Chapter 1

A Twist in Fate

Meet Melvin Sneedly; he's that kid with the bow tie and glasses. Wait, this is a Melvin story?

"Wait, what," Melvin replied, shocked.

Well, this is different. Uh, let's see where this goes. Ahem, Melvin was an honor roll student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary. He has invented many machines. However, he was also a tattletale teacher's pet.

"Hey," Melvin scolded, "that is uncalled for!"

Well, it's true.

Melvin sighed, "But I want to change."

Oh, well, you're in for a real treat, then. Because one fateful day, things were going to be different. A new art Teacher, Miss DeBranch, was hired by Principal Krupp. Usually, Principal Krupp hiring anyone meant incompetent teachers were teaching classes; they were unqualified. Miss DeBranch would be an exception. She was good at art, and she was eager to teach.

So on her first day, she quickly introduced herself and got the students to practice some shapes. George Beard and Harold Hutchins drew a comic instead, and Melvin caught them.

Melvin raised his hand and said, "Miss DeBranch!"

"Yes," Miss DeBranch said rather condescendingly, "Mister Sneedly?"

"George and Harold aren't following your instructions," He said rather smugly.

"Well," Miss DeBranch asked, "What are they doing?"

"They're making that ridiculous comic," Melvin said, "Very inappropriate."

"For an art class," Miss DeBranch said, somewhat confused, "I think it would be the most appropriate time to make a comic."

"Huh," Melvin said, stunned.

"In fact," Miss Debranch, "As long as you are in my class, assignments aren't mandatory to get a good grade. But you still have to make something when in here."

Most of the class cheered, but Melvin was horrified.

"However," Miss DeBranch said, approaching Melvin's desk, "I will not tolerate a stuck-up tattletale. If you try to get George and Harold in trouble in my class again, Mister Sneedly, I will send you to the principal's office. Do you understand?"

Melvin tried to speak but could only nod. He felt mortified and distraught. Then the bell rang, and the class was over.

Chapter 2

The next day

Principal Krupp came into his office and saw a present on his desk. Intrigued, he carefully examined the box to find a tag attached to the ribbon.

"To Principal Krupp," The tag read.

His eyes widened, and he checked around him. He wasn't entirely sure this wasn't a prank of some kind. He didn't hear any small whispering voices or barely contained giggles, the type to indicate that George and Harold had set this up. Mr. Krupp didn't see any cameras to show this was some evil scheme. He seemed to be safe.

Slowly, Carefully, he opened the gift box. Inside was a box of colored pencils, a blue pencil case, a page of colorful star stickers, and a black book with a spiral binding.

Mr. Krupp's curiosity grew; he opened the black book to find it completely blank. He looked at the tag again and flipped it over. It was a drawing book of some kind—it confused Mr. Krupp.

"From Miss Debranch," the back of the tag read.

"How unusual," Mr. Krupp said, "Why would she give me these?"

He tossed the box and put the rest of the things inside his desk. He tried to forget about it.

Hours ticked by as he worked, and boredom began to set in. Mr. Krupp would usually power through these long, tedious tasks with no problem. However, he couldn't get his mind to stay focused today.

Mr. Krupp sighed. His mind went to the sketchbook, so he took out the sketchbook and opened it with great hesitation. He wasn't sure what he would draw, so he sketched himself. He took his pencil and doodled. Mr. Krupp finished his art with the caption, "Benny." It wasn't the most flattering self-portrait, but it was a start. He began drawing again on the back of the page, eager to try something.

Meanwhile, Melvin was back in art class, painting a fruit bowl. Melvin painted more miniature life-like paintings, and the others were more abstract. Melvin felt a little frustrated at Miss. DeBranch's lack of instruction, but then the unthinkable happened. George used a paint can to splash his canvas in wild abandon, and the resulting splatter caused a bit of color to get on the fruit. Rightfully frustrated, Melvin growled. Then his hand went up.

"Miss DeBranch," Melvin said, "George has contaminated the subject!"

Miss DeBranch seemed upset as well as she came to the scene. She looked at Melvin's painting and then the fruit bowl. She then came to George's still-dripping painting.

"An interesting addition to the subject George," Miss DeBranch noted, "But Melvin, you're doing something unorthodox."

"What," Melvin said, shocked, "But-"

"And," Miss DeBranch said, interrupting, "I warned you yesterday not to get George and Harold in trouble on purpose."

"But," Melvin protested.

"Principle's office," Miss DeBranch said sternly, "Now."

Melvin collected his things and rushed off with tears in his eyes. He rushed to Secretary Anthrope, sniveling and shaken.

Anthrope asked, shocked, "Wha- Melvin?!"

"Miss Debranch sent me," Melvin whimpered, "She said I shouldn't be telling on George and Harold."

"What were they doing," she asked.

