22. They Can't

CHAPTER 22 THEY CAN'T George and Harold ran to the pole where the heartbroken hero was hanging. "Hey, Captain Underpants," cried Harold. "You've got to come down from there and save the city!" "C-Can't," whined the Waistband Warrior. "N-Need fabric softener!" "No you don't need fabric softener!" said George sternly. "That was just a dumb joke in one of our comics!" "But you don't understand," said Captain Underpants. "Starch is the enemy of underwear. Only fabric softener can save me!" 'RATS!" said Harold in frustration. "Hey, George, are there any stores around here?" "Yeah," said George. "A new one just opened down on Oak Street."

"Then let's go buy some fabric softener," said Harold. "It'll be easier than trying to reason with the guy." "How's that going to help?" asked George. "It's all in his mind," Harold explained. "If he believes that fabric softener will save him, then it probably will. I think it's called 'the Placenta Effect.'" So George and Harold ran to Oak Street. "What's the name of that store?" asked Harold. "I can't remember," said George. "I think it's called 'Everything Except... umm—'"

"Aww, maaaan!" said George. "We're doomed!" cried Harold. "Listen," said George, "we've got to make another comic book!" "Now?!!?" asked Harold.

"It's our only hope," said George. "The fate of the entire planet is in our hands!" So the two boys bought some paper and a few pencils, and got down to work.

Twenty-two minutes later, George and Harold had created an all-new Captain Underpants adventure. They ran back to the pole where Captain Underpants was hanging and tossed their new comic up to him. "This is no time to be reading comics," said Captain Underpants. "Just read it, bob!" said Harold. "Yeah," said George. "You might learn something!"