Four Absorbing Stories (SpongeBob SquarePants)
Page 1
© 2016 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon,
SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos and characters are
trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
created by
Based on the TV series SpongeBob SquarePants™
eISBN 978-1-68107-312-5
Stories
Best in Show
Drive Thru
Clowning Around
Are We There Yet?
by Tracey West
Illustrated by Vincent Deporter
Chapters
Chapter 1
Squidward’s Challenge
Chapter 2
Meow!
Chapter 3
Squidward’s Mystery Pet
Chapter 4
Bathing Beauties
Chapter 5
Play Dead, Rocky!
Chapter 6
The Final Question
Chapter 7
And the Winner ls . . .
Chapter 1
Squidward’s Challenge
It was another busy day at the Krusty Krab.
Behind the counter, Squidward Tentacles
sighed as another fish came through the door.
“Oh joy—a customer,” Squidward said in a
flat voice. “Can I help you?”
“I’d like to hang up this sign,” the fish said,
handing Squidward a flyer. “It’s for the Bikini
Bottom Pet Show.”
With a bored look, Squidward read the
flyer.
When SpongeBob SquarePants heard the
news, he stopped flipping Krabby Patties.
“Pet show?” he asked. “Why my Gary is
the best pet in all of Bikini Bottom. I know he
could win!”
“Ha!” Squidward snorted. “If you ask me,
that slimy snail of yours is no prizewinner.”
SpongeBob flinched. “You don’t mean that,”
he said. “You’re just jealous because you don’t
have a pet to enter in the contest.”
“Oh, yeah, SpongeBob SmartyPants?”
Squidward shot back. “Well, maybe I do
have a pet. It’s a wonderful pet—a pet that will
easily beat Gary in the Bikini Bottom Pet Show!”
Now SpongeBob was angry. He ran out of
the kitchen and waved his fist at Squidward.
“We’ll see about that. Nobody insults my Gary
and gets away with it!” SpongeBob cried.
Chapter 2
Meow!
After work, SpongeBob
raced home.
“Gary, I have great news!” he said. “I entered
you in the Bikini Bottom Pet Show.”
“Meow!” Gary cried, quickly pulling his
head and tail into his shell.
“Don’t be nervous, Gary,” SpongeBob said.
“You’re the best pet in the whole wide world,
and it’s time everybody knew it!”
Gary slowly poked one eyestalk out of his
shell.
“That’s the spirit, Gary!” SpongeBob
cheered. “We’re going to win this pet show, no
matter what it takes!”
Chapter 3
Squidward’s Mystery Pet
The pet show was a week away, and
SpongeBob couldn’t wait. He spent the time with
Gary, training long and hard.
He waxed Gary’s shell.
He massaged Gary’s eyeballs.
And he taught Gary new tricks.
Finally, the big day arrived.
SpongeBob and Squidward lined up with
the other contestants. Squidward kept his pet
under a blanket.
“I’m Fred Fishley,” said the host. “Welcome
to the Bikini Bottom Pet Show. Let’s give a big
hand for our show’s sponsor, Barnacle Bites.”
Squidward made a face. “I’d never feed that
squishy slop to pet,” he said.
The contestants filed onto the
stage. SpongeBob eyed the blanket in
Squidward’s hands. “What is your pet any-
way?” SpongeBob asked.
“I don’t even think you have a pet.”
Squidward grinned. “Aha, but you’re
wrong!” he said. He lifted the blanket. “Behold
Rocky, my pet rock!”
“Ba-ha-ha-ha-ha!” laughed SpongeBob. “A
rock? What kind of a pet is that?”
But the judges seemed impressed. “How
original!” they exclaimed.
That made SpongeBob nervous. “This
is going to be a close race,” he told Gary.
“Don’t let me down!”
Chapter 4
Bathing Beauties
Soon it was time for the first competition.
“It’s swimsuit time,” announced Fred Fishley.
“Let’s see what fashionable pets
are wearing to the beach these days.”
First it was Rocky’s turn. The judges loved
Rocky’s seashell bikini.
“So stylish!” they said.
