Ben sat in his room putting his favorite puzzle together. He reached for the two final pieces and grabbed air. The spot where he had piled up the pieces was empty. He stood up, spun in a slow circle looking around, and didn’t see them anywhere.
He ran into the living room. “Dad, there are two pieces missing from my puzzle. I looked everywhere and I can’t find them.”
“Were all the pieces there when you picked up the puzzle last night?”
“Oops. I guess I forgot. When I went to pick it up, my dinosaur had to stomp all over my city of blocks, and I guess I got side tracked.”
“Oh no, it looks like the Blobbin struck again.”
“Blobbin?”
“Yep. He’s a small wrinkled brown man that wears an oversized orange felt hat. He’s a funny little goblin that thinks puzzle pieces and other small parts to toys and games are special treasures. He collects the stuff left out and then he hides it away in a secret spot. I’ve seen him before. He used to take your brother’s things all the time.”
“How did Ryan stop the Blobin from taking his things?”
“He started picking his stuff up and taking better care of it. You see a Blobbin only takes stuff because he figures it was left out for him. When you keep stuff picked up then there isn’t anything for him to take.”
“Do you think the Blobbin would give my pieces back if I asked him?”
“Well I don’t know. Maybe before we go to the park to play today you could leave Blobbin a note asking him nicely to give them back. Could be he’d realize that you didn’t mean to leave them out for him to take and he might give them back.”
Ben ran back to his room and picked up his toys and put them away. When he was satisfied that his room was clean he went and got a piece of paper and his markers.
Dear Blobbin,
I accidentally left out pieces to this puzzle last night. It’s my favorite and I was wondering if I could please have them back.
Thank you,
Ben
Ben set the note on top of his nearly finished puzzle, the only thing he’d left on the floor in the middle of his room, and then went to get his dad. When they came home from the park for lunch, Ben raced to his bedroom to see if the Blobbin had brought back his puzzle pieces. On the puzzle were the two puzzle pieces and a note from the Blobin.
Dear Ben,
Sorry for the mix-up. I thought they were left out for me. To avoid this problem in the future you should remember to pick up your treasures.
Thank you,
Blobbin
Ben rummaged through his toy box looking for something he could give the Blobbin as treasure to replace the puzzle pieces he’d given back. He found a marble and a couple magnet letters.
Dear Blobbin,
It was really great that you gave back the puzzle pieces here’s some treasure to take their place.
Thank you,
Ben.
