Short Bedtime Stories Presents: Ben Ventor's New Puddle Invention

Short Bedtime Stories Presents: Ben Ventor's New Puddle Invention

Ben did not like to admit it, but he liked girls. Well, it would not be fair to say he liked girls because he didn't. It's not that he hated them per say. It was more like they just did not make any sense to him. For example, scientifically he liked learning about flowers, but he had never had a desire to paint them on his walls or wear them in his hair.  Girls did, and that was bizarre.

     The color purple was also fascinating to Ben. It was a color for royalty for ages, and so its historical value made sense to him. But, wearing clothes or (heaven forbid) having a bicycle painted purple was the definition of crazy.  Girls did both.

     So, even though Ben did not really understand girls, there was one that for some weird reason he always thought about. Her name was "Elizabeth Danter."  But, everyone called her Liz. Well, everyone that was friends with her did anyway. Ever since Ben had become the most popular kid on the planet, girls had begun to notice him, and Liz was no different.

     "Hi Ben," Liz said from underneath her curly locks of hair. Ben liked to think it was more accurate to describe her hair as hair heaven.

    Ben waved back, entirely too shy to say anything out loud to her.      

"What are you working on next?" She asked, leaning in so close that Ben could smell her 7Up lip gloss.

     "I'm working on a tan?" Ben said, motioning to the open window in their classroom that was beating sunshine down on his arm.

     "I meant," she said, "what invention are you working on next."

     "Oh, well, it's something I've been working on for a while, but it’s not quite ready yet."

     "When will it be ready?" Liz asked, feeling like she was getting secret information on the most talked about boy in the world.

     "You'll be the first to know," said Ben, hoping to make her feel special, but also knowing the invention was all about her.

     About a week later, Ben was standing out on the playground holding a soft drink can in his hand. The rest of his class knew he had invented the sippy straw so they thought he might be up to something again.

     Ben was busy looking over the playground when he saw her. Liz was walking with her friends when she saw Ben standing on the playground with his can in hand.   She walked over to get a closer look.

     Ben opened the can and began to poor it all over the ground underneath him.

     "What are you doing, Ben?" Liz asked, confused as to why Ben was pouring out what appeared to be a perfectly nice can of water.

“This is a love puddle in a can,” Ben said, pointing at the can in his hand.  “When you pour it on the ground, it activates.”

“What does it activate into doing?” asked Liz, still very curious.

     “Well,” continued Ben slowly realizing that this was not going to sound too good.  “It makes the two people standing it the puddle fall in love with each other for two weeks.”

     Liz stood staring at the puddle in disbelief.  “Could it make a cat and a dog fall in love with each other?” she asked.

     “I suppose so,” answered Ben hesitantly.  “I hadn’t really thought of that though.”

     Liz got a little spark in her eye and an undeniable smile on her face before she asked, “Ben, did you pour that puddle on the ground for you and I?”

     Ben just looked down, way too embarrassed to answer.

     “That’s sweet, Ben,” Liz said, touching Ben on the arm.  “I’m flattered.”

     With that, Liz walked away.  Ben looked down, and saw that she did not touch his arm because she had to.  She had never stood in the love puddle.

How the love puddle is used today:  It is used in therapy to help couples fall in love again.  It is always used in hostage negotiations, and it peace talks between two countries at war.  

How much the love puddle sold for: 684 million dollars

What Ben bought with the money:  He became the sole owner of Cheetos.  He loved Cheetos.




Don't forget to check out part 1 of Dr. Shaw's children's book series of inventions and craziness called Best. Theme Park. Ever. for just $.99 on Amazon. Please leave a positive review on Amazon if you will!  It helps get Dr. Shaw's work discovered by others.  Also, when you buy it on Amazon, you can choose which iPod, iPhone, iPad or other device to send it to, as long as you have the free kindle app installed on that device.