13. Eleven Minutes Later

CHAPTER 13 ELEVEN MINUTES LATER "GEORGE!" "HAROLD!!!" "GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!!!" George and Harold opened their eyes. Wearily, they sturnbled to the tree house door and looked down. George's mom and dad and Harold's mom were all standing down in the yard looking very angry.

"The school called," George's dad said. "They told us that you kids weren't in class today!" "Uh-oh," said George. "We're dead," said Harold. "Would you mind explaining what you've been doing all day?" asked Harold's mom angrily. George and Harold could hide the truth no longer. They decided to confess everything. "We couldn't go to school today," said George. "We had to save the Earth from an evil, crazy guy who was riding around in a giant pair of robotic pants."

"Yeah," said Harold. "We've spent the last day traveling through time, running from dinosaurs, and teaching cavenuzn how to defend themselves!"

"Very funny!" shouted George's dad. "If you kids think you can skip school and goof around all day, you're in for a BIG SURPRISE!" George and Harold had never seen their parents so angry. The two boys spent the next five hours mowing lawns, weeding gardens, vacuuming houses, washing cars, dusting furniture, cleaning out garages, whitewashing fences, doing dishes, folding laundry, and taking out garbage. It was exhausting work, but it was nothing compared to what was to come next.