Chapter 2 - A Plan Forms!
Brick stood on his tiptoes and looked in as the water filled the tub. Professor Utonium stuck his hand in the water and swirled it around to check the temperature.
"What's that?" Brick asked, a snarled expression on his face.
Professor looked at him. "It's a bath." he replied.
"Aw, man, no way! I don't wanna get in there!" Brick complained.
"What for?" Butch piped up. "What did we do?"
Professor Utonium sighed. "Boys, you stink! Strip and toss your stuff out in the hallway. The Girls will clean up your clothes while I clean YOU up."
"WHAT??" Buttercup shouted from the hallway. "No way!"
Blossom tried to console her. "C'mon, Professor is doing the hard part. We'll just throw the stuff in the washer and dryer. Easy enough."
Buttercup scowled.
Brick and Butch looked at each other. Brick shook his head. "No way! Not gonna do it." Butch nodded his agreement.
"Boys," Professor Utonium started, a stern tone to his voice. "If you're going to break into MY house and harass MY Girls, and then expect me and them to put up with your stench, you're crazy. It's either this, or I call the police and have you dragged out of here. You make the choice." The stern look on his face remained.
Brick was about to complain, then thought better of it. Reluctantly, he sat down and began removing his shoes. Butch sighed and resolved himself to the same fate. They tossed their soiled, stinking clothes out into the hallway, as instructed, then got into the tub.
Out in the hallway, Blossom and Buttercup watched as first one, then another, then another, THEN ANOTHER filthy shoe hurtled into view followed by first a red and black jersey, then a green and black jersey. The Boys' black pants came next, followed by their socks, and finally by Brick's red baseball cap.
Buttercup grimaced. "This is nasty!"
She got a broomstick from the hallway closet to pick up the Boys' disgusting clothes and put them into a waiting laundry basket. Blossom giggled. The two Girls took the Boys' clothes to the clothes washing machine and tossed them in. Buttercup poured soap in as the water began to fill the machine. Blossom added the fabric softener dispenser, filled to the top.
"Whoa, isn't that a bit much?" Buttercup asked.
Blossom shook her head. "Won't hurt any, right?"
"True," Buttercup agreed. "Not like it'll make much of a difference. Sheesh, they stink!"
Back in the bathroom, Professor was scrubbing down the Boys. He poured shampoo on Brick's head and went to work. Brick shut his eyes and plugged his ears as Professor poured clean water over his head to rinse his red hair. Butch did the same after Professor was done scrubbing him as well. Professor pulled the tub plug to let the dingy water out. He handed each of the Boys a towel to dry off with.
Just then, Blossom and Buttercup returned. Upon seeing the Boys wrapped up in towels, they giggled.
"Now, guys, don't you feel better now that you're all squeaky clean?" Buttercup snickered.
Brick rolled his red eyes. "...'Now that you're all squeaky clean...' SHUT UP! Only took the stupid bath to keep you three from complaining."
"That and to keep from landing in the slammer." Butch added.
Professor chuckled. "Now Boys, c'mon. It wasn't that bad, was it?"
Later, Professor Utonium sat on the couch surrounded by the Girls and the Boys. He read the letter from Mojo Jojo in full as Blossom attempted to comb the tangles from Brick's long red hair.
"Ouch!" Brick protested as Blossom yanked on a huge knot. "Quit it!"
Blossom floated above him, still holding her comb. "Stop your whining. I'm trying to get all the knots out of your hair, silly."
Brick rubbed his head. "Can you leave some of it attached, please?"
"Well, you guys COULD get haircuts, considering it looks like you haven't had them in awhile. Want me to get the scissors instead?" she teased.
Brick and Butch looked up at her. "Haircuts haven't exactly been high on our priority list." Butch replied.
Blossom turned Brick's head back around with a jerk. "Then hold still."
Brick winced as Blossom returned to her work. In the background, they could hear the Boys' sneakers thumping around in the dryer.
Professor continued. "Well, according to Mojo Jojo's demands, you four are to go to Bolivia. I can't go...I CAN'T GO?!" Professor ended, stunned. He regained his composure. "Hmmm, he's apparently making this hard as possible. You're not to take anything with you, you have to use public transportation, no law enforcement is to be notified, and you can't rely on any friendly embassies. Without me, how will you four find your way?"
"We'll just have to manage." Blossom answered. She gave a strong tug on Brick's hair.
"Oww!" he yelled. Brick turned to glare at Blossom. "That's enough, OK?"
Blossom giggled. "Almost enough, but not quite. Gee, it sure is different to be on the delivering end of this instead of the receiving end!"
Professor gave both of them a stern look. Blossom and Brick shrunk back. He continued, "You have to first get to La Paz That's the capital of the country. It's also the only major city in Bolivia with airline access from the U.S. It's right about halfway down the left border with Chile. Mojo has a route here on a map. Only problem is, without me, I don't know how to get you there. If you use your powers and fly..."
"Can't," Buttercup finished. "You know that."
"Why not?" Butch demanded.
"Because, Butch, any unidentified flying object that cannot be reached through radio contact over the U.S. right now will be shot down by F-16's. I don't think you want that, do you?" Professor explained.
Butch looked at his toes. "Guess not. I forgot that part." He looked around for the hair tie that Buttercup brought him. He found it, looked at it, and scowled at her. "Can you find one that doesn't have a flower on it by chance?"
Buttercup rolled her pastel-green eyes. "Oh, alright. I was hoping you wouldn't notice." She flew upstairs and returned with a ponytail holder of more manly appearance.
Butch pulled his black hair back into it. "Thanks, hope it wasn't too much trouble."
"I think you guys need to put those haircuts on the top of your list of things to do," Buttercup grumbled, "Sheesh, you guys have longer hair than me!"
Butch sneered at her. "Jealous, now?"
"Only 'cause you look more like girls than boys," Buttercup shot back. Butch scowled at her.
"We'll work on it," Brick stated. He gritted his teeth as Blossom continued to yank the knots out of his hair.
"OK," Professor began, "I think I can come up with a way to get you onboard a plane. Mojo says that no one must know of you travels, so we'll have to get you into the baggage compartment."
"The baggage compartment??" Blossom complained.
"Yeah, they don't keep track of that part all that much once the stuff has cleared the gate, right?" Buttercup guessed.
"Yes, and once you're passed security, no one will bother with you." Professor finished.
"Well," Blossom began, "It should be an interesting trip, that's for sure." She gave one last tug on Brick's hair.
Brick yelled his protest and shot up from the couch. "Ouch, that hurts! OK, that's the end of that!" Blossom got a sad look on her face. "Oh, you're no fun."