LarryBoy and the Emperor of Envy is a book that was published in 2002. It features a lesson in dealing with envy.
Plot
"The city of Bumblyburg’s in danger and LarryBoy’s the only one who can save the day. Everyone is weak with jealousy after the diabolical Napoleon of Crime and Other Bad Stuff—a.k.a. the Emperor of Envy— tainted the Slushee supply with his envy formula during Mister Slushee’s Slushee Slurping Contest. The Emperor has set the ultimate envy trap, and he and his “army” of henchmen are taking over the city of Bumblyburg. The whole town has slurped some of the Slushees, including LarryBoy. What will LarryBoy do? Will he conquer his own envy? If he doesn’t stop the evil emperor, Bumblyburg will be destroyed forever."
Synopsis
At school, Junior, Laura, Percy, and all of the other classmates notice something strange about their teacher, Junior's dad, noticing that he doesn't move his mouth when he talks, and especially when he tells the classmates that they are playing "Hide-and-Seek", telling them to give him their milk money and for them to close their eyes and count to one million while he runs and hides. However, LarryBoy shows up and is able to reveal the teacher's true identity as the Milk Money Bandit, after removing his mask. After LarryBoy enters the classroom after revealing the Milk Money Bandit's identity (tripping over the windowsill when he enters the room), he asks the Milk Money Bandit where the real teacher is, threatening him to "talk now, unless you want the other ear!" The bandit, now panicked, reveals that the real teacher is in the closet. Junior opens the closet to reveal his dad, which Junior is happy to see, Dad Asparagus commenting that it was really dark in the closet, before telling the Milk Money Bandit that he needs to be content with the money he has, then thanks LarryBoy for saving the day once again. LarryBoy then has the bandit punished by forcing him to write on the blackboard that he'll never steal milk money. LarryBoy goes to leave again, but trips on the windowsill once again, before driving away in the Larrymobile once again.
LarryBoy gets a message from Archibald, who congratulates him for getting the job done, further stating that he monitored the whole thing from the Larry-Cave, while also reminding LarryBoy to be more careful when jumping through windows. LarryBoy claims that his mask throws off his depth perception, but Archibald tells him to never mind that, explaining that he called to remind him about tonight's Superhero Class, which LarryBoy is surprised to hear, saying that that night is a classic double feature night at the movies. Archibald asks LarryBoy which is more important, attending movies or school? LarryBoy further protests that the movies being shown are "Attack of the Rotten Tomato" and "Salad Wars: Frankencelery Strikes Back", but when Archibald glares at him, LarryBoy complies to head to school. After arriving at Superhero School, LarryBoy hopes that he is not late for class, but when he tries to sneak in without being noticed, he ends up tripping over the Norse Superhero's backpack and toppling over a chair, to which Bok Choy announces to interrupt class with a riddle: What do these three things have in common? An overdue library book, a school bus that is behind schedule, and LarryBoy. Bok Choy then answers that they are all late, with LarryBoy proclaiming that that's a good riddle, before he also gives his own riddle: What's black, white, and read all over? However, when Bok Choy stares at LarryBoy, LarryBoy apologizes while explaining that he was trying to slip in unnoticed, which Bok Choy thinks is ridiculous, stating that it's a wonder that LarryBoy was noticed at all, before telling LarryBoy to take his seat and to try not to be late again.
After LarryBoy takes his seat, Bok Choy resumes his lecture, explaining that envy is a dangerous thing, especially to a superhero. LarryBoy talks with another superhero sitting next to him, an apple who is dressed in red, white, and blue, asking this apple who he is, before the apple introduces himself as "American Pie, defender of truth, justice and Vitamin A". American Pie then asks LarryBoy what the answer is to his riddle, LarryBoy answering, "A LarryBoy chapter book", but American Pie doesn't get it. LarryBoy tells him to never mind, before he starts admiring the wings on American Pie's headdress, asking if he can fly, American Pie answering no but they do make him look cool, which LarryBoy finds to be nifty. Bok Choy tells all of the students to take out their Superhero Handbooks and turn to Section 20, Paragraph 14, Line 30. LarryBoy asks American Pie if he can look on with him because he left his Superhero Handbook in his glove compartment, which American Pie allows him to do. Bok Choy then reads in the book, saying, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Bok Choy explains further that envy, also known as jealousy, eats away at you from the inside and that it is an evil to avoid. However, LarryBoy isn't concentrating on what Bok Choy said because he is staring at American Pie's shield, thinking that it's a really nifty shield, before asking American Pie if he can hold it for a minute, which American Pie allows him to do but not without telling him to be very careful with it. LarryBoy holds the shield, though it is heavier than it looks, before Bok Choy explains that there is only one cure for envy, which is that you must learn to be happy with the things you already have instead of wishing that you had your neighbor's car, or your neighbor's cat, to be happy with your own car or your own dog.
