The story I read was a sci-fi story when it was written, but now it would be considered normal everyday life, because we DO have cleaning robots. So, this would date it. Probably first written in the 60's or 70's. What I read was probably a reprint put into book form with other short stories. I read it in the mid to late 70's.
I don't think it was an Asimov story, but I am not sure about that. It probably did appear in Asimov's magazine but was not likely written by him. BUT!!! I could be wrong about that.
I am looking for a short story about a woman whose ring is sucked up by a cleaning robot and she has to get it back.
At the time it was a sci-fi story. So, it has to be an old story. The cleaning robot sucks up or picks up the woman's ring. It was her grandmother's ring or mother's ring. The story has her racing around trying to stop the robot from discharging the dirt it has collected down the chute.
Even though this story would be considered normal by today's standards. When it was written, humans could only dream of cleaning robots.
It all takes place in her house/apartment. She has her great grandmother's wedding ring. She can't read the inscription on the ring. something happens and she drops it on the floor. And a little cleaning robot zips out of its cubbie and snaps it up. It is heading back to the cubby. She rushes over to block the cubby. She tries to open the robot but can't. She thinks about waiting for it to power down but that will be years. She knows when it empties the debris goes into a massive recycling system. I believe that she thinks about doing a lost and found service ticket but realizes that is not likely to work. I think... she finally lets the robot go and gets on the phone and calls her mom to ask her what her great grandmother's name is.
Mine was a cheap book that contained multiple short stories. It was not a magazine. However, the story could have also appeared in a magazine.
I just need the name of the story and the author's name. It was likely Asimov, but not sure.
