Use the invent routine to signal to short_name and article routines to change their usual habits:

       invent
       [;  if (inventory_stage==1) give self general;
           else give self ~general;
       ],
       short_name
       [;  if (self has general) { print "box"; rtrue; } ],
       article
       [;  if (self has general) { print "that hateful"; rtrue; }
           else print "a"; ],