"Disrupting Class," Melvin whined.

"So," Miss Anthrope prodded, "What did you do?"

"I was accused," Melvin explained, "of Disrupting class myself with my informing Miss DeBranch of George and Harold's behavior."

"I see," Miss Anthrope said thoughtfully.

Melvin asked, "What should I do?"

"You should probably tell Mr. Krupp," Miss Anthrope said, "I'll tell him you're here."

Chapter 3

A Kruppy Scheme.

Miss Anthrope came into Mr. Krupp's office announcing, "Melvin is here to see you, sir."

Mr. Krupp, flustered and confused, said, "Uh, Send him in."

Miss Anthrope left, and Melvin entered Mr. Krupp's office. He was ensuring to close the door behind him.

"Well," Mr. Krupp growled.

"Principal Krupp," Melvin said, coming to the desk, "I have a complaint about the new art teacher, Miss DeBranch. She's poisoning the other student's minds with the propaganda of creativity. Filling their heads with the notion that they can freely express themselves."

Mr. Krupp was bewildered.

"She's letting George and Harold break the rules," Melvin bluntly explained, "Undermining your authority as Principal."

Mr. Krupp gasped in shock, then snarled, "The audacity!"

"Yes," Melvin agreed, adjusting his glasses, "Quite shocking."

"She needs to be stopped," Mr. Krupp declared, then he seemed to ask himself, "But how?"

They both gave it some thought.

"Perhaps," Melvin suggested, "You should tell her to knock it off with a warning?"

"I'd hate to say this," Mr. Krupp grumbled, "But she didn't do anything wrong. It's likely George and Harold's fault, and they'd probably convinced her to be on their side."

Melvin sighed, "Your probably right."

They both gave it more thought.

Then an evil smirk crept over Mr. Krupp's face.

"I have an idea," Mr. Krupp said with a chuckle, "We can stop George and Harold by using their comics against them."

"Okay," Melvin said and then asked, "How?"

Mr. Krupp's smirk faded, and he thought about it. He looked at Melvin, still thinking. He then began to make a slow move to open a drawer in his desk.

"If I show you this," Mr. Krupp said in a half-whisper, "I want you to promise not to tell anyone else what you saw."

"Uh," Melvin said, getting quite himself, "Okay, I promise no one else will know what you tell me today."

Mr. Krupp slowly pulled out a sketchbook and placed it on his desk. Melvin was a bit confused. His jaw dropped when Mr. Krupp opened the sketchbook. Melvin saw the most detailed and realistic drawing of Captain Underpants he had ever seen.

"That's amazing," Melvin muttered quietly and almost involuntarily admitted, "You're so talented."

Mr. Krupp was surprised and got a bit bashful.

"Thanks," Mr. Krupp murmured, "that means a lot."

Melvin thought a bit more and asked in a whisper, "Are you suggesting we make our version of their comic?"

Mr. Krupp nodded, then asked, "Do you think you can help me?"

"Of course," Melvin muttered excitedly, "I'll do whatever you need."

"I can draw pretty well," Mr. Krupp whispered, "but I can't write a story to save my life. That's where you come in; you can give the comics a story since your spelling and grammar is the most exceptional."

Melvin opened his mouth to the object but quickly closed it and carefully thought about it.

"I don't know if I can write silly little stories," Melvin admitted softly, "I can write a report or essay just fine. I don't think I can be witty with it."

Melvin then looked at Mr. Krupp, a bit nervous.

Mr. Krupp stood up and made Melvin flinch.

"You have more than enough talent," Mr. Krupp said with such zeal it almost didn't sound like his voice, "You have to believe in yourself! I believe you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it."

Melvin was so shocked he stuttered, "Oh uh, I-uh, Thank you, sir."

Mr. Krupp said after sitting down, "We start tomorrow, so instead of art class, you come to me."

"Yes," Melvin said, "Sir, I'll do my best."

Then Melvin left the office with a warm feeling in his chest.

Chapter 3

Writing Woes

After School, Melvin's mother was driving them home.

"So," She said, "What homework do you have today?"

"I have to write a report on the history of warships," Melvin explained, "I have a sheet of math, I have a book to read and summarize, and..."

Melvin thought momentarily, "Mr. Krupp was more serious than I have ever seen him. I need to be careful about our secret."

"And," His mother urged, "What?"

"I have to practice creative writing," Melvin said.

"Creative Writing," His mother asked, "For what?"

"Extra Credit," Melvin blurted somewhat involuntarily.

"I see," She said.

Melvin got home with his mom and went into his room. He breezed through the math sheet, history essay, and book report. Double checking that they were flawless. Then he turned his attention to a new sheet of paper. He gave it a date and stopped to think.

"A story about," Melvin said with some disgust, "Captain Underpants."

He blew a raspberry and said, " Just saying it makes me cringe."

