop under the chair. Wally noted that he would need a hammer for sure to fix the chair and some more things. He refused to think about the man and woman who had dropped into his world as unwelcome guests.

After a restless night, Wally awoke the next morning. He took his backpack and set it down by the back window. He told himself not to worry, he was pretty sure they wouldn’t return. Wally began cleaning again and was near the front window when the car returned and parked. It was the same couple again. He watched them carefully as they got out of the car. The man walked to the back of the car and removed a toolbox. Wally’s heart sank. They were here, they came back to see the house. They were coming inside after all! He put his broom down and went to the back window where his backpack was waiting. He listened carefully. Please go away! he said silently. Then he heard the sound of a drill at the front door. The man was taking the hinges off the door to go inside! Wally shook his head. He sadly picked up his backpack and went through the window just as the man pried open the front door. Wally’s feet felt heavy again, but this time it wasn’t the heat, but the heavy feeling of sadness that came over him as he walked away from the blue house. He walked away from the shade trees that surrounded the house and into the bright sun. Then Yako remembered what Wally had said about the Sunshine House and decided that he would head that way to see about finding a room there.

Comprehension Questions

How was the housing market in Green City at this time?

Yako was comfortable sleeping under bridges.
True
False
What did the blue house look like that Yako found?

The man and woman that came to the house were interested in living there.
True
False

What did the man suggest the woman do with the house if she bought it?
- Tear it down and build another house.
- Clean the house up and rent it.
- Turn the house into a shop.
- Make the house into a home for homeless people.

What did Wally do when the man and woman came to look at the house the second time?
- He met them at the door.
- He told them he was staying in the house.
- He called the police.
- He reluctantly left the house through the back window.

Answer Key

Houses were hard to find. People were buying and renting houses without going to look at them.
B
It had peeling blue paint and some broken windows. There was a hole in the front porch.

The Rat Hacking Incident

CHAPTER 1: A New Computer Policy

Mark Porter sat at his desk. he was going over a list of business prospects for the week. He had sales goals to meet and Mr. Nash, his boss, had just called to remind him about those goals.

“We must succeed in our company vision,” he had said.

I can do it! I’ve got to do it! Now think, he told himself. Someone out there needs insurance. They need it today! I’ve got term life, health, home, and auto. Let’s see….. Aha! Right here. I see that Max Elley has called me before to ask some questions. I will call him back now!

Mark picked up his phone and called Max.

“Hello!” Max said.

“Hello Max, this is Mark. Mark Porter at Animal Allied Insurance. We talked earlier about setting up a policy for you….”

“Oh yes, I remember well. And I do have a possible need. Can we discuss this today? asked Max.

“For sure! How about this afternoon?” asked Mark.

“Great, I will see you then,” said Max.

Mark went to Max’s house a little early. Max opened the door. “Hello Mark Porter!” he bellowed. “Come in and let’s talk about insurance.”

Mark followed Max into his home office. He had bookcases that covered one wall. There were many books about architecture and large cities. He had fancy models of buildings in glass cases. Mark had pulled a lot of information about art. The last time he had spoken to Max, he was considering insuring some valuable art that he collects.

“So, Max, I have thought about a special insurance rider for your art. We could go with one of three options,” said Mark.

“Art!” Max exclaimed. “No art today! I want cyber protection. It is becoming more and more important, you know,” he said pointing at his computer.

“Oh dear,” said Mark. He was quite unprepared for this.

“You see, a friend of mine just last week said his computer was attacked. The hackers locked it down! He couldn’t access his documents or the new plans that he had drawn unless he paid $200,000 NXD!”

“Oh goodness,” said Mark. “This is a very real problem that we have now.”

“To be honest, I am worried. I had helped design some of those plans. My name was on them, so the hackers have my name too!”