The Scarlet Tomato then asks "What if I don't have a dog?", Bok Choy answering that he was just using that as an example, before the Scarlet Tomato adds that his neighbor has a dog but he doesn't. Bok Choy is a bit frustrated before asking the Scarlet Tomato what he does have, the Scarlet Tomato answering that he has a goldfish. Bok Choy asks the Scarlet Tomato if he can be content with a goldfish, with the Scarlet Tomato replying that he can because it is a pretty good goldfish. Bok Choy then reminds all of the students that "A content heart is a healthy heart", which he has all of the students repeat, but LarryBoy is too busy playing with American Pie's shield to actually hear what Bok Choy said. LarryBoy then bets American Pie that he can throw the shield a mile, which American Pie agrees with but not in the classroom. LarryBoy adds that it would make a great Frisbee while pretending to throw the shield like a Frisbee, with American Pie telling him to be careful. LarryBoy proclaims that he's always careful, but ends up accidentally throwing the shield as it ricochets all over the classroom and straight at Bok Choy, who ends up getting part of his hair cut off by the shield despite his best attempts to block off the shield, while everyone stares at him. Bok Choy then proclaims that LarryBoy is more interested in a different lesson, saying that he would rather practice being a barber, which LarryBoy is embarrassed about.
In a secret hideout on the edge of Bumblyburg, there is an evil plan being cooked up by LarryBoy's nemesis, a cherry tomato by the name of the Emperor Napoleon of Crime and Other Bad Stuff, who then calls out for his soldiers, two sweet potatoes named Frank and Jessie, before Jessie proclaims to the readers that they really aren't that sweet, much to Frank's confusion. The Emperor then proceeds to explain to Frank and Jessie his plan on how to conquer Bumblyburg, explaining that he managed to acquire a special formula, this formula that he calls the Envy Formula. Jessie comments that he wishes that he had an Envy Formula while Frank comments that he wishes for Jessie to be quiet, before the Emperor further explains that anyone who drinks the formula will be filled with envy, saying that everyone knows that envy makes people weak, but with the formula that he has, they will become super weak, planning to see to it that everyone in Bumblyburg gets a taste. Jessie thinks it's nice of the Emperor to share what he has, while Frank is confused that drinking the formula makes a person jealous and that they get super weak when they're jealous, which the Emperor confirms, saying that the more envious they are, the weaker they become and that they will feel tired and sluggish, hardly being able to move and only able to lie down and rest. Jessie admits that he's tired himself, Frank asking him if he took a nap this afternoon, Jessie answering that he did but only a little one.
The Emperor then asks if they can get back to the point, before asking if they are any other questions. Jessie then asks the Emperor if he's really a tomato, which the Emperor angrily confirms, before Jessie asks him if he's too small to be a tomato, angering the Emperor, who says that he explained it a million times that he's a cherry tomato and that they're supposed to be small. Jessie then asks the Emperor if that makes him more of a fruit than a vegetable, before Frank adds that "from a strictly scientific standpoint", tomatoes are fruits, not vegetables, which Jessie is amazed to hear because he didn't know that. The Emperor then demands for Frank and Jessie to be quiet before asking if there are any more questions about the formula. Frank is able to ask a sensible question, asking how the formula is supposed to help them take over Bumblyburg. The Emperor answers that once everyone has taken the formula, they will become envious and when they become envious, they will become weak, and that they will have no strength left to fight them when they take over Bumblyburg. After making this explanation, the Emperor lets out an evil laugh, Frank and Jessie also laughing with him, though Jessie later admits that he didn't really get the joke.
