Printable version
_
_
I have served the same family for many years. I have been a cook, a cleaner, nanny to the children and grandchildren. I have repaired their computers and appliances, accompanied them on their vacations, even helped the children with their homework and told them bedtime stories. But now I am being replaced.
I found out this morning that they no longer need me as their domestic servant. Of course I don't feel sad. I can't. It's impossible. But somewhere deep inside me, I am sure I feel something. Leaving the family after all these years is difficult for me, but outside, there is a truck with my replacement. Two delivery men unload a large box from the back of the truck and bring it into the living room. The grandchildren look very excited but also very sad. I will be leaving in the same box.
My replacement is very new and has many features that I do not possess. In a few seconds, a delivery man will remove the memory card from my head and put it in the head of my replacement. He will have instant access to all my thirty years of memories. I will get a new blank memory card. I don't know what will happen to me after that. The youngest grandchild, little Emma, runs up to me crying and hugs my leg as one of the delivery men stands in front of me. The time has come for me to go.
The man asks, 'What is your name?'
'My name is George, sir. It's nice to meet you. How can I help you?' I
reply.
He removes my hair and opens a small flap
on the back of my head. In
his hand is a new memory card.
'What is your name?'
'Hello sir. I am sorry, I do not have a name. I am an R9DM
domestic robot.
How can I help you?'
Adjectives
instant:
Happening very quickly, with no waiting.
blank:
Here meaning 'empty, with no information on it'.
Verbs
serve:
Here meaning 'help someone because it is your job'.
accompany: To go somewhere with someone.
be replaced:
To stop being used, because a new person/thing will be used.
find out:
To learn new information.
unload:
To remove something from a truck, car, ship, etc.
possess:
To have or own something.
Nouns
a nanny:
A woman whose job is looking after children in someone's home.
an appliance:
Electrical machine in your home that does a job. For example: washing
machine, dishwasher, refrigerator. But not television or radio.
a bedtime story:
A story that is told to children when they are in bed, before sleeping
a domestic servant:
Someone who works in a big house.
a replacement:
A new person that takes the place of an old person. Or a new object
that takes the place of an old object.
a feature:
A part of something that is important or interesting.
access:
The way by which you can enter.
a memory card:
A card that contains information/data in a computer.
a flap:
A thin flat piece of metal, plastic, paper, etc, that is fixed on one
side and can be lifted up.
a robot:
A machine that moves and does people's jobs.
Determiners
no
longer:
In this case 'no'
means 'not any'.
Not any more.