The Giving Inventor
Once there was an inventor...
and he loved a handsome soldier.
And everyday the soldier would come
and he would sit in the inventor's lab
on the old beat up couch
and keep the inventor company
He would draw beautiful pictures
and learn about the world
and watch him invent
And just enjoy the company.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep on the couch.
And feel safe with the inventor
Very safe.
And the inventor was happy.
But time went by.
And the soldier fought.
And the inventor was often alone.
Then one day the soldier came to the inventor
and the inventor said, "Come, Soldier, come and
draw beautiful pictures and learn about the world
and watch me invent and relax in my lab
and be safe
"I am too worried to sit and draw" said
the soldier.
"I just learned that my closest friend lives
But he was brainwashed
Can you help reverse it?"
"Of course," said the inventor, "I am working
On something to help him
Stay with me, Soldier, while I finish it
Then you can help your friend and
you will be happy."
And so the soldier sat on the couch
As the inventor finished
and then left with the machine
and a smile.
And the inventor was happy.
But the soldier stayed away for a long time...
and the inventor was sad.
And then one day the soldier came back
and his friend,
a fellow soldier,
came with him
the inventor said, "Come, Soldiers, sit on my couch,
and learn about the world and be safe."
"We are too busy to sit," said the first soldier.
"We need to stop HYDRA," the second said.
"They have bases all over the world,
And defenses second to yours." The first continued
"Can you help us get in?" the second concluded
" Of course I can," said the inventor.
"I am a genius
And HYDRA's best
Can't stop me.
Stay and I will get you in. Then you will be happy."
And so the soldiers showed him their intel
and the inventor told them what to do
while he began to love
the second soldier as much as the first
And the inventor was happy.
But the soldiers stayed away for a long time.
And when they came back,
the inventor was so happy
he could hardly speak.
"Come, Soldiers," he whispered,
"come and be safe."
"We have to fight, we can't stay safe,"
said the soldiers.
"We have a mission
Taking us far away from here.
We will be gone for many years
And may never return.
We will be off grid.
Can you give us something to help us
To remember our lives here?"
"Stay for dinner
And you can take my couch
And it will help you remember," said the inventor.
"Then you can go on your mission...
and be happy.
And I will get a new one"
And so the soldiers stayed for dinner
And afterwards took the couch
And boarded a plane and went on their mission
And the inventor was happy
... but not really.
The couch was never replaced
And the inventor never smiled
Not a real smile anyway
And after a long time
the soldiers came back again.
"I am sorry, Soldiers,"
said the inventor," but I have nothing
left to give you –
My lab is gone
I can no longer invent."
"We have no need for
New inventions," said the first soldier.
"Thank you for getting HYDRA out-" began the second soldier
"My genius is burned out,"
interrupted the inventor. "I
cannot help you with HYDRA or to understand the world- "
"HYDRA has been gone
For many years," said the second soldier.
"And thanks to you we know enough about the world." said the first soldier
"My memory is foggy, " said the inventor.
"I cannot help you remember - "
"We remember" said the soldiers softly "The couch was destroyed years ago. Thank you for the help"
"I am sorry," sighed the inventor.
"I wish that I could give you something...
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old man.
I am sorry..."
"We don't need very much now," said the first soldier.
"Three things is all
First, a quiet, safe place to sit and rest.
We are very tired."
"Well," said the inventor,
Grinning for the first time in years
"My house is still the safest in the world."
"Second," said the second soldier
"To retire, our war is over. Our battle is won,
and our enemies defeated.
It's time to lay down our weapons
and call it day"
"Well," said the inventor,
Smile as bright as the sun
"I am still a billionaire. I can provide you with
All you need."
"Lastly," the soldiers said
"We need you Tony.
You make us feel
Happy,
And safe,
And loved,
And whole.
We love you
More than anything."
Tears fell down the inventor's face
"Bucky,
Steve,
I love you too.
But, I need to know
You are telling the truth."
"How can we prove it to you?" they asked
"Stay" he replied
And the soldiers did.
And the inventor was happy
And the soldiers were happy.
Together at last.