The next day at the Daily Bumble, Bob tells Vicki that he's fuming mad, while Junior listens in. Vicki asks Bob what he's mad about, Bob explaining that Mr. Slushee is having a Slushy-Slurping Contest and that they're giving out free slushies to the whole town. Vicki comments that it sounds good to her, then asks Bob what his beef is, before Bob answers that he doesn't have an available reporter to cover the story so he'll have to go himself then wishes that he had a reporter available. Vicki doesn't think that that's so bad because she'll be there to take the photographs, before Bob complains that he doesn't like slushies, but Vicki asks him what's not to like about slushies, Bob answering that he gets brain freeze headaches. Junior offers to report on the contest, and while Bob compliments Junior for being the cub reporter covering stories at Veggie Valley Grade School, he tells him that he's just a kid and that he can't cover important stories like the Mr. Slushee Slurping Contest. Bob then asks Junior what he's doing at the Bumble, Junior answering that he's turning in his front-page story on LarryBoy's capture of the Milk Money Bandit. A loud beep is suddenly heard after that, revealing that the beeping sound is made by Larry's mop while he is mopping the floor, Bob telling him that he didn't notice him there. Junior lets Larry know that his mop is beeping, so Larry says that it's time to mop the closet before he rushes off to the closet to take the call.
Archibald asks Larry how his job at the newspaper is, Larry telling Archibald that he's glad that he brought that up saying that he doesn't understand why he has to be a janitor because he is a world-famous superhero. Archibald explains to Larry that by working at the newspaper, he can learn about criminal activity the moment it is reported. Larry then asks Archibald if he could just watch BNN (Bumblyburg News Network), but Archibald dissuades this because Larry would just sit around the house all day, telling Larry that being at the Bumble is much better, though Larry thinks that Archibald is trying to get him out of the house. Archibald decides to change the subject after that, having important information for Larry, which Larry also has, explaining that he learned that they're giving away free slushies at Mr. Slushee. Archibald isn't really interested in hearing about that, before Larry asks him what his important information is. Archibald answers that he wanted to warn Larry that his archenemy Emperor Napoleon of Crime and Other Bad Stuff has been spotted near Bumblyburg, which Larry realizes is important news then asks Archibald how he heard about that, before Archibald nervously answers that he saw it on BNN. Regardless, Larry decides to make plans to deal with the Emperor, then asks Archibald if he knows what helps a cucumber make good plans, which is free slushies. After talking with Archibald, Larry leaves the closet and passes by Junior and Vicki, who marvel that it sounded like that Larry was mumbling to himself in the closet.
The entire town has come to Mr. Slushee for their free slushies, at the same time that Chief Croswell blocks the doorway, telling everyone that Mr. Slushee doesn't open for business for another ten minutes, and until that time, they can't let anyone in, much to the crowd's disappointment. The Emperor and his henchmen hide in the alley next to Mr. Slushee, while Frank notes that with Chief Croswell blocking the door, they can't get into the shop so they can pour the Envy Formula into the slushie machine, while Jessie congratulates Frank for bringing the reader up to speed, much to Frank's confusion. The Emperor boasts that he can get past Chief Croswell and tells Frank and Jessie to stand next to the door. Frank points out that the door is locked, the Emperor saying that he knows that and that he will unlock it from the inside. Jessie then asks the Emperor how he'll get past Chief Croswell, the Emperor answering that he will use his superpower, which Frank and Jessie are amazed to hear, before Jessie asks the Emperor what superpower he has. The Emperor is frustrated, asking Jessie if he was paying attention in Super Villain School, explaining that all super villains are either mad geniuses or have superpowers. Frank then asks what kind of powers, before the Emperor further explains a list of superpowers such as Super Strength, Super Speed, or the ability to fly. When asked what his superpower is, the Emperor answers that when he holds his breath, he becomes very, very small, though Jessie points out to the Emperor that he already is very, very small, which causes the Emperor to yell back that he becomes even smaller. The Emperor demonstrates his power to Frank and Jessie, holding his breath, which causes him to shrink, which Frank and Jessie are amazed to see.
