I remembered the day when I’d stopped. During break-time the girls in class had been talking about going go-karting one Saturday. I hadn’t said anything, knowing it wasn’t something I’d be allowed to do. I’d got home that day and my picture had suddenly felt pointless. I’d just given up. I sighed and propped it against the wall so I had room to do my homework.

*

When I walked into class the next day, I heard a mixture of moans and cheers as everyone found out who they were sitting with for the next few weeks. Erin and Shavina were screeching and hugging each other as they’d discovered they were on the same desk.

Ellie-bot was sitting on a desk at the front. I looked at one of the English books beside the robot and read the name:

ANNA HIGSON

It was mine! I felt a fizz of happiness deep in my stomach when I sat down. The two strips of white lights on the robot’s sides were lit, so I knew it was turned on. The head of the robot slowly swivelled to face me.

“Hi, Anna!” said Ellie.

“Hi, Ellie,” I said. I gave her a smile and the robot’s head flashed and its eyes did a jiggle. I laughed, but then someone pushed the back of my seat and I was jolted forwards.

“Sorry, Anna. Can I get past?” said a voice.

I looked round. It was Nia. I edged my chair in and looked over at the English book on the other side of Ellie-bot. It was Nia’s. Yes, she was my friend, but my heart still sank a bit.

“Oh, hi, Ellie!” said Nia brightly.

“Hi, Nia,” said Ellie back, but the robot didn’t flash or wiggle its eyes. “How is Pumpkin?” said Ellie. “Did you ride him last night?”

“Yes!” said Nia. “I’ve been teaching him how to jump and he is just beginning to get the hang of it. He’s such a star.”

Fortunately, I didn’t have to listen to any more of Nia’s exciting life, as Miss Burnell began to take the register. When she’d finished, she asked Nia to go to the school office to collect some photocopying that she’d left behind. The rest of us were told to turn to a fresh page in our English books while Miss Burnell handed out copies of a poem.

“How was yesterday, Anna?” said Ellie. “Did you do anything nice after school?”

Ellie-bot turned its head to face me. I thought about last night. Of me, Mum and Henry going to the supermarket and then coming home to dinner. It wasn’t exactly exciting for her to hear about that. I blinked a few times, then smiled at the robot.