"But," Melvin sighed, then muttered, "Krupp entrusted me with this task. He would be furious if I didn't, at least, try."

Melvin began thinking some more. He was stumped. He got up from his desk to pace his room. He had no ideas. He stood on his head, hoping the blood rush would help him. Still, he had nothing. He reoriented himself right side up with a sigh and sat back at his desk. The blank page was practically mocking him now.

"This shouldn't be so hard," Melvin scolded quietly, "George does this all the time and barely gets C's. I am an A student; this should be a piece of cake, not some daunting task."

Melvin then gave this some thought.

"He doesn't do it alone," He reminded himself, "He has Harold to bounce ideas off of or inspire him."

Melvin tapped his pencil, unsure.

He muttered, "Maybe I should do something similar?"

Melvin then wrote as his heading, "Ideas for Captain Underpants Stories."

He sighed, "That's a good start as any."

Before he continued, he felt the ground shake. Softly at first, it grew; it felt like something was approaching with heavy steps. Melvin looked outside, and there was a truck rumbling by.

Melvin sighed, "I swear this house is too unstable for its good."

He then turned back to his desk, still stumped.

"What if," Melvin asked himself, "Captain Underpants wasn't working on his own? What if the Flushtastics were a constant instead of an exception? Or even better, he had a sidekick?"

He began to write the idea down, then stopped.

"No," Melvin scolded himself, "That's a dumb idea."

He then scratched the words out.

"Well," Melvin asked, "What does Captain Underpants normally do?"

He then began to write down. He felt his eyes grow heavy, and he attempted to stifle a yawn. He shook the Sleepiness off for a while, but without warning, he fell asleep at his desk.

Chapter 4

Perfect Imperfection

The Next morning, a bleeping alarm from Melvin's watch woke him up. Groggily, he adjusted his glasses and turned off the alarm. He tucked his Homework neatly in a folder. Then he turned to the page he had spent the night on. He finished a sentence he left hanging and sighed.

"How am I going to explain this to Father," Melvin asked himself, "Without breaking my promise?"

He then tucked the page into the very back of the folder.

"Perhaps he won't notice," Melvin reassured himself.

He then tidied himself up and took the folder to the dining room. Marty Sneedly's father was already there with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. Melvin approached cautiously, clutching the folder.

Marty looked from his paper to Melvin, a serious look in his eye.

"Morning, Father," Melvin shakily said.

"Morning," Marty replied, giving Melvin a once over before asking, "Did you finish your homework last night?"

"Of course," Melvin said, presenting the folder to Marty. Marty took the folder and opened it. He skimmed over the math page with little reaction.

"Good," Marty said, his tone even. Then he glanced at the history report and smiled a bit.

"Excellent use of the word count," Marty said, a bit more enthused. He read through the literature homework and nodded.

"Wonderful," Marty said, "Everything seems to be in order."

Melvin sighed in relief, and then Marty turned to the page. His eyes widened.

Marty asked Melvin, confused, "What is this?"

"It's an extra credit assignment," Melvin answered, "for art class."

Marty looked back at the page, then at Melvin. Marty then laughed, startling Melvin.

"Art," Marty said with a chuckle, "What a useless subject."

Melvin asked quietly, "Useless?"

"Oh," Marty said, wiping a tear from his eye, "I guess this is what I asked for when I wanted you to be the best student."

Marty put the papers back in the folder and gave them to Melvin.

"My dear boy," Marty said condescendingly, "I would appreciate it if you steer away from A's for art."

Melvin was confused.

"In fact," Marty said, "I would be proud of you if you work more towards a C or, even better, an F! I'll even make an exception and ask you to omit Art in all further reviews, okay?"

Melvin asked, "Why?"

"You won't need Art," Marty said, "It isn't important to what you want, success. It would hinder you."

Marty put a hand on Melvin's shoulder.

"Try to focus solely on all other subjects," Marty asked, "Okay?"

Melvin said, "Yes, Sir."

Melvin felt a bit uneasy, although he wasn't sure why.

Chapter 5

Later, At School

Melvin felt his worry grow; he was sure something terrible would happen. When it was time for Art, He came into the classroom to Miss DeBranch's desk. Melvin looked tense.

"Yes Mr. Sneedly," Miss DeBranch said inquisitively.

"Principal Krupp has asked for me to be in his office at this time," Melvin said, "Since I cause too much distraction."

"Okay,' She replied and then asked, " Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," Melvin replied, "Have a good day."

He walked to the Principal's office with extreme caution.

"I'm here to meet with Mr. Krupp," Melvin said.

"Very well," Mrs. Anthrope said. Melvin came into the office, making sure to close the door.

"Ah, there you are Melvin," Mr. Krupp said and then he asked, "Are you ready to get started?"

Melvin said, "Of course sir."