One ordinary day in Bikini Bottom; the Krusty Krab was its usual busy self. Groaning to himself behind the cash register was Squidward, who wanted nothing more than to be at home with his clarinet. Mr. Krabs was in his office. Customers filled the restaurant, hungrily devouring their delicious Krabby Patties. Most unusually though, those Krabby Patties had not been made by the same joyful sponge as they always had been. Instead those patties had been flipped by one very sorrowful Spongebob! If his recent failure at his driving test or his constant rejection for friendship from Squidward weren't enough to make him sad, then something else definitely was...
...And Sandy Cheeks, karate expert, scientist and the darn nosiest Texan squirrel the seas had ever seen, was going to get to the bottom of it!
After The Krusty Krab's closing time Spongebob was the last to leave. He moved in the most un-Spongebob-like manner as he began his short journey home through Bikini Bottom. Little did he know he was being followed, by one curious squirrel in a diver's suit. Sandy tailed him until they reached Patrick's rock. Spongebob didn't stop by to say hello, despite not having seen his best friend all day. This seemed highly peculiar and out of character for Spongebob and she was quick to make a note of it. As Spongebob was ready to enter his beloved abode, that neat and tidy pineapple, Sandy made her presence known, startling Spongebob.
"Well Howdy there lil' yellow buddy,"
"Arrrrgghhh!" The sponge shouted, taken by surprise
"Whats got your pants out of shape?" She questioned in a concerned but mostly curious tone.
"Sandy! You scared me! I'm not in the mood for surprises! Please GO AWAY!" He bellowed in a frighteningly serious tone, very uncharacteristically unpleasant considering his usual friendly nature.
Spongebob's front door was slammed in the Squirrel's face. Almost damaging her suit. Sandy Cheeks was never one to quit though...
she showed up everywhere; she was in his bed, she was in his bathtub, she was even in his fridge. After a few hours of being discovered time and time again by one very angry sponge, Sandy decided to be honest.
"I wanna know what's troublin' ya, Spongebob. You're more out of sorts than a lactose intolerant farmer at a dairy farm!"
"Sandy... I'm fi-" He was cut short.
"Don't you dare tell me you're fine! I've seen you all day acting like you had a cow in your pig sty!" She remarked in a clearly distressed tone.
"OK," Spongebob began "The thing is... I think I'm growing up. I don't want to play. I don't want to blow bubbles. I don't want to catch jellyfish. I'm boring!" He finished the sentence in a highly pitched whine. Immediately a rush of sympathy filled Sandy.
"Aww Spongebob! That's OK!" She gently told him.
"It is?" Questioned Spongebob, in a voice so meek he sounded like a child who'd broken a vase.
"Of course! Everybody's gotta grow up sometime! That doesn't mean anyone is gonna find you boring! You're the same lil' yellow sponge we all love! Just with less bubbles!" She laughed. If it hadn't been enough Sandy would have continued to argue, but there was no need. A grin had spread across Spongebob's face and contentment filled his little heart. The world was OK again.
