Donatello's newest invention clattered onto the workbench — wires, gears, everything glowing. He kicked a loose screw across the floor. It rolled right under his blueprints and wouldn't come out.
He stared at his whirring creation. That's when he noticed — the screw was gone. He had to find it before morning.
The next morning, Donatello dragged his shimmering gadget to the city square. He set it near the fountain and waited. People gathered. Then the gears ground to a halt. Nothing happened.
Donatello snatched up his invention. The crowd scattered. He hurried back toward his hideout, the metal case heavy in his paws.
That evening, Donatello fiddled with the wires again. Suddenly, a piercing alarm blared from the bakery tower. Smoke poured from the oven door!
Donatello dove into the smoke. He spotted the stuck latch on the oven handle and jammed his gadget underneath. The gears spun wildly. Sparks flew.
Then something wonderful happened. The gadget released a puff of sparkles. The smoke caught the light and turned into floating golden bubbles.
The bakery door flew open. The street filled with cheers. Even the tourists came running to watch the glittering bubbles rise into the evening sky.
Donatello lifted his shell proudly. A single golden bubble drifted down from the crowd and landed gently on his nose. It wobbled. It popped.
A tiny musical chime rang out. Donatello grinned. The crowd erupted into applause. "That was magical!" someone called.
The bakery family came out, wiping flour from their aprons. The tallest one placed a warm loaf of bread on the workbench beside the gadget.
Donatello tucked the bread into his pocket and looked up at the last few golden bubbles vanishing into the stars. Maybe his next invention would be even better.
