CALAMITY HAS NOGGIN POWER … ALMOST
They worked their way around the Superhero Academy, checking doors and windows.
“What if there’s an alarm system?” Max asked.
Goofball shook his head. “There won’t be. Who, in their right mind, would break in to a place full of superheroes?”
“Good point,” Max said. They continued around the building, but there were no unlocked doors or windows. “What do we do now?”
Goofball stepped back and looked up. He pointed to a window on the second floor. “Is that an open window, or am I seeing things?”
“Looks open, but how to get to it?” Max said.
“Drainpipe?” Calamity suggested.
Goofball and Max turned to him. Two ideas in one day? That had to be some kind of record for Calamity Wayne. There was a drainpipe running from the top of the building to the ground. It was right by the window. It might work.
“Okay, Calamity. You had the idea—you climb,” Goofball said. It was so wonderful to be the boss.
Calamity Wayne’s mouth dropped open. “Me? I drive the getaway vehicle.”
“And I’m the muscle,” Max added.
“Well, I’m the brains,” Goofball said. “And this brain says you climb. Before the sun rises would be a good idea. Now get going, Calamity.”
Calamity thought he might stop coming up with ideas if this was how it was going to be. He started up the drainpipe. When he was through the window, he looked down. “Now what?”
“Go downstairs and open the door. And be quiet!”
Goofball and Max went around to the front entrance. A short time later, Calamity met them there and opened the door.
“Now to find Melvin Beederman,” Goofball said, holding a finger to his lips. They had to be quiet. The place was full of superheroes with superhearing, among other things. “That reminds me. Does anyone have on clean underwear?”
“Never,” said Max.
“That’s against the rules,” said Calamity. It was an old trick—gross out the superheroes so that they can’t do their job. It could work … you never knew.
They moved silently down the hall, checking doors. The first floor had classrooms, teachers’ offices, and a cafeteria. After making the rounds, they found a staircase and went up.
“How are we going to find him?” Max whispered.
“Look for the hair,” Goofball replied. “No one else has hair like Melvin Beederman.”
It was true. Melvin’s hair was unique. He could be spotted a mile away. But little did they know that Melvin slept with his head beneath the covers.
* * *
While the bad guys were at the academy looking for the younger Melvin, the older version was racing along with his sidekick, getting closer and closer to Boston and the Superhero Academy.
Were they already too late? Would they get there in time to save the day? The narrator isn’t saying.
Don’t you hate that?