Dried Sponge

I was a Animator at Nickelodeon, I worked on Spongebob as well as other shows. Spongebob nowadays is pretty bad, the new show ain't the Spongebob I know, in 2001, I was told to animate a episode called "Dried Sponge", but parts of the episode were animated already? I wasn't gonna question my boss though. But first I watched the episode like I usually do before I animate. So I put it in the TV at my desk.

The episode started as normal. Title screen was correct. Everything was right. The episode started with Spongebob going to Sandys bubble, he had his bowl on and they did karate. But then Sandy said she was going to buy more karate gloves after Spongebob broke a glove. Spongebob waited. Then the storyboard just stopped for 7 - 9 seconds. Then Mr. Krabs came in.

Mr. Krabs then broke Spongebobs bowl. Cutting his face, but it was cartoonish so I didn't think too much of it. After that Spongebob fainted. He woke up sitting on the bench in Sandys bubble. Then an intercom came on. Mr. Krabs voice could be heard. I couldn't understand most of his words, but I heard the words "Spongebob, you're being laid off, but I cant have a Sponge like you live" and "Your one of many sponges I can use"

His words made me feel disturbed, but after him talking. I saw Spongebob slowly drying up and his bones showing. Then a black screen came. Then in text, it said. A couple days later. Then it cut to Squidward walking into Sandys bubble. Squidwards face was of shock. Then it showed Spongebobs bones on the ground. Squidward began to cry and weep. And then he picked up Spongebobs corpse, Squidward said to himself "This wasn't Sandy" "It must've been SOMEONE" He said to himself

He buried Sponegbob in the Goon Lagoon. Then he and Patrick started talking. Patrick said "We were good friends, weren't we Squidward?" Squidward replied "I don't know, we kind of forgot about him, maybe we could've saved him if we cared about him enough" Patrick said "Maybe we should be proud of the memories we made with him" Squidward said "You're right". I went to talk to my Boss IMMENDIENTLY after seeing this. I showed him the episode and he said." I'm firing Gerald". I asked him "Why?". He replied with "HE sent me the storyboard." Then we saw Gerald leave.

This episode has been stuck in my mind for DECADES. I don't know when I will forget this episode. I've been writing in a Journal since I discovered this episode. Looking through it has brought me some memories I wish I had forgotten. But I guess I'm going to live with this forever. But I will get over it one day. You've got to let go of the past. Like Squidward and Patrick learned in the episode. Focus on the memories. Not the bad days. That's what I have to learn one day. And I will.