The Pet Feeder That Did Not Stop
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
While watching her parents' house, Callie finds the smart pet feeder has fed the cat six times a day instead of two.
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Callie's parents leave for a short trip. They ask her to watch the house. Their cat, Clementine, eats from a smart feeder in the kitchen. It gives her food two times a day.
"Just check the app once in a while," Callie's mom says. "It does the rest."
On the first day, everything seems normal. Callie goes to school and comes home to a quiet house. Clementine naps on the sofa like usual.
On the second day, something feels different. Clementine is not hungry at dinner. She barely touches her bowl and walks away slowly.
Callie opens the feeder app on her phone. A long list fills the screen. The feeder gave Clementine food six times that day, not two.
"Clementine, that is a lot of food," Callie says, laughing a little.
She calls her neighbor, Bennett, who knows about smart devices. He comes over and looks at the feeder's settings with her.
"Here's the problem," Bennett says, pointing at the screen. "The schedule has six feeding times instead of two. Someone set it wrong."
Callie remembers her little brother playing with the app before the trip. He probably tapped buttons without knowing what they did.
Bennett helps her delete the extra times. They save just two feedings a day. He checks the feeder's clock, and it matches Callie's phone now.
That evening, the feeder gives Clementine one normal meal. She eats every bite and curls up on the sofa.
"Back to normal," Callie says. She sends her parents a quick message about it.
