10 PUTTER'S COVE

CHAPTER 10 PUTTER'S COVE Alexander returned to the principal's office after lunch. There was a message on the board. Alexander, I will be gone for the rest of the day. Study unites 18-31 in your fraction workbook. Take home the greenish-blue folder on my desk. It contains your homework for tomorrow. I trust you will follow my instructions. Principal Vanderpants He plowed through fractions all afternoon. Finally, the last bell rang. He grabbed the bluish- green folder from Principal Vanderpants's desk and then raced downstairs. Rip and Nikki were waiting outside.

BEEP-BEEP! Alexander's dad pulled up. "Who's ready for mini-golf?" "I can't wait to play," said Nikki. "I can't wait to win!" said Rip. The three friends piled into the backseat. Soon, they pulled into Putter's Cove. "Have fun, mateys," said Alexander's dad. "I'll pick you up later."

They hopped out of the car. "This place sure looks piratey," said Nikki. "It even smells piratey," said Rip, sticking out his tongue. "Like a bunch of sweaty, hairy guys on a boat." Alexander held his nose. "I don't think Putter's Cove is supposed to smell like this," he said. "No kidding," said a pirate lady, handing out scorecards.

"This lagoon started stinking a few days ago, and it keeps getting worse." Rip turned over his scorecard. "Cool! There's a map on the back." "The party room is in the lighthouse," said the pirate lady. "Follow me!" said Rip.

The lighthouse was full of balloons, presents, and party guests. But no Dottie. Alexander, Rip, and Nikki could see the whole golf course from here. Fake islands, a fake ship, and a fake volcano were all built on a large fake lagoon.

A wooden dam curved around one side, with a big treasure chest on top. "Look! The smell must be coming from that gross water," said Nikki. She pointed to the murky gray lagoon surrounding the golf course. Alexander checked his map.