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Professor Quibble's Enthusiastic Vortex
Visit the “A Bedtime Story” show website to submit your story ideas for a future episode!
Professor Quentin Quibble was a genius. Or, at least, he thought he was. His laboratory, a ramshackle shed at the edge of the whispering woods, was filled with whirring contraptions and bubbling beakers. The problem was, every single one of Professor Quibble's inventions seemed to invent only trouble.
His "Automatic Toast Butterer" once buttered the entire ceiling. His "Self-Folding Laundry Machine" merely tied all the shirts into elaborate sailor's knots.
"Just a few minor adjustments!" Professor Quibble (a frazzled squirrel with permanently singed whiskers) would declare, covered in soot or jam.
His long-suffering assistant, Millie the careful chipmunk, usually spent her days untangling wires or scraping sticky goo off the walls.
One crisp autumn morning, Professor Quibble unveiled his latest masterpiece: the "Instant Leaf-Sweeper-and-Autumn-Decorator 5000." It was a magnificent, shiny brass contraption with dozens of brushes, tiny rakes, and a powerful suction hose.
"This," Professor Quibble announced dramatically, "will clear the entire forest floor of leaves and rearrange them into pleasing autumnal patterns! No more raking, Millie!"
Millie, remembering the buttered ceiling, backed away slowly.
The Professor pressed the "ON" button. The machine whirred to life. The brushes spun, the tiny rakes raked, and the suction hose sucked. But it didn't just suck up leaves. It sucked up acorns. And then pinecones. And then Millie's favorite knitted scarf. And then, with a mighty WHOOSH, it began to suck up the machine itself, collapsing into a heap of shiny brass and autumn debris.
Professor Quibble stared at the smoking pile, his whiskers drooping. "Oh dear. It seems to have created a rather enthusiastic vortex."
Millie, carefully retrieving her scarf from the wreckage, sighed. "Professor, perhaps your inventions should start small. Like, say, a device that reliably makes tea?"
Professor Quibble’s eyes lit up. "Tea! Brilliant, Millie! I shall invent the 'Automatic Tea-Pourer-and-Biscuit-Dunker 3000!' What could possibly go wrong?"
Millie simply patted his shoulder, already mentally preparing for a very soggy afternoon.
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By Matthew MitchellVisit the “A Bedtime Story” show website to submit your story ideas for a future episode!
Professor Quentin Quibble was a genius. Or, at least, he thought he was. His laboratory, a ramshackle shed at the edge of the whispering woods, was filled with whirring contraptions and bubbling beakers. The problem was, every single one of Professor Quibble's inventions seemed to invent only trouble.
His "Automatic Toast Butterer" once buttered the entire ceiling. His "Self-Folding Laundry Machine" merely tied all the shirts into elaborate sailor's knots.
"Just a few minor adjustments!" Professor Quibble (a frazzled squirrel with permanently singed whiskers) would declare, covered in soot or jam.
His long-suffering assistant, Millie the careful chipmunk, usually spent her days untangling wires or scraping sticky goo off the walls.
One crisp autumn morning, Professor Quibble unveiled his latest masterpiece: the "Instant Leaf-Sweeper-and-Autumn-Decorator 5000." It was a magnificent, shiny brass contraption with dozens of brushes, tiny rakes, and a powerful suction hose.
"This," Professor Quibble announced dramatically, "will clear the entire forest floor of leaves and rearrange them into pleasing autumnal patterns! No more raking, Millie!"
Millie, remembering the buttered ceiling, backed away slowly.
The Professor pressed the "ON" button. The machine whirred to life. The brushes spun, the tiny rakes raked, and the suction hose sucked. But it didn't just suck up leaves. It sucked up acorns. And then pinecones. And then Millie's favorite knitted scarf. And then, with a mighty WHOOSH, it began to suck up the machine itself, collapsing into a heap of shiny brass and autumn debris.
Professor Quibble stared at the smoking pile, his whiskers drooping. "Oh dear. It seems to have created a rather enthusiastic vortex."
Millie, carefully retrieving her scarf from the wreckage, sighed. "Professor, perhaps your inventions should start small. Like, say, a device that reliably makes tea?"
Professor Quibble’s eyes lit up. "Tea! Brilliant, Millie! I shall invent the 'Automatic Tea-Pourer-and-Biscuit-Dunker 3000!' What could possibly go wrong?"
Millie simply patted his shoulder, already mentally preparing for a very soggy afternoon.