A robot bedtime story: Kobi the fix-it robot

Ages 3 to 7 · 4 min read aloud

Kobi and the Silent Music Box

In the village of Tickerdale, nestled among the hills, lived a small robot called Kobi. Kobi was round and silver, with two blue lights for eyes and an aerial that wobbled gently as he walked. And Kobi had a special gift: his hands could fix anything.

Whenever Kobi mended something, his hands began to hum softly. Hmmmm. A loose wheel would suddenly be tight again. A torn kite would be whole. Everyone in Tickerdale knew: if something is broken, ask Kobi.

Every evening, before he charged up, Kobi took one last walk round the village. That evening he went past the swing in the park first. It was squeaking. Squeak, squeak. Kobi hummed his hands over the chain, and the swing was quiet again.

Then he walked past the bakery. Above the door hung a lantern that was flickering. Kobi stretched out his arm, longer and longer, right up above the door. Hmmmm. The lantern glowed calm and warm once more.

As he passed the last cottage on the street, he saw an open window. Behind it sat a girl in her pyjamas. Her name was Rosie, and she was holding a small wooden box. ‘Hello, Kobi,’ she said quietly. ‘My music box won’t play any more.’

Kobi tapped gently on the window frame. ‘May I have a look?’ he asked in his tiny robot voice. Rosie handed him the box. Kobi turned it over. His blue eyes grew a little brighter, so he could see properly.

Inside was a teeny tiny spring that had come a bit loose. ‘Aha,’ said Kobi. He held one finger next to it. Hmmmm, went his hand, very softly. The spring popped back into place.

Kobi opened the lid. Out came a tune. Slow and sweet, like a little lullaby. Ting, ting, ting. Rosie smiled. ‘Thank you, Kobi,’ she whispered. She put the box beside her bed and snuggled under the covers.

Kobi waved goodbye and walked back through the dark village. The swing was quiet. The lantern glowed steadily. From the last cottage came the soft sound of the music box. Ting, ting, ting.

At home, Kobi stood in his corner by his charging spot. He clicked his little plug into place. A light on his chest began to blink. First green. Then pale blue. Then deep blue, very slowly, like a heart beating calmly.

His aerial drooped a little. His hands stopped humming. ‘Everything is mended,’ Kobi said softly to himself. ‘Tomorrow is another day.’ His blue eyes grew dimmer and dimmer.

Outside, the moon shone on the rooftops of Tickerdale. Everyone was asleep. Rosie was asleep. The baker was asleep. And Kobi, the little fix-it robot, slipped very gently into sleep mode. Zzz. Goodnight, Kobi. Goodnight.