“Oh dear,” said Mark. He whipped out his portable computer and typed furiously. In a few moments and with a few clicks of the keypad he had policy information on cyber-attack coverage. “So, let’s look at Option A, you would 100% covered, and any payment you made for the ransom of files would be reimbursed. You can also receive money if a criminal should steal your banking and financial information.”

“Okay,” said Max. “You can’t be too careful these days. I read that cyber-attacks have gone up both for people and for corporations.”

“Yes, that’s right,” said Mark. “Can I send these over there to your printer?”

“Sure,” Max answered.

Mark went over to the printer and picked up the papers. “Sign at the bottom right here.” Max signed the bottom of the pages with his bold signature in bright blue ink. He picked up his phone to pay the fee.

“Well done!” said Mark. I hope this policy serves you well! Now, let me print off a receipt.”

CHAPTER 2: The Computer is Locked

Mark sent the document to the printer. About that time, Max’s computer began flashing and making a loud buzzing sound. COMPUTER LOCKED! it blinked. Max and Mark stared at the computer in disbelief.

“What?” said Max shaking his big head.

“Oh no! I can’t believe it!” said Mark. The computer flashed a new message: Your files have been encrypted. Don’t try to bypass this message. You cannot compete. Your files will be returned if you follow these directions.

Max fanned himself with his large ears, he was so hot! He felt like he might faint. This was all happening like a bad dream.

Mark and Max stared at the computer screen. They read each line of the instructions.

“Look at that! Pay $300,000 NXD!” Max yelled.

“The ransom has gone up,” said Mark Porter.

“Well, it’s a good thing that I got that insurance,” said Max. He turned to Mark.

“Oh,” said Mark. “It will take just a few days for the policy to be in effect.”

“What????” Max bellowed. He swung his trunk and moved his eyes from side to side. He was becoming quite angry. This was not what he wanted to hear.

Mark cleared his throat. The room seemed much smaller when a large, angry elephant was in it. “Ahem, let me take a look at it and see what I can do. May I?” He sat down in front of Max’s computer. Has anyone successfully blocked a hacker before? he wondered.

Mark began selecting the control buttons for the computer. Max sat next to him and watched closely. The computer screen changed. A big rat face appeared!

“Yikes!” yelled Max almost falling out of his chair. “That is creepy!”

Mark hit the escape button. The rat face laughed.

“I don’t like rats” Max squealed, covering his eyes. “Get them off!”

Mark hit the power button. “Let’s start it back in safe mode and go from there.” Mark fancied himself as a near expert working with computers. I’ve had a few computer courses during my day, he said to himself.

“What?” asked Max.

“Oh, nothing. We will continue trying some things,” said Mark. He entered some computer codes in safe mode. “Let’s activate the virus scan now!”

Max was beginning to have some hope. “You are doing well with his. How did you learn so much about computers?”

“Oh, I’ve sort of learned as I’ve gone over the years. I’ve always liked working with them,” said Mark. “Now let’s try this,” he hit two computer keys at once, then the screen went black! Max and Mark both held their breath. The screen blinked. The big laughing rat appeared again. ‘You can’t get the cheese!’ a new message flashed at them. Max shut his eyes. Mark pressed the enter key. Then the computer screen turned to many, many rats running from blue blocks like a map of a rat world on the computer! The race is on! the computer screen read. Then a timer clock appeared on the screen.

“What is it? It looks like a video game!” Max cried.

“Well apparently, I’m in a race now to get the cheese. Whoever wins the race will control the computer,” said Mark.

“Mark, you must win, you must block the rat hackers! I have many business files and drawings that I need every day right on this computer. All of my financial information is there. Even, even,” Max Elley sobbed. “Even my candy peanut game is on there. I’m at Level Six!”

“Yes,” said Mark weakly. “I’ll do what I can. I promise.”

“Please do. Or I will have to make a claim on my new insurance policy,” said Max slapping his big toes on the desk.

Mark shifted in his chair. He was worried. One upset, very large elephant, and a bunch of rat hackers on the loose plus one insurance policy that was not yet ready. He was worried. It was difficult to explain contracts to the elephant. He just wasn’t going to listen.

