[Short Story Collection] "My Mother, the Roomba, and I" #1 Roomba

Back when robot vacuums like the "Roomba" were still a novelty,
my younger sister invited me over to see it.
When I arrived, the Roomba was moving noisily around the living room.

"So this is the one you got. What do you think of it so far?"
"It's not bad. Though it does force me to keep the room tidy,"
my sister said with a wry smile.

"It's convenient, but it's a bit noisy, isn't it?"
my mother said.

"In that case, I'll have it clean the hallway."

My sister picked it up easily and moved it to the hallway in front of the entrance.
The Roomba was going back and forth in the hallway.

After a while, my mother said quietly,

"It's about time you let it back in here. It's poor thing."

My sister and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.

My mother looked bewildered at first, but
then she said, "Oh, I see," and laughed.