Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur and the Invisible Inventor

by Luke Sharpe

  Philo certainly does, though.

  Even thought he can’t see me, Philo trots right over and licks my leg. All dogs have an incredible sense of smell. And Philo loves bacon. As a matter of fact, he looks a little disappointed that I only smell like bacon and that I don’t actually taste like bacon.

  Yeah, that is going to need some work.

  Philo suddenly stops licking my bacon-scented leg. He turns around and starts barking and growling.

  “RUFFF! RUFFF! GRRRRRRR!!”

  “What is it, boy?” I ask. “You’ve been doing this all week, acting like you see something, but there is never anything there? What is going on with you?”

  “RUFF! GRRR!”

  Philo’s growls and barks get louder.

  “All right, I’ll look over into that corner that you’ve been barking at all week,” I say. “But there’s not going to be anything there.”

  I turn and look in the direction in which Philo has been barking.

  Only there is something there.

  Or rather, someone.

  Nat Definite

  “WHO ARE YOU?” I demand, staring right at the someone. She is tall, with bright red hair cut short around her face. She appears to be about my age. “And how did you get in here without me seeing you?”

  “Um, I’m your partner, Manny,” says Manny, who has his back to me and the girl. “And I was here when you got here. Has that bacon scent done something weird to your brain, too?”

  “No, Manny, I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to her,” I say, pointing right at the girl.

  Manny spins around in his chair and looks right in the direction where the girl is standing.

  “Talking to who?” Manny asks. “You and I are the only ones here, other than Philo, of course.”

  “No, Manny,” I say, and that’s when it hits me. Manny can’t see the girl because she is invisible too! I can see her because I’m also invisible.

  Philo stares at the girl and snarls in her direction.

  “OH, FISH STICKS!” moans the girl. She sighs, her shoulders slumping. “Yes, Billy, you’re right. I’m invisible, and now that you are, you can see me.”

  “That explains everything,” I say. “Well, not everything. Like, who are you and what are you doing here?!”

  “My name is NATALIA DEFINITE,” says the girl. “But most people just call me Nat.”

  “Wait, you’re Nat Definite?!” I exclaim, stunned not only by the fact that she is invisible and standing in our corner, but that this “guy” we were expecting to meet is actually a girl! “Well, that explains a lot. And I am pretty impressed that you invented an invisibility formula. So yours is a cream, huh?”

  “Yup, and it doesn’t smell like bacon,” Nat says, waving her hands in front of her nose. “Yuck. I happen to be a vegetarian.”

  I pick up my prototype can of Invisibility Spray and I notice Nat picking up a white jar with a label that says “Invisibility Cream.” She does make an interesting point.

  And then a series of revelations come clear in my head, all at once.

  “You’re the one Philo’s been growling at all week,” I say, finally putting two and two together. “You’ve been here, invisible, spying on our office all week, haven’t you? You’re the one who’s been moving stuff, and you’re the one who got that quesadilla for Manny!”

  Nat looks down at her feet.

  “Yeah, I did bring Manny that quesadilla, and I didn’t like looking at that picture of you and Manny together looking so happy, so I put it in the closet,” she admits. “And yes, your dumb dog could smell me when I was invisible, even though I don’t smell like bacon.”

  “But WHY?” I ask. “And why are you trying to steal my CFO away from me?”

  “Um, excuse me,” Manny says. “But I’d like to be part of this conversation, since it involves me. And I’d like to see who I’m talking to.”

  “Oh, right,” I say. “Sorry, Manny.” I turn to Nat.

  “How long does your Invisibility Cream last?” I ask.

  “It’s timed to last for thirty minutes for each dab you use,” Nat says. “How about your spray?”

  “Actually, I’m not sure how long it would last if I just left it, which is why I also invented Anti-Invisibility Spray,” I explain. “That allows me to become visible again any time I want.”

  “Um, I think now would be a great time,” says Manny.

  “Oh, sorry!”

  I spray myself with Anti-Invisibility Spray.

