Chapter 8 "Stupid Book"

"I'm ready!" Spongebob burst through the front door of his pineapple house. "I'm ready! I'm ready!" Spongebob ran down the road toward the Krusty Krab.

I love Monday! he thought. I can't wait to get to the Krusty Krab for another fantabulous day of patty flipping!

Spongebob arrived at the front door of the Krusty Krab, straightened his tie and hat, and walked through the doors. He quickly punched in, then ran to tidy up the kitchen. A few minutes later, Squidward arrived, moping like usual.

"Good morning, Squidward!" Spongebob called through the kitchen window.

Squidward didn't acknowledge the hello, taking his station and staring off into space.

Mr. Krabs walked out of his office wearing a happy grin. "Mornin' boys!" he said.

Squidward rolled his eyes.

"Ahoy, Mr. Krabs!" Spongebob chimed.

"Listen up boys," Mr. Krabs called. "I'm having an employee performance competition tomorrow, winner gets this!" he held up a hat with a golden-yellow anchor embroidered on the front.

Spongebob's eyes grew wide, and Squidward "Hmmphed".

"Good luck!" Mr. Krabs called, before scuttling back into his office.

"That hat is all mine," Spongebob whispered, glancing and Squidward and hoping to provoke a response.

"Mmhmm."

"I mean, there's no way you could win," Spongebob pushed.

"Nope."

"After all, a boring lazy employee like you could never beat a hardworking good-mannered employee like me," he wasn't being serious, but it didn't look like it was working, either.

"Whatever. Wait--I am not lazy!" Squidward finally retorted.

Spongebob glanced around Squidward's messy work station.

"Alright, so I'm a little bit less hardworking than I could be."

Spongebob pasted an un-impressed expression on his face.

Squidward growled. "Fine, I'll show you! I'll beat you in that employee performance competition tomorrow!" he said.

Spongebob grinned. "Yeah, we'll see about that," he ducked back into the kitchen and silently congratulated himself. He loved seeing Squidward's competitive side, it was boring always winning Mr. Krabs favor without a contest. The only time it had really gotten ugly was that employee of the month incident. Mr. Krabs had practically exploded, and he'd made Spongebob and Squidward work two months free.

But that didn't matter. Spongebob was just happy to see Squidward working hard.

Later that day...

Spongebob knocked three times on the door to Sandy's treedome.

"Uh, comin'!" Sandy's voice came through the door, then she opened it. "Well, howdy Spongebob!" she said, smiling. "I was just makin' some cookies, come on in!"

Spongebob accepted her offer, seating himself at the picnic table.

"Y'all wait right here," she told him. "I'll be right back." she walked back to her tree, setting a pink book down on a small stand outside the door.

Spongebob let his eyes wander around a moment, thinking of all the fun times him and Sandy had in this dome.

He remembered when he'd first met Sandy. His first impression of her had been "Wow!"

His eyes wandered around some more, and came again to rest on that little pink book. The words on the minder read "My Diary, by Sandy Cheeks".

Her diary, eh? What kind of interesting things would Sandy have to say in her diary? He stared at the book for a moment. No, Spongebob, he cautioned himself. Every time you give in to your curiosity, something bad happens. He studied the wood pattern on the table, but before too long, his eyes wandered back to the book. At that moment, it was almost as if two forces inside his head started fighting.

Take it, Spongebob, she probably writes lots of stuff about you! After all, she's your best friend. She won't mind.

Then, the other side of his brain would speak up. No, that's a bad idea, Sponge. She'll never forgive you! You could never be friends with her again...

Then the bad side again: Not if she doesn't find out! Just take it, read it, and put it back before she misses it!

If only to stop his mind from arguing with...itself...Spongebob stood up and grabbed the diary.

He was about to open it, when he heard the door to Sandy's tree open. He shoved the tiny book into his pocket, and pretended to look around.

Sandy sat down across from him. "Cookies ain't quite done yet," she said, then laughed. "'Member the first time you came over for tea and cookies?" she asked.

Spongebob chuckled tensely. "Yeah, of course! How could I forget?" he put his hand over his pocket.

Sandy sighed. "I can't believe we've been friends for eight years!" she said. "There's no secret I would trust you with." She smiled, and Spongebob felt her leg brush against his, sending chills through his body.

DING!

"Oh, there's the cookies!" Sandy got up and walked back into her tree, and for the first time, Spongebob notices her hips swaying from side to side as she walked.

Now's your chance! his concience said. Put the diary back, and just forget about it! Spongebob rached into his pocket and put his hand on the book. That's right Spongebob, now just take it out and put it back on the stool. He started to pull it slowly out of his pocket, when the tree door came open. He shoved the diary back down, even deeper than before.

Sandy came out, carrying a platter of steaming-hot cookies. "Here we go!" she said, and set them down on the table. "Y'all wait just another minute, I'll be right back with the seahorse milk." she walked back inside.

Spongebob reached back into his pocket. But...when he tried to take Sandy's diary out, it was stuck. Oh, come on! he thought, desperately tugging at the book.

He finally managed to pull it out, when Sandy came back outside. Spongebob shoved it back inot his pocket.

"Sorry Spongebob, I'm all out." she said.

Spongebob smiled. Oh boy.