13 QUITE A STRETCH

CHAPTER 13 QUITE A STRETCH Noooooo!" Rip cried. "My favorite teacher is a blob?" "I'm no ordinary blob, dearie," said the pink ooze. "I'm the shape-shifting super-goop! I can take any form!"

VLOOP! The blob twisted around, making a sound like a boot being pulled from thick mud. An instant later, it had molded itself into a new shape—a balloon goon. Then— VLOOP! —a mummy, a carrot, a snombie, and back to a blob. Alexander gasped. "Those monsters I saw— they were all you!" "Yes, I turned into those monsters when you were alone," said the blob. "I knew none of these dum-dums would believe you!"

"Salamander really did see those monsters!" said Rip. "One monster, Rip—a Silly Putty monster!" said Dottie. The super-goop extended a pink, rubbery arm toward Nikki. Nikki clutched the notebook to her chest as the super-goop's arm clamped down around her shoulders. "Now give me that notebook!" the monster yelled. "Never!" said Nikki. She tossed the notebook to Alexander. He zipped it into his backpack. VLOOP! Two more arms shot out, wrapping around Alexander and Dottie like vines.

The hamsters, turtles, and fish hid in their tunnels, shells, and plastic castles. Rip took a step back, toward the doorway. VLOOP! Dr. Tallow's pink, smiling face appeared on the blob. "Rip, dearie, there's no need to run," she said. "You and I are alike!" "Alike?!" yelled Rip. "I'm not a mon—" CHOMP! Nikki bit the super-goop's arm. "Ouch!" the blob shouted. Alexander felt the monster loosen its grip. "Rip, catch!" Alexander yelled. He flung his backpack to Rip. "RUN! Don't let her get the notebook!" Rip darted out the door. The Tallow-faced blob followed him, locking the door behind her.

"We're trapped!" said Nikki. Alexander, Nikki, and Dottie could hear Rip shouting from the other side of the door. But they couldn't understand what he was saying. "Rip needs us!" said Nikki. "We've got to get out of here!" "No problem," said Dottie. "I saw Dr. Tallow enter the code yesterday." Dottie walked over to the keypad and pressed a few buttons. BOOP! The door swung open. Alexander smiled. "Dottie, I'm so glad you're in the S.S.M.P.!" he said. Alexander, Nikki, and Dottie ran into the classroom. Two boys were having a tug-of-war over Alexander's backpack. They both wore black shirts. They both had square heads. They were both Rip Bonkowski.