to avoid a metal trash can. âEvents here have this reporter wonderingâwhat IS the secret ingredient in Krabby Patties, anyway?â
An angry fish ran up, waving a metal pipe. âItâs love!â he yelled. âThe secret ingredient is LOVE!â
Perch Perkins ran away screaming. The angry fish swung his pipe at the camera, and Sandyâs TV screen went blank.
âNo more Krabby Patties?â she said.
Suddenly, the inside of the treedome went dark. Sandy looked up and saw a huge shadow covering the curved glass. âHuh?â she said. âWhat the corn dog is THAT?â
The page from Burger Beardâs book with THE END written on it had drifted down and landed on Sandyâs treedome.
Up in their bubble, SpongeBob was still trying to teach Plankton about teamwork. âCome on, Plankton! Itâs easy! It means I help you, you help me, and when we accomplish our goal, we do âhands in the middleâ!â
âHands in the middle?â Plankton said doubtfully. âNo, no. Sounds idiotic.â He looked down through the bubble to the town below. âBesides,â he added, âthe two of us are no match for that cranky mob!â
Down in Bikini Bottom, the angry horde was destroying a doughnut shop. They pushed on the side of the building until it tipped over and burst into flames. Doughnuts flew everywhere. People from the mob frantically gathered up doughnuts and carried them off, laughing hysterically, madness in their eyes.
âWe could probably use a few more
tee-am
works,â Plankton suggested.
SpongeBob brightened. âThatâs exactly what I was thinking!â He pulled a pin out of his pocket.
âWait!â Plankton said, holding up both hands. âWhat are you doing?â
SpongeBob jammed the pin into the bubble.
POP!
He and Plankton plummeted through the air with Plankton screaming all the way!
W HUMP!
SpongeBob and Plankton landed right next to Squidwardâs house. Plankton groaned, lying on the ground. SpongeBob quickly got to his feet and looked around.
What he saw surprised him.
Patrick was sitting on top of his house, banging his face against the rock. But instead of his usual shorts, he was wearing a futuristic-looking leather outfit.
Between face-bangs he said, âI. Need. Krabby Patties. I! Need! Krabby Patties!â
âPatrick!â SpongeBob yelled. âWhat are you doing?!â
Patrick stopped banging his face against his house and looked over at SpongeBob and Plankton. âVandalizing stuff,â he answered.
âBut isnât that YOUR house?â Plankton asked.
âHey!â Patrick snapped. âWhatâs with all the questions? Who ARE you guys?â
SpongeBob couldnât believe Patrick had asked. Theyhadnât been up in the bubble that long. What was wrong with Patrick?
âItâs me!â SpongeBob cried. âYour best friend! SpongeBob!â
Patrick looked skeptical. âOh, yeah? Well, if youâre SpongeBob, then whatâs the secret password?â
At the same time, SpongeBob and Plankton said, âUh â¦â
âCorrect!â Patrick declared with a nod. âIt IS you! SPONGEBOB!â
Patrick jumped off his rock and landed on SpongeBob.
BLOMP!
âSpongeBob!â
âPatrick!â
âSpongeBob, why arenât you at the Krusty Krab making Krabby Patties?â
Patrick sat down, right on top of Plankton.
âWell, Iâd love to, but the formula is gone. Weâre putting together a team to get it back,â SpongeBob explained.
âA team?â Patrick asked. âOoh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!â
Patrick jumped up to give SpongeBob a big bear hug. Grinning, SpongeBob said, âOkay, Patrick! Youâre in!â
Plankton popped out of the sand. âI donât know, SpongeBob. What exactly does this clown bring to the
tee-am?
â
âHe brings loyalty, Plankton.â SpongeBob turned to his
Twelve Steps Toward Political Revelation