8 SPILLED MILK

CHAPTER 8 SPILLED MILK Alexander took the elevator to the cafeteria. DING! The doors slid open. FOOMP! Alexander was hit in the face with a dodgeball. "Gotcha, Salamander!" said Rip. The ball landed with a thud at Alexander's feet. "Oh, man! It's flat," Rip said. "I was hoping to bounce it off your nose!" "Ripley Bonkowski!" came a voice from around the corner. "Uh-oh," said Rip.

Ms. Vanderpants thundered into view. "Alexander," she said, "I see you made it to school." Alexander nodded. She turned to Rip. "Take a seat. Now." Rip shot Alexander a mean look. Then he sat down. Alexander breathed a sigh of relief and got in the lunch line.

MENU MONDAY MEAT LOAF SURPRISE TUESDAY SQUASH SURPRISE WEDNESDAY CHILI SURPRISE THURSDAY LIMA BEANS (NO SURPRISE) FRIDAY TACO SURPRISE He grabbed some Taco Surprise and looked for a seat. Most of his classmates were eating together, joking around. The kid in the hoodie sat alone, writing in a notebook. The notebook, remembered Alexander. He found an empty table, unzipped his backpack, and pulled out the notebook. It was filled with drawings of monsters hairy birds, eight-eyed mushrooms, mutant earthworms. He read about flying rhinos while he ate.

RHINOCERAPTOR An armored beast with a large horn and massive swan-like wings. HABITAT Wherever breakable things are kept: china shops, clock museums, violin factories.

yuk-yuk! Rhinoceraptor feathers are great for ticking your enemies. DIET Leafy plants. And corn dogs. BEHAVIOR These monsters enjoy a peaceful life in the clouds. But if they spot something breakable down below, they immediately dive-bomb their target! WARNING! stay calm! The rhinoceraptor can sense fear, so, SERIOUSLY, DON'T FREAK OUT The rhinoceraptor won't hurt you, but it'll gladly crush anything you care about-like a fishbowl, a sand castle, Mr. Nuzzle Bear, or a picture of your mom.

Alexander finished his lunch and closed the notebook, bumping his milk carton. It was 2% milk, but 98% of it splashed onto his pants. He began dabbing milk off his pants with his napkin. Then he paused mid-dab. There was a message on his napkin. I KNOW ABOUT THE MONSTERS. It looked like the message had been signed. But the name had been smudged by spilled milk. Alexander felt a hard slap on his back. "Hey, Salamander," said Rip, pulling up a seat. Alexander jammed the notebook into his backpack. "Stop calling me that!" he said.