  “Can I spray you, too?” I ask Nat. “I mean now that we both know you’re here, there’s really no point in you staying invisible.”

  “Sure,” she says.

  I spray Nat, and she too reappears.

  “Hi, Manny,” she says, smiling sheepishly, giving him a small wave of her hand.

  “Hello, Natalia,” says Manny.

  “Call me Nat, please,” she says. “Only my mother still calls me Natalia, and only when she’s upset with me.”

  “Okay, Nat Definite, so what do we do now?” Manny asks, getting up from his desk and joining us.

  I notice that the bacon smell that had been reeking from me is gone. Maybe the Anti-Invisibility spray removed the smell? I’ll have to look into that, but right now we’ve got more urgent business. And I do mean BUSINESS!

  “You’re here,” Manny continues. “It’s obvious that you’ve been spying on us, that you’ve been competing with Sure Things, Inc., that you made Kathy Jenkins fake an article, and that you’re trying to get me to join your company. But why? And what do you really want?”

  Nat’s shoulders slump a bit. She obviously did not expect to get caught. And now the time has come to tell the truth.

  “Well, Manny,” Nat says, “I have been trying to steal you away from Sure Things, Inc. And I am also an inventor who has come up with a way to make people invisible.”

  “But why?” I ask, watching Philo retreat to his doggy bed now that I no longer smell of bacon. “Why are you trying to steal Manny?”

  “A couple of reasons,” Nat says. Then, quieter, “First, I think Manny is pretty cute.”

  WHAT?! I can’t believe she’s doing all this because she has a crush on Manny! I mean, it’s not that I’m surprised that a girl has a crush on Manny, but what kind of business plan is that? Print lies, steal a business partner, all because you think he’s cute?

  I look over at Manny. His expression has not changed even one little bit. Like me, he’s waiting, hoping there are better reasons for all Nat has done.

  She goes on:

  “But that’s not all. According to what I’ve heard, Manny is the whole reason that Sure Things, Inc. is successful. So I want him to be on my team! I’m a better inventor than you, Billy. Together, Manny and I can be unstoppable.”

  I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite like her. She’s so . . . so . . . direct. I’m not sure if I like her—not that it really matters. Anyway, she doesn’t wait for a reaction from me. She goes on.

  “I can do my inventing when I’m awake. I don’t need to sleep-invent. I’m better,” she says.

  What’s wrong with sleep-inventing? I’m beginning to think that maybe I don’t like Nat after all.

  Again, she continues.

  “My Invisibility Cream is better than your spray. It’s made with TOP SECRET INGREDIENTS. I came up with it all by myself before I’d even heard of Manny Reyes. It works faster, it only requires a little dab on your hand for your whole body, and it doesn’t smell like breakfast.”

  I really don’t know what to think. No one has ever talked to me like this before. But the thing is . . . she’s not wrong.

  I look over at Manny, then back at Nat. Now I’m starting to feel nervous. Maybe Manny would be more successful at Definite Devices. Maybe he would have more fun crunching numbers with a better inventor. Maybe he wouldn’t have to worry about the Next Big Thing anymore because the other inventor would already have it underway—without having to sleep-invent.

  I ha
ve to say something. Manny was my best friend long before he was my business partner. I will always want what’s best for Manny, no matter what it means for me.

  “Manny,” I say, hardly believing the words as they come out of my mouth. “If you think Definite Devices would be a better place for you, then you should GO BE THEIR CFO.”

  A Definite Deal

  MANNY, WHOSE EXPRESSION hasn’t changed since Nat appeared, shakes his head.

  “I appreciate you looking out for me, Billy,” he says.

  Then he turns to Nat.

  “But Nat, if you want to know why Sure Things, Inc. is so successful, here’s the secret,” Manny says. “It’s not because I’m good with numbers or because Billy is good at inventing.”

  Nat’s eyes open wide. She tilts her head a little and stares at Manny. “So what is it?” she finally says.

  “It’s because we’re BEST FRIENDS,” Manny explains. “Best friends who work together to create something we both love. Everything we do comes out of our friendship.”

