Bing! Bong!
Mr. Moon hurried to answer the doorbell. Few people visited his little house by the lake. Who could it be?
“Hello. I am Zap. I am your new robot.” Green lights flashed across the robot’s chest.
“But I ordered a rowboat!” said Mr. Moon.
“You will like me better than a rowboat,” Zap said. “I am strong and fast and smart. I delivered myself!”
“Can you float?” asked Mr. Moon.
“No,” said Zap. “I leak.”
Mr. Moon shook his head. “I don’t like modern things like robots. I like old-fashioned things like rowboats.”
“I will help you find a rowboat.” Zap marched into the house. He looked around. “There is your rowboat.”
“No! That’s my chair!” But Mr. Moon was too late.
Zap carried the chair to the lake. He dropped it in. It sank.
“Sorry,” said Zap. He spotted something in the garden.
“There is your rowboat!”
“No! That’s my wheelbarrow!” But Mr. Moon was too late.
Zap carried the wheelbarrow to the lake. He dropped it in. It sank.
“Sorry,” said Zap.
“I need a rowboat, not a robot!” said Mr. Moon. “I want to visit my brother. He lives on the other side of the lake.”
“You could walk around the lake,” Zap said. “I will walk with you.”
“It’s too far to walk,” said Mr. Moon. “There are hills and trees and pricker bushes. I’ll get lost.”
“I never get lost. I have maps in my head.” Blue lights glowed on Zap’s chest. “I have an idea.”
He pulled the chair out of the lake. He shook it so fast that all the water flew off. He pulled out the wheelbarrow, too. He spun it in a circle. Soon it was dry.
“Amazing,” said Mr. Moon.
“Sit down,” Zap said.
Mr. Moon sat in the chair.
Zap put the chair in the wheelbarrow. “Hold tight!”
Zap pushed the wheelbarrow around the lake. He ran as fast as a rocket. He checked the maps in his head. He took Mr. Moon straight to his brother’s door.
“Amazing,” said Mr. Moon.
Mr. Moon visited his brother. Then Zap pushed him home again.
A delivery man was waiting for them. “There’s been a mix-up. Here’s your rowboat. I’ll take back the robot.”
“I’ll keep this rowboat,” said Mr. Moon. “It floats. Zap doesn’t know about floating. He threw my chair into the lake.”
All Zap’s lights went out. He hung his head.
“Come with me, robot,” said the delivery man.
“Wait,” said Mr. Moon. “Zap has a good heart. He tries hard. He makes mistakes, but people make mistakes, too. I want this rowboat. And I want this robot.”
Zap’s lights blazed brightly. “You will not be sorry. I am a good helper. I will put this rowboat in the water for you.”
“Wait!” the delivery man said. “That’s my truck!”