Mark concentrated on the computer screen. The rats were everywhere, he hit the arrow key and followed them down a tunnel. The timer on the screen flickered.

You are losing! the screen blinked. Be prepared to pay the ransom!

Mark had never seen anything like this before. He was in a strange computer race with these rat hackers, and they just wouldn’t give up!

Three steps to the cheese! the computer announced, then flashed again.

Max the elephant groaned. Mark decided to try some new commands, then maybe go back to the anti-virus software. He typed quickly on the keyboard and held his breath. The computer blinked: Cheese please! Max typed a bit more, then hit the virus software button at the bottom. The timer on the screen buzzed, then disappeared. Everything was really quiet for a time. Then a new message appeared from the software: All threats have been removed. Restart the computer.

“Oh wow!” said Max. The computer came back on. There were no rats. There was no cheese either. There were no ransom notes. “You did it!!” said Max.

Mark and Max both breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. Mark had saved the day and he had sold a policy too! Max was now one happy customer.

“Okay, so you will be getting a survey to take to rate my customer service for today,” said Mark.

“For sure!” said Max. “Mr. Porter goes above and beyond for outstanding customer service!”

Comprehension Questions

What topic and problem were explored in this story?
Computers cannot always function correctly.
Computers cannot be programmed.
Computers can be used to store many files.
Computers can be attacked, and files can be kept by someone else.
Who was the protagonist?
The protagonist was Mark Porter.
The protagonist was the chief rat hacker.
The protagonist was Max Elley.
The protagonist was the insurance company.
Who or what was the antagonist?
The antagonist was Max Elley.
The antagonists were the rat computer hackers.
The antagonist was the computer.
The antagonist was the antivirus software.
What challenges did they have to overcome to solve the problem?
Mark Porter had to overcome the challenge of beating the rat hackers in a game to rescue the computer for Max.
Mark Porter had to help Max overcome his fear of rats.
Max Elley had to work on his computer skills to beat the rat hackers.
Max Elley had to overcome the difficulty of not having a computer.

How did they solve the problem or bring awareness to the issue?

Did they create more problems trying to solve the computer hacking problem? Why?
Do we have similar issues on Earth?
Yes
No
Could we solve this problem on Earth the same way as the story? Explain.
Do you agree that this is a significant problem? Explain.
What did you learn from this story?

Answer Key

D
A
B
A
The characters brought awareness to the current problem of cyber-security.
No, they did not. They won the game and freed the computer.
A
No, if a computer is hacked, people must usually seek the services of a professional, security/IT specialist to have the problem solved.
Yes, it is a huge problem today. Cyber-attacks are happening to both companies and individuals quite frequently.
I learned about the issues of cyber-attacks and that these attacks can cause a lot of damages for people and companies.

Eduland Stories

A Friend in a Box

CHAPTER 1: Cherise Arrives

CHAPTER 2: Learning About Robots

CHAPTER 3: Jealousy

Comprehension Questions

Customer Service

Comprehension Questions

Miss Gnaw’s Language Class

CHAPTER 1: The Cell Phone Problem

CHAPTER 2: The Experiment

Comprehension Questions

Plastics and Pirates

CHAPTER 1: Plastic in the East Sea

CHAPTER 2: Pirates on Watch

CHAPTER 3: The Holdup

Comprehension Questions

Testing the CRT Blackwing

CHAPTER 1: The Testing Offer

CHAPTER 2: Driving in the City

CHAPTER 3: In the Desert

CHAPTER 4: Finding the Moon

Comprehension Questions

The Blue House

Comprehension Questions

Answer Key

The Rat Hacking Incident

CHAPTER 1: A New Computer Policy

CHAPTER 2: The Computer is Locked

Comprehension Questions

Answer Key

All Stories Copyrighted to the Eduland Corporation