  Nat’s face scrunches up a bit. She looks confused.

  Manny goes on. I know way better than to interrupt him when he is on a roll like this one, so I’m silent.

  “Nat, you’re obviously a really good inventor. But no matter what I know or what I’m able to do, I am not the right CFO for you and your company. The right CFO for you is someone you’re close to. Someone you enjoy spending time with and working with day after day after day.”

  “Like me,” says a small, high-pitched voice from across the room.

  I spin around and look over at the spot where the voice came from. I see no one. There’s another invisible person in this office?! This is just too much.

  “Where are you?” I ask.

  “Right here,” replies the voice, now obviously just a few feet away from where I’m standing. It would be creepy if it wasn’t so cool that being invisible can be a reality now.

  I realize that I am still holding the can of Anti-Invisibility Spray in my hand. I lift it and spray in the direction of the voice. A few seconds later a short girl with black hair appears. She also looks to be about the same age as us.

  “Who are you?” I ask. “And where were you hiding? I didn’t see you when I was invisible.”

  “I was over there, behind the desk,” says the girl, pointing back at the spot where her voice had originally come from. “Nat brought me along for support. I’m JADA PARIKH, Nat’s best friend.”

  Manny and I shake Jada’s hand.

  “Nice to meet you,” I say. “I think.”

  “We really didn’t mean to do anything bad,” Jada says. “It’s just that, well, Nat really likes Manny and wants Definite Devices to be a successful business.”

  I’m not really sure what to say. After all the wondering and worrying about Definite Devices and who Nat Definite is, now that we’ve finally met her and Jada, it’s clear they’re not bad people. Nat might be a little sneaky, but not bad. She only wants for her company what I want for Sure Things, Inc.—success and Manny.

  As usual, Manny comes up with the perfect thing to say.

  “I have an idea that might make everyone happy, and could benefit both of our companies,” he begins. Nat and Jada stare at Manny, hanging on his every word.

  “Of course, Billy, this has to be okay with you,” Manny goes on. “But here’s my idea. We come out with a joint product produced by Sure Things, Inc. and Definite Devices. We can call it a DEFINITELY SURE PRODUCT.”

  I’m not 100 percent sure I like this idea, but I am impressed, as always, that Manny has already come up with a name for this joint product, and that he probably has half of the marketing plan ready in his head.

  Manny continues. “What if we put Nat’s odorless Invisibility Cream into a spray bottle?” he says. “And we’ll sell it in a kit with Billy’s Anti-Invisibility Spray. This would combine both of our inventions perfectly.”

  “I like this,” I say. “What about the business side?”

  “We’ll release the product together and share all of the profits fifty-fifty,” Manny replies.

  “Makes sense,” I say. Pretty simple. But Manny is not done yet.

  “In addition, I’d be happy to mentor Jada on how to be the best CFO she can be—for Definite Devices, that is. That way, Nat, you will be working closely with your best friend, just like Billy and I do.”

  Jada smiles, her face beaming.

  “But the Definitely Sure product will just be a ONE-TIME THING,” Manny says. “After this product, we’ll go back to being competitors, and a little competition never hurt anyone. At that point, may the best company win! Sound good?”

  It sure does. The more Manny talks, the more my doubts disappear. Turning lemons into lemonade: Reason #714 why I’m glad that Manny is my best friend.

  “That’s amazing!” says Jada. “What you just did there, Manny. That is so cool. And I can’t thank you enough for offering to mentor me as a CFO.”

  Nat has remained quiet throughout Manny’s whole speech. We all turn and look at her now. She is not smiling. In fact, she looks kinda grumpy. It’s the same expression Emily usually has when she isn’t being ULTRA SUPER NICE EMILY.

  “What do you think, Nat?” I ask. “Does this sound okay? Do we have a deal?”

  “I think it’s a good idea, I guess,” Nat says. “It does sound like a win-win situation for all of us.”

  She still doesn’t sound happy.

