21. George and Harold's Worst Nightmare

CHAPTER 21 GEORGE AND HAROLD'S WORST NIGHTMARE Do you know that feeling you get when your stomach sinks? It usually occurs just after the realization that something bad has happened or is going to happen. People often feel this way when they discover they forgot to study for a big test... or they're going to miss the school bus... or the giant gulp of milk they just swallowed expired three weeks ago.

Now imagine that feeling magnified about 1,000,000,000,000 times. This is the feeling that occurred in George's and Harold's stomachs when the two obnoxious, screaming teachers turned around. It was them. More precisely, it was future versions of themselves. George and Harold had grown up to be teachers. But they weren't the nice, wonderful, imaginative teachers that you might be used to. No sir! George and Harold had evolved into the terrifying, boring, and vengeful teachers that they were used to.

Mr. Krupp squished between forty-year-old Harold and thirty-nine-and-three-quarters- year-old George, and slapped a sweaty arm around each of them. "I sure am glad you fellas are here," said Mr. Krupp. "It's a tough job making everybody miserable, isn't it?" "It sure is, boss," said forty-year-old Harold. "You know, it's hard to believe that you guys used to be the craziest kids in this school!" said Mr. Krupp. "Thank goodness you both started taking life seriously!" "Yeah," said thirty-nine-and-three-quarters- year-old George. "One day about thirty years ago, we saw the error of our ways. So we made a vow to straighten up and fly right!"

"Yep!" said forty-year-old Harold. "From then on, it was nothing but serious study, strict discipline, and —and—HEY, YOU KIDS, CUT THAT OUT!" George and Harold looked nervously at each other as their adult doubles continued screaming at the unfortunate children on the playground. "Umm... remember that vow we just made to stop goofing around and start acting more like grown-ups?" asked Harold. "Yeah," said George. "I think we should vow a new vow that unvows the old vow we just vowed," said Harold. "Let's get vowin'!" said George.

So as the terrifying battle raged above their heads, George and Harold shook hands and promised to always be themselves. They pledged to keep goofing around and to make even MORE comic books and to stop taking life so darned seriously. "Let's daydream more, too!" said George. "Yeah," said Harold. "Enough of this sittin' still and payin' attention stuff!" As George and Harold vowed their new vows, something strange began to happen. A soft wind started to blow, the sound of wind chimes began to tinkle in the air, and the grown-up versions of George and Harold slowly disappeared. They vanished gradually at first. Then, after about a minute or so, Mr. Krupp was left standing there all by himself.

"Wow!" said George. "You mean it's that easy? All you have to do is make up your mind and stick to it, and you can change the future?" "Yeah, I guess so," said Harold. George and Harold walked up to Old Mr. Krupp, who was looking a little confused, and snapped their fingers. Suddenly, a familiar smile stretched across Old Mr. Krupp's face. "Well?" said George, pointing up at the terrifying battle exploding above their heads. "What are you waiting for?" "Yeah!" said Harold. "You're getting your butt kicked up there! Go help yourself!" Quickly, Old Mr. Krupp tore off his clothes, dashed into the school, grabbed a red curtain from his office, and flew out of his window with a triumphant "Tra-La-Laaaaa!"