Love, Z, by Jessie Sima

Hello, this is mister catcher here with another show me nominee award for the 2021 school year. This is called love Z, as we see. On a brightly day, Z went out looking for adventure and stumbled upon a piece of half buried treasure. As you can see, Z is a robot. Inside was a message too smudgy to read, except for two words at the very bottom, love Beatrice. The young robot did not know what love knew, or who Beatrice was they thought important. So Z tucked the treasure away and headed toward home. As night fell, all the robots prepared to power down and recharge the next day. Z asked for a bedtime story. And a night light, and a good night kiss. Not snugly in bed, these thoughts drifted back to the important treasure. What is love? Ask the young robot. Does not compute, replied the old rusty robots, then they said sweet dreams and turned off the lights. Alone in the dark Z could not sleep. The other robots had always been able to answer these questions. If they did not know what love meant, who would. Maybe there was one person. In the morning Z we're not looking for Beatrice. Hello, I'm looking for Beatrice explained Z I want to know what love is and she will have the answer. That sounds important to the captain. Climb aboard and we'll go on a quest. So they did. Unsure of how to start a quest Z ask around. Excuse me, where are you Beatrice? Are you Beatrice? Hello, are you Beatrice? No, so the voice. What's the Beatrice? We are on a quest to find out what love is explained Z and Beatrice will have the answer. I don't know any Beatrice of the crow, but to me, love is sharing your food, even when it's delicious. That did not compute. But Z thank the crow anyway and change course to where to place with delicious food. The baker did not know Beatrice either, but she was happy to share what love meant to her. Love is when some of this patient and takes the time to teach you new things. That did not compute, but Z thank the baker anyway and change course toward a place. With teachers. Looks like when her father taught her how to bake. The kids took recess had lots of thoughts about what love is, love is butterflies. Love is sweaters. Love is wishing on a star. Love is lawn gnomes. Love is a million puppies. Love is snowflakes on my tongue. Absolutely none of them computed, but Z, thank the students anyway, and had no idea what to go in search of. What if they never found Beatrice? What if love was something a robot could just not compute? Z was about to suggest that they changed course toward home when they stumbled upon a good place to spend the night. Little island there. Hello, we are on a quest. Oh, never mind. Hello. I'm Beatrice of the woman. Z can not believe they're lucky. What were you doing out there with the cold S Beatrice? Looking for you explain V, I want to know what love is. And I thought you would have the answer. Beatrice Paul's to thank. She thought and thought and thought some more. I want to know what love is. Love is difficult to explain. It's warm and cozy and safe. You'll know it when you feel it. See hope she was right. It's getting light so it'd be interesting. Let's get some rest. The young robot was preparing to power down and recharge for the next day when? The old rusty robots arrived unannounced. Z, you were gone. We were worried. But we found you. We brought your favorite bedtime story, and your nightlight, and a good night kiss. Snugly in bed, he felt warm and cozy and safe. It was a feeling the young robot had felt many times before. But now it had a name. Love Z well, here you go. This is one of the books you can vote on. You can vote on this in March. If you are a student in north or South Park, I will send you instructions on how you can vote on that. Everybody have a good day and mask up, please.