Chapter 5: Beginning the Student Exchange Program

The next day, at Jerome Hortwiz Elementary, George and Harold were in their classroom when Ms. Ribble was going to make an announcement. "Attention students. For the next two months, we're going to do our annual student exchange program. Like the previous years, two students will swap places with two students from a different school for two months. This year, we're doing a swap with Royal Woods Elementary School, Michigan," said Ms. Ribble.

"I wonder who will be the chosen two?" asked George.

"Me too," said Harold.

"It probably is going to be me, considering the fact that I'm the smartest in the school," said Melvin Sneedly. He was the school brainiac and tattletale. None of the other students liked him. And he was the only kid that the teachers actually treated with respect.

"The chosen students for this year are . . . George Beard and Harold Hutchins," said Ms. Ribble. Everybody was surprised by this.

"Drat," grumbled Melvin.

"We'd be honored to go on this trip," said George.

"I guess the teachers know we're such model students," said Harold.

"More likely they want you two out of the way," said Melvin coldly.

George and Harold told their families the news. "I find it hard to believe they would choose you considering your grades tend to be Bs and Cs," said Mrs. Beard.

"Maybe a different school experience might help with your grades," said Mr. Beard.

"So who will I be staying with?" asked George.

"You have an uncle who lives in Royal Woods. You can stay with him," said Mr. Beard.

"Okay," said George.

"Who will I stay with during my time as an exchange student at Royal Woods?" asked Harold.

"You have an aunt who lives in Royal Woods. You can stay at her place," said Mrs. Hutchins.

"But we want you to be careful while you're at the city. I've been hearing terrible things from your aunt about this infamous family living there called the Loud family," said Mr. Hutchins.

"What terrible things?" asked Harold.

The next day, on Saturday, George and Harold left for Royal Woods by plane. Mr. Krupp and the teachers let out relieved sighs. "I thought they'd never leave," said Mr. Rected.

"I can't believe how easy this was. A couple of months being prank free," said Mr. Krupp. But they had no idea that one of the students taking George and Harold's places was even worse than them. Luan and Lisa were to stay at the house of one of their uncles. Once they were settled in their room, Luan opened her suitcase, which was full lots of prank stuff.

"You really packed all that stuff?" asked Lisa.

"Yes. If I want to prove I'm better than George and Harold, I need all this," said Luan.

George and Harold got settled in the places they were staying at. They were next door to each other. And George's uncle also had a treehouse too. The two met up there. "George, I should tell you this. We need to be careful cause there's an infamous family that my parents told me about who live here," said Harold.

"Who are they?" asked George.

"The Loud family. It's the children who make the family infamous. The one who we really have to watch out for is Luan Loud," said Harold.

"Why's that?" asked George.

"She's a prankster like us. But she's a prankster with no honor. From what my aunt told my parents and what they told me, Luan's pranks are downright dangerous to the point that people can be sent to the hospital as a result. She turns April Fools, a day of laughter and joy into one of screams and terror," said Harold.

"Oh dear," said George.

Just then, the two boys heard a male voice yell, "Help!"

"Uh-oh. Sounds like somebody is in trouble!" said George.

"Too bad we don't have Captain Underpants to help us out," said Harold.

"Looks like we'll have to do the rescuing ourselves," said George. The two boys grabbed some stuff and ran to find whoever called for help.

Well, the student exchange program has begun and George & Harold have swapped places with Luan and Lisa. And Luan's already plotting to start her pranking spree during her stay. As for the kid that George and Harold hear the cries for help. Once can guess who it is . . .