Chapter 2

Another Event from the Past

Outside The Krusty Krab: Back Entrance

SpongeBob excessively sweats as him and Squidward approach the KK's back entrance. There's an angry mob of fishmanity at the front entrance. They carry picket signs that demand for SpongeBob's removal from the Krusty Krew.

"I'm sorry me boy" Mr. Krabs brings some bad news; he stands at the door. "You're on paid leave"

SpongeBob's face drops. Surprisingly, so does Squidward's face.

"Mr. Krabs, that's insane!" Squidward stands up for the poor fellow. SpongeBob is too respectful and literally spineless to stand up against the profit-focused krab.

"I'm sorry, boys. But if I keep ya here, then these customers threaten to not eat here" he explains his reasoning. "SpongeBob, me heart wants you here, but me need money"

SpongeBob somehow keeps it together: "I understand, Mr. Krabs". Though he does shed a tear.

"Mista Squidward, you're in charge of me register and grill" he instructs the octopus. Squidward sighs and turns to the upset sponge. "I know who can help you"

Sandy's Treedome: Inside

1 Hour Later

Sandy sits at the picnic bench across from SpongeBob; the same picnic bench from Tea at the Teadome. She calms him down as he finally breaks down.

"I'm on paid leave! All because of a stupid joke I made 20 years ago!" he bursts into tears. "If only I was more considerate back then"

"Cheer up, Sponge" Sandy approaches the saddened sponge and pats him on the back. "It's not your fault; they'd be mad no matter what jokes you made"

SpongeBob can't stop crying: "What can I do?! I didn't mean any harm! Patrick must be so angry at me for that starfish joke!"

Sandy thinks for a moment. "Wait, that's it!"

SpongeBob wipes his tears away and looks up at her: "What?"

"Let's have Patrick to tell the press that..." she thinks on the spot: "that...he didn't find your starfish joke offensive. That could make the crowd forget all of this nonsense"

"Yeah, that could work" SpongeBob cheers up and slowly cracks a smile. "After that, they'll leave me alone"

17 Years Ago

A Van: Inside

Two press reporters sit inside the van of Bikini Bottom Weekly, the newspaper of the town. They're covering the Great Snail Race and are headed to Squidward's place to interview him. The reporter van pulls up to the Eastern Island head. A conversation outside of a nearby pineapple home.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" SpongeBob asks his pet snail, who seems distracted.

"No, no, no! I'm thinking about entering you in that race and beating Squidward's snail!" the sponge runs off.

The first reporter puts 2 and 2 together: "He must be competing against Squidward Tennisball!"

The 2nd reporter rolls the camcorder and rolls down the window. Once the window is down, the camera films the outside of SpongeBob's house.

"Looks like we're going to start our training now, ladies!" SpongeBob laughs: "I call you a lady to humiliate and demean you. It's a motivational tool we coaches use."

To be continued