After this demonstration, the Emperor explains that when he's tiny, he can slip right past Chief Croswell without being seen, though Jessie lets the Emperor know that he usually slips by people without being seen, but this only angers the Emperor before he orders for Frank and Jessie to stand by the back door and wait for him. The Emperor then uses his power and is able to slip right past Chief Croswell while he is tiny and gets through underneath the door. The Emperor goes back to full size once again before opening the back door, allowing Frank and Jessie in, before asking Frank and Jessie to pour the Envy Formula into the slushie machine, saying that when everyone eats their free slushies, they'll be infected with the Envy Formula. Jessie asks the Emperor to dump it in himself, but the Emperor answers that he's not tall enough to reach the opening and that it's why he needs their help to do it. Jessie asks the Emperor to go back to full size, but the Emperor barks that he is full size, which causes Jessie to quip that he should stop talking now, which the Emperor says is a great idea. Frank pours the Envy Formula into the slushie machine, while the Emperor compliments him for his good work, before suggesting that they sneak out the back so that no one will suspect a thing, then all they will need to do is wait until everyone has slurped a slushie, and at that moment, they can march on Bumblyburg. Jessie then asks the Emperor if they can stop by his house first, saying that if they're going to be marching, he wants to be wearing comfortable shoes, but the Emperor just tells him and Frank to go, which they do, laughing maniacally all the way.
Chief Croswell opens the shop's doors, as everyone in Bumblyburg stampedes into the shop, getting ready for the contest while slushies are poured one after the other. Vicki tells Bob that he was right about this being a big story, while Bob says that he can't believe all these people, and when Vicki asks him why, Bob answers that you'd have to be very silly to get this excited about a slushie contest. Vicki then points out Larry, while Bob says that his point is proven. Larry and Junior are sitting together, while Junior says that this is exciting because it looks like the whole town is here, and that he bets he could write a great story about the contest even if some people think that he's not grown-up enough to be a real reporter, while also saying that his dad says that God made him special just the way he is, and that he'll be grown-up when he's good and ready, but wants to be a grown up right now, at the same time that Larry is excited about getting free slushies. Chief Croswell manages to get everyone's attention, before welcoming them to Mr. Slushee's Slushie Slurping Contest, explaining that he has been asking to officiate the event. Larry asks what "officiate" means, before Junior explains to him that it means to judge, while Larry says "Poor fish". Chief Croswell further explains that everyone that wants to compete must sit at the counter. A lot of the citizens sit at the counter, while Vicki encourages Bob to compete, which Bob is reluctant to do after Vicki tells him that it's a first-hand angle for the story, Bob complaining again that he always gets a brain freeze. Vicki tells him that "A little slushie isn't going to hurt you", and that if he ate it slowly enough, he won't get a headache. Bob is incredulous about eating slowly in a slushie contest, before Vicki pushes him up to the counter.
Chief Croswell then announces that when he says 'go', the contestants are to grab a slushie cup and start slurping and that when they finish a cup, for them to take another, then says that when the alarm clock beeps, the contest will be over, then asks if there are any questions. Bob asks where the straws are, but this only causes everyone in the shop to start laughing, before Chief Croswell explains that there are no straws in a Mr. Slushee Slushie Slurping Contest, telling Bob to just stick his face into the slushie and slurp. Bob asks if that's a little messy, but Chief Croswell doesn't listen as he tells the contestants to get ready, before Bob also asks if he could at least get a spoon. Bob then says that this is so embarrassing, just as Chief Croswell tells all of the contestants to slurp, as all of the contestants start to slurp their slushies, which Bob does rather reluctantly. Chief Croswell then offers free slushies to everyone in the shop, before he starts giving slushies to all of the contestants. After ten minutes have passed, the alarm clock goes off, which causes Larry to dizzily say "Hello, Archie", after finishing his slushies. Chief Croswell then calls time on the contest, before going to inspect how many slushies each contestant has had, counting five slushies for Larry, three slushies for Junior, six for Officers Boysen and Blue, only one slushie for Bob (Bob complaining that he still got a headache), sixteen for Herbert, before Chief Croswell counts seventeen for Wally. Because of this, Wally wins the contest, before Chief Croswell gives him a trophy while congratulating him for winning the contest.
