Snowvasion on Mars I’m MasterMind II, the Robot on Mars, and I’m studying rocks. It is near the winter and I am afraid it will snow. My batteries will go out if it snows, I heard one day. I thought it was not true, but here is a different change to prove me wrong! So I was studying rocks until, one day, I felt a drop on my shoulder. I thought, “Hey, I thought there was no water on Mars!” Then I felt a different thought, “Snowing! Oh no! My fuel will go out in minutes, seconds, milliseconds!” I froze, and then it all happened at once. Snowflakes began to fall, and one fell on my laser beam, which made it dim! I moved away. If I had to keep dodging snowflakes, I would not have enough time to study rocks! What a terrible time--Not now, of all times! I closed my eyes, ready to collapse on Mars and roll my body up. But instead, even though the snowflakes poured down, I felt no force to die. I kept on studying the snow-covered rocks, and I found it very annoying to not have a snow shovel. So I did my best to scrape away the snow and examine the rocks. Fortunately, I can send messages back to my creators. So I sent a little letter that went something like this: (I did not make an exact copy.) Deear Creeatur Compunee, Qite unicspictid--Snoowfull happind. Bee soo nic und sind a snoow shuvull too murs. Huppee Stadying, --Musturmind Too Okay, so I am not practically a spelling bee champion, and yes, my name is MasterMind. But I needed a snow shovel RIGHT NOW! So I decided I should just send a message because I need to study or they will smash me into bits. I was incredulous when a snow shovel attached to a letter flew out of a space buggy. So I picked it up so slowly. I finally forced myself to go faster and I read the letter. The people had misspelled it so I could understand: Deear Musturmind Too, Hire es thee snoow shuvull. Et es utomatec soo yoo priss a battun und et shuvulls. Huv a grit tim stadying! Yur spac frind, The Peepul frum thee Spac Cumpunee I was on my merry way, shoveling up snow with my “hand” and studying rocks. I finally finished on December 19, 2012. I went back to Earth. I had collected and studied over 99 rocks. I started in July. So I was very proud of myself and, of course, my owners accepted my work. I now live studying rocks and being happy with my friends. I look forward to studying more rocks next year. Bye for now! Kaylee Chen
38 | Kids in Print 2012