7 NOT IT!

CHAPTER 7 NOT IT! Nikki and Dottie were waiting for Alexander and Rip on the playground. "Catch, Salamander!" said Nikki. She tossed Alexander his backpack. Alexander looked it over. "Thanks for cleaning off the mustard," he said. Nikki leaned in. "You've got to be more careful! You keep the notebook in there," she whispered. "Remember how the last monster we battled said that a boss-monster was after the notebook?" Alexander nodded. "Good call, Nikki," he said.

"So... how about some freeze tag?" Dottie suggested. "Yeah!" said Rip. He pointed to Nikki. "You're IT!" Nikki smiled and began chasing her friends. She tagged Alexander right away. He froze in place. Then he watched Rip escape from Nikki on the monkey bars. CRUNCH! CRUNCH! Alexander heard footsteps. But he couldn't turn to look he was still frozen.

WHAP! Something smacked his shoulder. "Hey!" he said, turning around. "Don't tag me so— BWAH!" Alexander yelped. He was nose-to-nose with a giant, growling carrot. MEAT-EATING VEGETABLE Hungry for juicy grade-schoolers "Alexander?!" Dottie called out from behind the swings.

The carrot dashed off and jumped into a rocket-shaped playhouse. Dottie rushed over. "What was that thing?" she cried. "I'm going to find out!" "Dottie, careful!" Alexander shouted as she darted inside the playhouse. Nikki and Rip ran over when they saw the look on Alexander's face. "I saw a veggie monster!" Alexander said. Nikki gave Rip a look. "I'm serious!" said Alexander. "That big orange thing ran off!" Dottie said, catching her breath. "I couldn't get a good look."

Alexander sighed. "Thanks for trying, Dottie." "Geez, Salamander," said Rip. "A balloon goon, a mummy, and now a veggie?" "I know it sounds crazy," Alexander said. "Yeah," agreed Nikki. "How could three of the monsters we've beaten come back?" "Well..." said Alexander, "maybe another monster is bringing them back..." He pulled out the notebook.

VIOLET FUNGUS Get a life, monsters. HABITAT Monster graveyards.