11 NO TIME FOR TREATS

CHAPTER 11 NO TIME FOR TREATS The shaggy, brown monster was sniffing the ground near a seahorse statue. Alexander raced over to Nikki, Rip, and Dottie. "Guys!" he said. "The monster's here! We've got to get down there!" "Hmmm?" said Dottie, looking up from her cupcake.

Rip ran to the window. "It just ducked into the windmill!" Rip, Nikki, and Alexander started moving toward the door. But not Dottie. "Aren't you coming?" asked Nikki, touching Dottie's shoulder. Dottie blinked. "Huh?" she asked. "Don't leave yet it's cupcake time!" She grabbed Rip's arm. "Here, Rip. Since you had that weird reaction to the strawberry cupcake, we made you a chocolate one!" Rip looked at Alexander. Alexander shrugged back. "Uh, okay. Thanks!" said Rip. He scarfed the cupcake down in two seconds. "Why are you guys in such a rush?" asked Dottie. She handed cupcakes to Alexander and Nikki.

"You know why," said Alexander. He made claw-hands and said under his breath: "The monster, Dottie!" The lobster?" said Dottie. "No!" said Rip, tossing his cupcake wrapper aside. "The monster! The one Salamander saw last night." Dottie laughed. "There's no such thing as monsters! I love playing S.S.M.P. with you, but it's just a game— like with the knit-wit." She winked at Alexander. Then she passed out cupcakes to the rest of the guests. Rip looked at Alexander and Nikki. "What's up with her?" he asked, scratching his ear.