5 LITTLE SQUIRT

CHAPTER 5 LITTLE SQUIRT How can we eat when we're still gagging from Rip's stink sauce?" said Alexander as his class made its way down to the cafeteria. "That sauce smelled pretty tasty to me!" said Nikki. Rip grinned. "I knew you'd say that, you crazy jampire." Nikki was secretly a monster— a good monster called a jampire. She could see in the dark, and she loved anything red and juicy.

"Think fast!" Rip added. He tossed Nikki a bag of his leftover stink sauce. She smiled. Then she read the lunch menu, and smiled a little less. Alexander, Rip, and Nikki filled their trays. They joined Dottie at an empty table. "Hi, guys!" Dottie said. "Rip, your squirty lizard-goggles were awesome!" "Thanks!" said Rip. "I just can't believe Dr. Tallow didn't give you an X for stinking up the whole classroom!" said Nikki. "I got one for clapping wrong!"

"You should try being a perfect student. Like me!" said Rip. Nikki grumbled as she dumped the stink sauce all over her chilly dog. Alexander cleared his throat. "I guess you do keep getting in trouble, Nikki," he said. "But, uh, maybe Dr. Tallow will go easier on you tomorrow after she sees your animal report." "Yeah, maybe," said Nikki. "Hey, Nikki! What kind of cupcakes do you like?" Dottie asked. "I'm bringing some to school next week for my birthday!"

Alexander could tell Dottie was trying to cheer Nikki up. It was sort of working. "Strawberry," Nikki said with a tiny smile. Alexander took a bite of his warm dog, which was now a chilly dog. He leaned over to grab a mustard bottle from the next table. But he couldn't quite reach it... CRINKLE! Someone wearing strange, shiny clothes handed the mustard bottle to Alexander.

"Thanks for—!" Alexander gasped, almost choking on his chilly dog. The tall, shiny figure at the next table wasn't a person at all. It was an angry monster, covered in bubble wrap!