However, Herbert then wishes that he had a big trophy like Wally, which Officers Boysen and Blue agree with. Bob says that what would make him happier is if he had a lot of reporters on his staff, like all of the Big Town papers, which causes Vicki to wonder where that came from. Bob claims that he doesn't know and that it just came out, before Vicki says that she would happier if she had a brand new digital camera, just like the big shot photographers. Everyone in the shop then starts talking at once about things that they wish they had, Laura wishing for a pony, Lenny wishing for Harry's new LarryBoy action figure, Junior wishing that he was grown up, etc., before the door bursts open, catching everyone's attention, but when they look and see who opened the door, they don't see anything. However, a voice then calls out to them that he's "down here", before it is revealed that the Emperor Napoleon of Crime and Other Bad Stuff is standing before them, as the Emperor announces that he's come to take over Bumblyburg. This only prompts everyone to start laughing at the Emperor, before Chief Croswell asks him "You and what army?" The Emperor then allows Frank and Jessie to enter through the door after that, while Bob thinks that the notion of two sweet potatoes as the Emperor's army is ridiculous, while everyone laughs once again.
Chief Croswell then orders Officers Boysen and Blue to take the Emperor and his henchmen into custody, but Officer Blue says that he wishes that he had an army like the Emperor, which Officer Boysen agrees with, before Chief Croswell snaps at the Berry brothers. Because of that, Officer Blue pronounces the Emperor and his henchmen under arrest, but ends up falling to the floor when he takes a step forward, just as Officer Boysen also falls after him. Junior asks what's wrong with the Berry brothers,while Officer Boysen doesn't know either, while Officer Blue says that he doesn't feel very good, while Herbert agrees that he doesn't feel very good either, before Wally asks if it's from slurping too many slushies, but Herbert replies that you can never have too many slushies. The Emperor then gloats to everyone that they are all too weak to stand up to him, saying that they laugh at his height and his army, before saying, "Who's laughing now?" Jessie answers, "You are, boss", before the Emperor tells him that he knows he is. The Emperor then tells everyone that to make sure that no one interferes, his troops will tuck them all safely away in jail then Bumblyburg will be his, and while everyone sits in jail wishing for things they can't have, he'll make all his wishes come true. Chief Croswell then asks the Emperor if he's forgetting about LarryBoy, saying that when he hears about this, the Emperor will be sorry. Larry then starts thinking, wishing that he was LarryBoy, before remembering that he is that hero, before sneaking out the back door.
LarryBoy then comes in and tells the Emperor to stop, which causes the Emperor and his henchmen to freeze in fear. Jessie asks what they do now, while Frank says that LarryBoy doesn't look weak, wondering if he didn't have any slushies. At first, the Emperor is worried, but then he smiles before telling Frank and Jessie to look at LarryBoy's face, while LarryBoy has slushie stains all over his mouth. The Emperor tells LarryBoy that he got him, then tells LarryBoy that before he takes him in, to ask him a question, which LarryBoy allows him to do. The Emperor then asks LarryBoy if there's anything that someone else has that he wishes he had, like a toy or a car or a special skill, while Frank also suggests a cat, before Jessie also suggests an octopus, which Frank is in disbelief about, to which Jessie pipes in that he likes octopuses, before Frank corrects him that it's 'octopi', but this only prompts Jessie to say "No thanks", saying that he doesn't like pie but he wishes that he had a piece of cake. The Emperor then snaps at Frank and Jessie for attention before asking LarryBoy if he can think of anything. LarryBoy answers that he would like to have a shield like American Pie, thinking it to be nifty, round and sturdy, and could fly. Vicki reminds LarryBoy that he was in the middle of doing something important, which brings LarryBoy to attention before he tells the villains that it's time to go. The Emperor says that he changed his mind and for LarryBoy to take them by force, which LarryBoy accepts, but when he steps forward and fires his Super Suction Ear, it doesn't fly very far and just falls in front of LarryBoy, before he quips that he feels funny and that he's too weak to shoot his ears right.
Fun Facts
Trivia
- This book contains a lot of fourth wall jokes.
References
- American Pie is an obvious parody of Captain America, complete with his red, white, and blue-colored outfit.
- Frank and Jessie appear to be obvious references to Horace and Jasper from Disney's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians".
- BNN (Bumblyburg News Network) is a parody of CNN (Cable News Network).