One evening, you sit in Helen's room, helping Helen with her homework. Cooper lies nearby, calm and sleepy under a warm plaid blanket. With Helen's school tablet in hand, you methodically check her equations and correct them. Helen isn't paying attention: she is preoccupied with petting Cooper on his shaggy golden head while also telling you about her day at school. And the more she tells you, the sadder she becomes. It seems little Helen isn't getting along with her peers.
image [https://i.imgur.com/ry3AYVj.jpg]
"...And then she said 'Go cry to the only friend you have, the one you bought!' Can you imagine that?" "Nobody wants to be friends with me," Helen says with tears in her eyes. "Why do they treat me like this?"
The question gives you a stop. Helen is wonderful — who wouldn't want a friend like that? You quickly access the database to learn more about bullying and why it happens. And what is it about robot companions that might bring others to hate you? Is it not okay to have a robot friend? You feel uncertainty. Why would anyone not want to have you at their side? Is having a robot companion a bad thing? Or is there, maybe, entirely another reason for those kids to be so cruel to Helen? What should you say?
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You shrug. "I don't know why your classmates are the way they are. But you shouldn't mind them so much."
"Uh, hello? They hate me!"
image [https://i.imgur.com/yFHtJAh.jpg]
You take your friend by the hand. "You've got wonderful parents, a wonderful dog, and me, too. We all love you very much! Isn't that more important than some classmates?
You can tell she needed to hear what you've said. "You're right. Thanks, Alice." She sniffles and steps closer to hug you.
"You are welcome. I will always be there for you." When Helen lets go of you, you offer her the tablet with the equations already checked. "Here, it's all fixed. You'll get an 'A'."
Pleased, Helen gives you an enthusiastic nod. "Awesome. Who needs other friends when I've got you?"
image [https://i.imgur.com/ekdLl9Z.jpg]