  “I just wish I got to spend more time with you, Manny,” Nat admits.

  I turn toward Manny. He is BLUSHING. I have to admit, in all the time we’ve been friends, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look this uncomfortable.

  I laugh. Jada laughs. Even Manny manages a smile. Only Nat is not laughing. Having revealed that she really likes Manny, she seems anxious to turn the conversation back to business.

  “I agree. Let’s do this joint product,” she says finally. “I’ll also make sure that Definite Devices sponsors a new article for Kathy Jenkins to write, revealing the truth about your successful partnership.”

  Finally, Manny will get recognized for what he does at Sure Things, Inc. without me looking like a bad guy. I guess I’d better prepare myself for Samantha Jenkins to start following me around the halls at school again.

  “You guys are too good of a team to get such bad press like that,” Nat continues. “I’m sorry I caused that to happen.”

  “Here, take a look at this,” says Manny. He snatches a piece of paper from the printer and hands it to Nat. “It’s just a simple one-page agreement for our two companies to work together to release the Definitely Sure Invisibility and Anti-Invisibility Sprays as a ONE-TIME PARTNERSHIP.”

  That’s Manny. In the time it took Nat to apologize, he has already drafted an agreement.

  “Looks good to me,” says Nat.

  “Maybe you should let your new CFO take a look at it,” I suggest, smiling.

  Nat hands the paper to Jada. She glances at it quickly.

  “Well, you left out a period on this sentence, and these two columns of numbers don’t exactly line up, but otherwise it’s in pretty good shape,” Jada says.

  Manny laughs out loud. “Nat, I think you’ve got yourself a TOP-NOTCH CFO!”

  Manny and Jada both sign the agreement, then Nat and I get to work combining our two formulas.

  As it turns out, our two products are more similar than I originally thought. It only takes about an hour before the new, improved, non-stinky Invisibility Spray is ready.

  “Time for a test,” I say.

  I’m about to spray some of the new formula on myself, when Philo hops out of his bed and decides that this is the perfect moment to jump up on me. Which he does, just as I spray.

  The spray hits Philo instead of me. He instantly turns invisible.

  “Oh, Philo!” I say. Normally, I would never, ever test a product on myself or Philo, but Sure products are something special. Just remember, don’t try this at home! “Let me grab the A
nti-Invisibility Spray.”

  But before I can reach it, Philo snatches the can in his mouth and runs across the office. Of course, all we see is a can ZIPPING through the air by itself.

  “Come on, Philo, bring that back,” I say. But he is obviously having too much fun to stop.

  “I have an idea,” says Nat.

  She walks over to my workbench and grabs a piece of bacon left over from my formula.

  “Here, Philo,” she says, waving the bacon back and forth down near the floor.

  The can of Anti-Invisibility Spray comes zooming toward Nat and stops right at her feet.

  “URRRR . . .”

  I know that sound. That’s Philo trying to figure out how he can eat the bacon without letting go of the can. It doesn’t take him long to realize that he can’t do both.

  Can . . . bacon . . . can . . . bacon . . . no contest.

  The can drops to the floor and Philo hungrily attacks his bacon. I pick up the can and spray it in the direction of the quickly disappearing piece of bacon. Philo reappears, licking his lips.

  “Quick thinking, there, Nat,” I tell her.

  “Well, at least your bacon is good for something,” she says. “Now, excuse me, I have to go wash my hands.”

  • • •

  A short while later Philo and I head for home. I am so relieved that this all worked out. Mostly I am relieved that my partnership with Manny is as solid as ever. And I’m excited about the upcoming release of the INVISIBILITY KIT (consisting of both sprays). Not to mention the success of the hovercraft toy — which just got a feature in Toys, Toys, Toys magazine!

  I arrive at home to see Dad carrying one of his paintings. A rented van sits in the driveway with its back doors open.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, hopping off my bike.

  “Just loading my paintings into the van to bring them to the art gallery,” says Dad. He slips a painting of Philo’s back foot into the van right next to a painting of a curried salmon muffin he made last week.