Chapter 4: Hanging Out At Duds for Dudes

*the gang approaches the store known as Duds for Dudes*

Tom: Wow, this clothing store is called, "Duds for Dudes?"

HJ (to Tom, whispering): Yes, it is, Tom! You should know this! If you'd pay attention to this show, then you show know what the name of this place is! Get with the program, dude!

Rusty: HJ, Tom, what are you guys talking about?

HJ: Um, nothing.

Tom: Yeah, nothing. You heard nothing, Rusty!

Rusty: Oh, okay.

*the gang enters the store*

(bell at the front door rings)

Rodney (to Rusty): Welcome, son! *looks at his son's friends* And you brought your friends. *looks at the Cork Men* Current Position Hero Hugh Jacob? Cork Men?

HJ: Yes, that's right, Rodney.

Rodney: HJ, Cork Men, you guys even know my name!

Rocky (to Rusty): Hey, Rusty.

Rusty: *runs up to Rocky* Rocky! You're here, too?

Rocky: Yes. Since dad couldn't find another babysitter after he found out that the babysitter cancelled, he took me here. Plus, it's really nice that you brought the Current Position Hero here. A celebrity superhero, indeed.

Tom (to Rocky): Hey, Rocky! How does it feel like to be in fourth grade just like Lucy?

Rocky (to Tom, deadpan): It feels great.

*everyone in the Cork Men look at different t-shirts*

HJ (reading): "I got to visit Royal Woods, Michigan, which it's a part of Detroit!"

*the other nineteen members read different words on t-shirts*

*HJ still stands next to the t-shirt he read*

*Rodney walks up to HJ*

Rodney: Uh, HJ? If you want that t-shirt, it costs $20.

HJ (to Rodney): Yeah, I know, Rodney.

*Tom walks up to Rodney*

Tom (to Rodney): Rodney, what happened to your wife? You know, your first wife?

Rodney (to Tom): Oh, she died from blood clots three months after Rocky was born.

Tom (to Rodney): Oh, okay. You wanted to be a single-parent for your family until recently. Why are you dating Katherine Mulligan? Why is she your girlfriend?

Rodney (to Tom): Because I had, like, a crush on her a month after my original wife died. So I had to wait many years to tell her that and until Rusty started middle school. And I know that your brother, HJ is already married. But do you, personally, have a girlfriend, Tom?

Tom (to Rodney): Yes. Her name is Mary-Ann.

Rodney (to Tom): Oh, okay.

*Rodney walks up to HJ*

Rodney (to HJ): HJ, I'll tell you what.

HJ (to Rodney): What?

Rodney (to HJ): Have the others in your hero group, including you and have my sons and their friends help me with new items that were just shipped to here today, and then you can buy that t-shirt, and then it's yours.

HJ (to Rodney): Okay. Maybe we'll all do it. *to everyone else in the gang* Hey, gang! Gather 'round!

*all the other 25 people in the gang, including Rocky, walk up to HJ*

HJ (to everyone else in the gang): Okay, everyone. Mr. Spokes wants us to help him with new shipment of clothes that came here today. If we help him with all the shipment, then we're done! *to everyone in his hero group* And then, we get to buy all of the t-shirts that we've been eyeing on and been reading, and then, those t-shirts are ours!

All twenty-six in unison: Okay!

Rodney: All right, everybody. Follow me, then. (chuckles)

*The gang follows Rodney to the back of the store*

Rodney: Also, I forgot to mention, not only does this store rent or sells suits and tuxedos, we now have t-shirts to sell.

HJ: I already know that, Rodney.

Rusty (to HJ): Uh, HJ? About one of the members in your hero group, Rosie, why does it look like something feels off about her? And also, why does she always wear a dress that goes all the way to the ground?

HJ (to Rusty): Nothing feels off about her, Rusty. Of course she's 66 in human years, but she's, like, 15 in galactic years. She's almost 16 in galactic years. But don't tell Zach. And also, the reason why she always wear a dress that goes all the way to the ground is because it's her usual clothing.

Rusty (to HJ): Oh, okay. And I won't tell Zach that.

Rodney: Here are all the boxes that were shipped to here today. There are 135 boxes full of clothes. Put them on that shelf over there and I'll handle with putting them all in stock.

All 27 in unison: Okay!

Josh: There's 135 boxes, like he said, and there's 27 of us. So 135 divided by 27 is five. So, all 27 of us will handle five boxes each.

HJ: *picks up a box* Just start helping, Josh! And also, we'll all pick up five boxes each.

*all 27 people pick up the boxes and put them on the shelf*

AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF HELPING LATER...

Rocky: *puts the last box on the shelf* There.

HJ: I think that's all of them.

(all sigh in relief)

Rodney: Well done, everyone! Thank you all for volunteering!

*everyone, including Rodney walk back to the main part of the store*

*HJ gets the t-shirt he's been eyeing on*

*The others in HJ's hero group get the t-shirts they've been eyeing on too*

*HJ starts the line*

*the other members of the Cork Men line up behind HJ in member order*

Rodney: That'll be $20, HJ.

HJ: *gets a $20 bill out of his wallet* Here you go, Rodney. *gives the $20 bill to him*

*Rodney opens the cash register and puts the $20 bill in it*

(cha-ching!)

*Rodney puts the t-shirt that HJ purchased in a bag*

*the other members of the Cork Men do the same as HJ*

Zach: Uh, does anyone wanna hang at my house?

All 25 in unison: Okay!

Rusty (to Rocky): Rocky, please stay here and help with dad of what he needs. You're not coming with me. Just stay here and dad will keep you company, okay?

Rocky (to Rusty): Okay.

HJ (to Zach): Can give us a moment before we go, Zach?

Zach (to HJ): Sure thing.

Jamie (to HJ, whispering): HJ, are you nuts? What if Zach's parents find out about Ryan and Zoe being alien humanoids from the planet, X-Neon Green Xytro?

HJ (to Jamie, whispering): They're probably not gonna find out. But if they do, I'll use my hero mind tricks on them saying that they're from earth and they will accept it.

Jamie (to HJ, whispering): Okay, okay. I see. But Zach's parents are nuts about aliens. And also, don't forget to use your hero mind tricks on them.

HJ (to Jamie, whispering): Okay, I won't.

*Jamie walks up to the rest of the gang*

HJ (to Zach): Okay, Zach. I think we're ready!

Zach (to HJ): Okay!

*the gang walks out of Duds for Dudes and start walking to Zach's house*

(bell dings as the front door to the store opens and closes)

Rodney (to the Cork Men): Do come again, Cork Men!

Tom: Thanks for the swell t-shirts!

*the gang is now outside the store and they finally start walking to Zach's house*

Zach: Let's have so more fun at my house! It's gonna be awesome!