Captain Underpants's Day Off
Captain Underpants's Day Off — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
George and Harold, two mischievous fourth-graders, were bored. Summer vacation stretched before them, an endless expanse of unscheduled time. "I wish something exciting would happen," sighed George, slumping dramatically onto the park bench. Harold, ever the optimist, bounced a rubber ball against the brick wall. "Maybe Captain Underpants will need our help!" he exclaimed. Just then, a flash of white fabric caught their eyes. A stressed-looking Captain Underpants was walking towards them, his brow furrowed with worry. "Boys, I need a day off!" he declared, "But what could go wrong if I took one?"
Page 2
George and Harold exchanged glances. A day off for Captain Underpants? That sounded like a recipe for disaster. "But who will stop the villains?" Harold asked, adjusting his glasses. Captain Underpants wrung his hands. "That's the problem! I need someone to... to cover for me!" He looked around wildly. Suddenly, his eyes landed on a garden gnome sitting near a rose bush. "THAT'S IT!!" he yelled. Captain Underpants grabbed the gnome. He planned to give him a temporary 'Super-Power' infusion. "BUT," Captain Underpants warned. "The powers are strong...and unpredictable!"
Page 3
"A garden gnome?" George questioned, raising an eyebrow. Captain Underpants nodded enthusiastically. "With a little Hypno-Beam power, I can transfer some of my... uh... heroism into him!" He pulled out a strange device that looked suspiciously like a hair dryer with tinfoil attached. "We can't let him do that!" Harold whispered to George. "It's too dangerous!" George and Harold nodded in agreement and grabbed the device. "THEREFORE, we must stop him!" George said, "But first, we need a plan."
Page 4
Harold suggested, "We can hide the gnome! Then Captain Underpants won't have anyone to give powers to!" George grinned. "Excellent idea! But where?" Suddenly, they spotted Melvin Sneedly, their nerdy classmate, tinkering with a remote-controlled lawnmower. "Melvin can help!" George exclaimed. "He knows all the best hiding spots." They ran over to Melvin, who looked up from his contraption with a sneer. "What do you want now? I'm busy." Melvin asked. "It's about Captain Underpants and a garden gnome, said George. "And the fate of the world!"
Page 5
Melvin rolled his eyes. "Captain Underpants is an idiot. As if imitations or replacements work! But... there is a ventilation shaft in the school auditorium that even I can't access." Harold exclaimed, "Perfect! He'll never find the gnome there!" George grabbed the gnome from a bewildered Captain Underpants. They raced towards the school, Melvin trailing behind, mumbling about the physics of power transfer. Along the way, they passed an ice cream shop. "Look", said Harold, "Ice cream! We should grab one!" George agreed, "It is such a hot day!"
Page 6
As they reached the school, they realized the auditorium doors were locked. "Oh no!" Harold cried. "How will we get in?" Suddenly, the garden gnome began to glow. A high-pitched voice squeaked, "Let me help!" The gnome leapt from George's arms and, with surprising strength, kicked the doors open. BUT as the door opened, a rogue burst of energy escaped, hitting the lawnmower and TURBO-CHARGING it!. "Uh oh," said Melvin, as the lawnmower started flying wildly.
Page 7
"The lawnmower's gone berserk!" Melvin shrieked. The lawnmower zoomed around the schoolyard, chopping everything in its path. "We need to catch it!" Harold said. They tried to grab it, but the lawnmower was too fast. The gnome, floating nearby, had an idea. "I can use my gnome-sense to predict its movements!" He closed his eyes, concentrating. "It's going for the flagpole!" Working together, George, Harold and Melvin coordinated the Gnome's plan. Harold set up a tripwire and the Lawn Mower went flying!
Page 8
With a mighty TRIP, the lawnmower went flying! High into the sky! It soared over the town, narrowly missing buildings. "It's heading towards the treehouse!" George yelled. "That's where Captain Underpants is!" Harold yelled in panic. Realizing the danger, the garden gnome flew towards the lawnmower, shouting "I WILL STOP YOU!". With a final surge of power, he redirected the lawnmower towards the lake. "Sometimes", said the gnome, "even gnomes must be heroic!"
Page 9
The lawnmower splashed harmlessly into the lake. The gnome, exhausted, floated back down to the boys.
Page 10
Captain Underpants thanked the boys and, with a flourish of his cape, flew off to fight crime. Harold sighed.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)