20. Thirty Years from Now

CHAPTER 20 THIRTY YEARS FROM NOW Suddenly, a giant ball of blue lightning exploded in the southern end of a busy midwestern city. George and Harold looked around them and saw the familiar sights of cars and houses and fast-food restaurants. "We're HOME!" cried George. "It sure seems that way," said Harold. "But how come everything looks so... old?!!?" "Because we're not back where we started," laughed Slightly Younger Tiny Tippy. "We're thirty years in the future!"

"Why did we come to the future?" asked George. "Because," said Tippy. "The last time I got rid of Captain Underpants, the whole world was destroyed. I just wanted to make sure that the world could survive the next thirty years without him, and it looks like it can!" Tippy marched over to the elementary school and placed George and Harold and their two pets on the ground. "Get comfortable, boys," said Tippy. "I'm about to DESTROY Captain Underpants once and for all, and I want you kids to have the best seats in the house!"

George and Harold looked up in horror as Slightly Younger Tiny Tippy began knocking Mr. Krupp around like a beanbag. "I can't watch!" said Harold, as he petted his pet pterodactyl, who only seemed to be getting sicker. Sulu scampered around the playground, finding twigs and branches and leaves, and weaving them into a nest to help keep Crackers warm. "Remember," said George. "If we ever get out of this mess, we're going to straighten up and start acting like grown-ups!" "That's right," said Harold, as he placed Crackers into the warm nest that Sulu had made. "We're going to be responsible and mature from now on!"

该页暂无翻译

As Tippy kicked Mr. Krupp around like a soccer ball, George and Harold got distracted by a loud commotion behind them. Two teachers were yelling at the students on the playground, instructing them all to stop paying attention to the fierce struggle raging above them, and demanding that they straighten up and start acting like grown-ups. As the battle intensified, the obnoxious teachers screamed louder and louder, hurling threats and insults at the curious students. "Boy, I sure wish those two teachers would chill out," said George. "I know," said Harold. "They're yelling so loud, I can't even hear the fight!"

Suddenly, a rusty green 2034 Honda Civic pulled into the parking lot, and a familiar- looking character came storming out. It was Mr. Krupp—only this was a thirty-year-OLDER version of Mr. Krupp. He was wrinklier than George and Harold were used to, with a scruffy white beard and mustache, and pants pulled up to his armpits. Mr. Krupp marched toward the playground, opened up his mouth, and screamed four words that sent shivers down George's and Harold's spines. "MR. BEARD! MR. HUTCHINS!"