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

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

"So, first you poor out the pancake sauce into the pan," Ben's dad said, beginning his instruction on pancake creation.  "There is a lot of food instruction you could get from your mother.  But, when it comes to chocolate chip pancakes, I am the master."

     "Why do we need to learn how to make pancakes?" asked Fran.  "Don't we have enough money to have someone make pancakes for us the rest of our lives?"

     "We absolutely have enough money for that," explained Ben's dad.  I am not worried about you guys anymore.  I am worried about three generations from now.  If I do not teach my own kids to make the secret Ventor family recipe for chocolate chip pancakes, who will teach their children, or their children's children?"

     "They could just read the back of the pancake box," added Ben's mom who was somewhat busy reading on her iPhone.

"I kind of like learning how to cook," said Ben.  He meant it to.  Some things came easy to Ben; like inventing.  But, other things like cooking food or landscaping, he knew next to nothing about.  He had really grown to love learning about anything.  So, to him, cooking was just another subject about which he craved knowledge.

    "Thanks, Chief," Ben's dad said, roughing up the top of Ben's head. "Well, now we have come to the hardest part of making pancakes: the flip."

     "Flip?" asked Peter, and then began rolling around on the kitchen floor. 

"I taught Peter the flip already," added Fran, motioning to Peter flopping back in forth in front of them.

     "Yeah, this time we are going to be flipping pancakes," corrected Ben's dad.  "Watch."

    Ben's dad held the frying pan down low and slid his spatula under the cooking pancake.  With a quick flip of the wrist, the pancake turned over revealing a perfectly golden brown underside.

     "Now who would like to try it?" asked Ben's dad.

     The kids took their turns flipping pancakes.  Ben's dad had been right.  Flipping was the hardest part.  When Ben had tried, he landed one on the floor, and one on the stove top.  Fran, on the other hand, landed one in the sink, and the other across the room on her mom's iPhone after a particularly vigorous flip.  After some scolding about getting "too crazy" by their parents, the kids were asked to leave the kitchen and leave the cooking to dad.  But, this did get Ben thinking.

     The next morning Ben woke up his dad ready to demonstrate his new invention. 

     "Dad, let's cook pancakes," said Ben excitedly.

     "Not on your life," said Ben's mom groggily from her side of the bed.  "I had to spend half an hour cleaning up the kitchen by the time you three were done in there yesterday."

     "Mom, I invented something that will help with the cooking this time.  I think you like it."

     It didn't take much more than that to convince Ben's mom to get in the kitchen.  She had been hoping for the day that Ben would somehow come up with an invention that would cook their food for them, as this was her least favorite parenting job. 

Within a few moments, Ben's dad had come to the part of pancake preparation where it was time for the flipping.  This is when Ben stepped in.  He extended a little metal tool with a small ball the size of a bb on the end of it.

    "I call it a flipper," said Ben, as he held it up to show his parents.  He then reached over and touched the pancake.  As soon as he touched it, the pancake completely flipped upside down on its own. 

     "Nice, Ben," his dad said.  "Can I try?"

     His dad took the flipper and touched the pancake and marveled at how easily the pancake flipped over and over again every time he touched it.

     "Will it work on anything you are cooking?" asked Ben's mom.

     "It will work on anything in the world," explained Ben, reaching over and tapping Peter, who was sipping his "milky" from his sippy straw.  In an instant, Peter was balancing on his head and laughing hysterically.  Milk was already coming out his nose.

   

How the flipper is used today: Police men don't shoot out the tires of bad guys in a dangerous car chase anymore.  They just flip the car upside down, and the bad guy’s car stops. 

How much the flipper sold for: 12 million dollars

What Ben bought with the money: He donated it to the Humane Society to help find homes for animals without families.  




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.