CHAPTER 8
THAT’S THE PITS
Larryboy couldn’t believe that Pruneman had once been Bumblyburg’s number-one superhero. Why, the guy couldn’t even do a simple ninja move without needing to speed-dial 911!
Every student from Bok Choy’s class had been paired up with a senior superhero, and Larryboy had been assigned Pruneman. Bok Choy said it was a great honor to have Bumblyburg’s oldest superhero for a partner. But Larryboy couldn’t see why. He was bored.
When Bok Choy found Larryboy, the caped cucumber was moping around by himself at the refreshment table. While, Pruneman was on the other side of the room—standing alone in front of an oscillating fan watching his cape billow in the breeze.
“Larryboy, haven’t you been talking with Pruneman?” Bok Choy inquired.
“About what? The guy’s a dinosaur.” “Most people think dinosaurs are pretty fascinating creatures,” Bok Choy pointed out.
“You know what I mean,” Larryboy said. “The only thing we have in common is that we both look good in a cape!”
At that very moment, Pruneman edged a little too close to the fan. Suddenly, the fan’s blade yanked the old guy’s cape with a ferocious tug and in a matter of seconds, the fan had totally shredded it up, leaving Pruneman completely capeless.
“Okay,” Larryboy sighed, “now we have nothing in common,” he said.
RIIINNNGGGGG! RIINNNNGGGG!
“Excuse me, Bok Choy, but my ears are ringing,” Larryboy said.
It was Larryboy’s Plunger-Com—a secret radio hidden inside Larryboy’s plungers.
“Come in, Larryboy!” Archie’s voice squeaked.
“I’m here,” Larryboy told him. “What’s happening, Archie?”
While Larryboy answered the call, Pruneman snatched the checkered tablecloth off the refreshment table, whipping it around his neck and turning it into his new cape. Then he moved in closer, trying to hear what Archie had to say.
“Something very strange is going on at the Bumblyburg Balloon Factory,” Archie said.
“The Balloon Factory?”
“Yes. There are reports that the night shift has broken out with a serious case of bad jokes.”
“That sounds like the work of Outback Jack! I’m on my way, Archie.”
“Lemme help, Larryboy,” pleaded Pruneman as he came up from behind him. “I can still use my famous Prune-Pit-Power-Up Move!”
“My Prune-Pit-Power-Up Move! Just watch. You’ll be quite impressed.”
With a look of sheer determination, Pruneman began to fire prune pits—big, fat seeds—out of the large ears built into his superhero mask.
RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT!
Like a machine gun, the prune pits came out in rapid-fire fashion. But Pruneman had one little problem. His head was out of control, bouncing around like a bobble-head doll, firing prune pits in all directions.
“Hey watch it!” shouted two elderly superheroes, ducking underneath the folding table where they were playing checkers.
“I guess I’m a little rusty,” Pruneman said, smiling awkwardly. He was feeling a bit wobbly after the prune pits finally stopped firing. “But I can still help you battle this Outback Jack character!”
Larryboy rolled his eyes as he helped Pruneman into a nearby chair. “Sorry, old fellow. But this is a job for someone … well, someone with a little more speed and strength. Some other time, Pruneman.”
As Larryboy sprinted out of the room, Pruneman watched him go with a twinge of sadness. He remembered the old days, when he had once been faster than a speeding watermelon seed … more powerful than a pumped-up papaya … able to leap tall celery in a single bound.
It didn’t seem so long ago.
“Hey, Larryb-WHHOAAAAA!” Pruneman called out.
RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT!
The old guy’s ears suddenly started firing prune pits again. The barrage made his chair spin like a pinwheel firework–around and around and around.
“Cut it out, Pruney!” shouted the nearby superheroes, as they ducked under their table once again.
“Ouch!”
“Incoming!”
Bok Choy looked on and sighed. Pruneman was in no shape for the perils that lay ahead.
