14 OOZE THE NEW GUY

CHAPTER 14 OOZE THE NEW GUY? The two Rips growled at each other as they jerked on the backpack. "Guys!" shouted Rip-1. "That squishy glop of super-goop changed itself to look like me!" "Don't believe that phony!" said Rip-2. "I'm the real Rip!" The two Rips were punching, kicking, and fighting dirty like only a Rip could do.

Alexander, Nikki, and Dottie watched from the back of the room. "What do we do?" asked Nikki. "We blast the fake Rip," said Alexander. He grabbed Rip's stinleblaster, and strapped it on. "Stop or I'll squirt!" he shouted. Both Rips froze, mid- punch. They were each holding one strap of Alexander's backpack. "Blast him! Not me!" they said at once. Alexander looked back at Nikki and Dottie. "Ask a question that only the real Rip could answer," suggested Dottie. "What does S.S.M.P. stand for?" asked Nikki, stepping forward. "Super Secret Monster Patrol," said both Rips.

"That won't work," Alexander said. "I, um, told Dr. Tallow about the S.S.M.P." "You what?!" said Nikki. "Blast that other Rip already!" said Rip-1. "He's clearly a weenie!" "Don't blast me, Salamander!" yelled Rip-2. "You're my very best friend in the whole world!" "Aha!" said Alexander. "The real Rip would never say something so sappy." He squeezed the trigger on the stink-blaster.

Rip-2 let go of the backpack to block his face as Alexander soaked him with stink sauce. Thanks, dearie!" yelled Rip-1, yanking the backpack away. "Time for me to bounce!" Alexander, Nikki, and Dottie gasped. VLOOP! Rip-1 melted into a gooey blob and shot out of the classroom. It was wearing Alexander's backpack!