Then SpongeBob pushed Gary onto the
stage. Gary slithered along in a shimmer-
ing, faux fur-trimmed
mermaid suit.
“Work it, Gary! Work it!” SpongeBob
yelled.
“Ooooh! Aaaaah!” cried the judges.
Chapter 5
Play Dead, Rocky!
“That was great,” SpongeBob
congratulated Gary. “But we still have to
wow the judges in
the talent contest.”
Squidward and Rocky went first.
“Rocky is the most obedient pet around,”
Squidward bragged. “Sit, Rocky! Stay, Rocky!
Play dead, Rocky!”
Rocky did a perfect job. He didn’t
move once.
The judges loved it.
“What a smart rock!” they shouted.
SpongeBob started to panic. “Oh no!” he
said. “The judges love Rocky. You’ll have to
give it all you’ve
got, Gary.”
“Meow?” Gary replied nervously.
“Don’t be silly,” SpongeBob said. “You’ve
got to do this so that we can beat Squidward—I
mean, win this contest!”
Gary did his tricks. He slid across a tight-
rope. He juggled fire with his
eyestalks. And he wrote love notes to the judg-
es in slime.
The judges clapped and cheered.
“Great job, Gary!” SpongeBob cried.
“There’s no way we can lose now.”
Chapter 6
The Final Question
But the contest wasn’t over yet.
“We’ve seen some amazing pets here today,”
Fred Fishley said. “But it all comes down to this
final question.”
“Okay, Rocky,” Fred Fishley began, holding
the microphone close to the rock. “What is the
most important quality a pet can have?”
Rocky didn’t make a sound.
Squidward smiled. “You know the saying,” he
said. “Silence is golden. Everyone loves a quiet
pet.”
“Brilliant!” said
the judges.
Then it was Gary’s tur
n.
“Gary, what would you say is the most
important quality a pet can have?” Fred Fishley
asked.
Gary looked at SpongeBob.
“Meow,” he said.
“Gary says that a pet is also a friend,”
SpongeBob said. “And although friends do
anything for each other, friends also respect
each
other’s feelings.”
“Wonderful!” said the judges.
“Meow,” said Gary sadly. He slithered off
the stage.
“Gary, where are you going?” SpongeBob
asked. “Come back here, right now!”
Then SpongeBob stopped dead in his tracks.
Suddenly it all started making sense. “Wait a
minute . . . ,” he said slowly. “I’ve been a terrible
friend to you, Gary. You’ve done everything
for me, and I haven’t respected your feelings at
ALL!”
Chapter 7
And the Winner ls . . .
SpongeBob burst into tears. “I’m so sorry,
Gary,” he said, hugging his pet. “This
contest isn’t about you. pushed you into this. I
was only thinking of me, me, ME!”
Gary snuggled up to SpongeBob. “Meow,”
Gary replied softly.
On stage, Fred Fishley was about to
announce the winner. “And now for the moment
you’ve all been waiting for,” he said. “The best
pet in all of Bikini Bottom is—”
“Just a minute!” SpongeBob interrupted,
stepping onstage. “I’m sorry, but Gary has with-
drawn from the contest,” he declared. “Come on,
Gary. Let’s go home.”
Fred Fishley looked confused for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly with
the judges.
When he returned, he announced, “Our first
prize goes to—Rocky!”
Squidward waved proudly to the cheering
crowd. “What can I say? The judges know a
superior pet when they see one.”
“Congratulations, Squidward and Rocky,”
Fred Fishley said. “And now for your prize: Your
picture will be on the label of every can
of Barnacle Bites.”
“What kind of prize is that?” Squidward
whined. “My perfect face on a can of that dis-
gusting pet food?”
“Yes,” said Fred Fishley, “on millions and
millions of cans!”
“Nooooooooo!” wailed Squidward.
Later at home, SpongeBob prepared a
special treat for Gary.
“Squidward might have won the prize,”
SpongeBob admitted. “But I’ve got the
best pet—and the best friend—in all of Bikini
Bottom!”
