A Boy And His Bot

INCOMING CALL FROM....

The robot paused, as if it were considering the multitudes who might be dialing in to incarnate it. Lyndon, it finally declared.

A small camera flipped up at the robot's crown. White headlights flashed at its base, then blue and orange lights blinked on around its monitor. The robot disengaged from its charging station and began rolling toward a doorway.

A bell rang. The bot gathered speed lest it be late for its ninth-grade science class.

Coach Lawson approached the robot and grinned. He's a history teacher and baseball coach at a 68-student high school in Knox City, Texas, but you can't fool folks. He's still what he once was: a rodeo clown. He lifted a hand and high-fived the bot.

A voice came from its two speakers. "What time do I need to be at the game on Saturday, Coach?"

"One o'clock start," said Coach Lawson.

"Thanks!" said the bot.

Coach Lawson resisted the urge, this time, to cover the robot's camera lens with a sticky note. He smiled and watched the voice of yourrrrr Knox City Greyyyyy-hounnnnnds! whir down the hall.

Want me to open the door?" asked one of the robot's 18 fellow freshmen, a boy named Travis Self.