In one tiny little town, far away from Sydney, there lived a girl named Mia. And she seemed to have everything going for her — she was pretty, clever, and ready to start Year 1. But she desperately wanted to spend time on the Internet.
Please, Mum, please buy me a tablet.
This was heard in their house every single day.
But Mum didn't give in at first. Time and again she'd ask:
Why do you need a tablet, sweetheart? Haven't you got enough to do? We've got such beautiful nature around us, such beautiful nature…
But Mia wouldn't let up, and she'd start her song again:
I want to go on the Internet, like Sophie. There's so much there, Mum… Sophie says there are educational apps. With a tablet I'll be so smart at school!
And one day her loving mother's heart melted. She scraped together what she could from savings and neighbours, and one day brought home a tablet. She handed it to a beaming Mia, smiled to herself, and went off to work in the garden.
Mia settled onto the couch with her tablet and started playing. And there really was so much there… You could message friends, watch bright videos, see loads and loads of colourful pictures and listen to upbeat music.
And Mia didn't notice how the whole day had passed. Her mum came to her and clicked her tongue in annoyance:
So you've sat here all day? Right, off to bed!
Just five more minutes!
But Mum was firm:
It's already ten o'clock at night! All the good girls are already asleep.
Reluctantly, Mia put down the tablet and went to bed. And she dreamt that she'd become the most popular person on the Internet. So in her sleep Mia smiled broadly, delighting her mum.
The next day passed the same way. Except Mia's mum was expecting guests. She bustled about the house all day, but Mia refused to help. Mum had to do everything herself: set the table, clean the house, and work in the garden.
Mia just brushed off her requests, because the Internet was more interesting. And even when Sophie and her mother came over, Mia didn't even turn her head in their direction. Mum just shook her head sadly and left.
And Mia didn't notice how the day had passed, and she fell asleep with the tablet still in her hands.
Who knows how long she slept, but she woke up in a pitch-black room.
Muuuuum.
Mia called out, but no one answered. Frightened, the girl jumped up, put on her slippers and ran through the house. But there was no one there.
She's gone.
Suddenly a voice rang out. And with horror Mia discovered it was coming from the tablet.
What's happened? Where's she gone?
The girl asked in a trembling voice.
Does it matter? It's October now, she's gone to the city.
October? What about me? I was supposed to start school!
Mia clutched her head in dismay.
Do you really need it, think about it? I've got everything here: you and I can learn the school curriculum together ourselves.
It even seemed to Mia that a smirk appeared on the black screen.
But what about Sophie? Mum, my classmates? No, this can't be right.
That's all nonsense, you'll forget soon enough. Mum won't come back, she's upset with you. And it'll be just the two of us for the rest of your life. I'll show you so many games, so many videos. Want to?
Nooooo.
Mia backed away in fear.
No-no-no-no.
And she screamed. She sat on the floor and just started screaming… Then suddenly woke up.
What's wrong, Mia? Did you have a bad dream?
Her frightened mum appeared in the doorway.
It's nothing, Mummy.
Mia ran to her mum and hugged her tightly.
I'm sorry. From now on I'll always help you around the house. And I'm throwing away that tablet.
Her amazed mum stroked Mia's head and didn't understand what had happened. Maybe it was for the best. But Mia became her old self again, and never spent more than an hour on the tablet. Otherwise those awful dreams might come back again.