“Meow!” agreed Gary.
by Erica David
Illustrated by Robert Dress
Chapters
Chapter 1
Mr. Krabs’ Surprise
Chapter 2
Patties to Go
Chapter 3
Late Night at the Krusty Krab
Chapter 4
Eels on Wheels
Chapter 5
SpongeBob GeniusPants
Chapter 1
Mr. Krabs’ Surprise
“Gather round, mateys!” Mr. Krabs called.
“I have a surprise for you.”
“What is it, Mr. Krabs?” SpongeBob
SquarePants eagerly asked.
“It’s me dream come true,” Mr. Krabs
answered. “A drive-through window! And just in
time for the Eels on Wheels convention!”
“Oh, joy,” Squidward Tentacles said dryly.
“Mr. Squidward, I think you’re missing
the importance of this innovation,”
Mr. Krabs explained.
“It’s possible,” Squidward replied.
“For years now, the Krusty Krab has been
serving delicious Krabby Patties to the citizens
of Bikini Bottom,” Mr. Krabs explained. “It’s
our job to feed as many
hungry people as we can.”
“Not just our job, it’s
our duty,” SpongeBob agreed.
“Right you are, lad,” said Mr. Krabs.
“With this little beauty, we’ll be able to
serve more customers in less time! And the
best part is, they don’t even have to leave
the comfort of their boats!” Mr. Krabs
finished.
“That’s wonderful, sir!” exclaimed
SpongeBob.
“Very moving,” Squidward said dully.
“But who’s going to work this drive through?”
“Why, you and SpongeBob, of course,” Mr.
Krabs replied.
“But we’re already busy with the
customers inside the restaurant,” Squidward
complained.
“C’mon, Squidward, we can do it!”
SpongeBob cried. “I-I-I’m READY!”
“That’s the spirit, SpongeBob, me boy!” said
Mr. Krabs, chuckling. “All hands on deck! It’s
going to be a busy day!”
Chapter 2
Patties to Go
The new drive through at the Krusty Krab
was an immediate success. There were so many
customers that SpongeBob and Squidward could
barely keep up with all of the orders.
By the end of the day, they had sold a record
number of Krabby Patties.
“It’s unbelievable!” Mr. Krabs exclaimed.
“Business has nearly tripled!”
“Is it closing time yet?”
Squidward whined.
“I could go on cooking
all night!” SpongeBob said
brightly. “But sadly, it’s time
to go home.”
“Good work, lads,” Mr. Krabs
congratulated them. “I’m gonna be rich—
I mean, wasn’t this a rich experience?”
“Um, Mr. Krabs?” SpongeBob asked.
“Do you think that tomorrow maybe I could
work at the window?”
“Oh, please let him work at the window!”
Squidward begged.
“Now SpongeBob,” Mr. Krabs replied.
“You’re me ace fry cook. Your place is in
the kitchen.”
“But, Mr. Krabs—” SpongeBob cried.
“But, nothing. You’re not to touch this head-
set. Understood?” said Mr. Krabs sternly.
SpongeBob nodded sadly.
“Good,” said Mr. Krabs. “Well, SpongeBob,
it’s your turn to clean and lock up. I’ll see you
both bright and early
tomorrow morning.”
Chapter 3
Late Night at the Krusty Krab
SpongeBob was busy mopping the floor
when he heard a voice call from outside: “Hey,
SpongeBob, I’m here
to pick you up from
work!”
“Okay, Patrick, I’m almost finished,”
SpongeBob told his friend Patrick Star.
“Uh, SpongeBob,” Patrick said, “there’s a
new, funny-looking window attached to the
Krusty Krab.”
“I know, Pat. It’s the new drive through,”
SpongeBob replied, as he slid open the window.
Patrick fell into the room. “Oooo . . . drive
through. How’s it work?” asked Patrick.
SpongeBob patiently explained to
his friend.
“You mean you get to
wear this cool head
thingy and lean out of the window all day?”
Patrick wondered.
“Not exactly,” SpongeBob answered.
“That’s Squidward’s job.”
“But it’s so shiny! Look, there are
buttons on it and everything!”
Patrick pointed out.
“No, Pat! Mr. Krabs said I can’t touch the
headset,” said SpongeBob firmly.