10 HAPRY BIRTHDAY

CHAPTER 10 HAPPY BIRTHDAY Urggghh!" Alexander woke up with a sore back. His air mattress was flat. Like the dodgeball, he thought. And the tires... Alexander's dad was outside, singing at the top of his lungs. Alexander looked out the window. His jaw dropped. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOO YOUUU!!!

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His front yard was full of balloon goons! Every size, every color. All of them grinning up at Alexander. His dad was in the middle of the group, singing like a rock star. Alexander waved his arms. "Dad! No! Get out of there!" he cried. His dad looked around, confused. "What?" "THOSE... GOONS! THEY'RE GONNA GET YOU!"

His dad laughed. "Oh, AI, there's nothing to be afraid of. I called Party Planet yesterday to rent something fun for your birthday— it's set up out back! And then this morning, these balloons were waiting in our yard. The store must have thrown them in for free!" "Those things are monsters!" Alexander shouted. Alexander's dad sighed. "AI, they're not monsters." He strolled through the yard, bopping balloon goons. He even stopped to honk one on the nose. "See?" he said. "Now, come downstairs and let's party!" Alexander got dressed and headed downstairs. At first glance, Alexander thought his dad had turned the backyard into a birthday wonderland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AL! HAPPY BIRTHDAY But then Alexander noticed the melting ice cream, the droopy party balloons, and a nervous clown. Yikes! thought Alexander. Good thing I didn't actually invite anyone to this party! Even the main attraction—a bouncy castle looked like a smooshed tent.

"Hmmm," said Alexander's dad. "That castle was fully inflated a minute ago. Maybe it's got a leak.... I'll check it out. You go on and say hello to your friend." Friend? thought Alexander. He turned to see a square-headed kid carefully making his way through the front yard. The one person to show up at his party: Rip Bonkowski. Alexander frowned and walked toward Rip.