16 NOTEBOOK OF DOOM

CHAPTER 16 NOTEBOOK OF DOOM GALOOOOORP-GLOP! The notebook shimmered, casting disco-ball sparkles around the woods. Alexander tossed it to the ground, careful not to touch the glue. The monster notebook flapped around. Its spine cracked. The pages grew larger, folding into horns and eyes and wings and claws. "It's like an origami monster!" said Nikki, taking a step back. RAOOOOOARR! The notebook sprouted into a humongous monster. Larger than anything the S.S.M.P. had ever seen.

"Ummm, Salamander?" said Rip. "Maybe that wasn't your best idea." Alexander, Rip, and Nikki all backed away from the towering doom-monster. Thank you, Alexander Bopp," said the boss- monster.

"For what?" asked Alexander. "For creating the perfect minion for me to boss around. Just look at those heads! And those claws! And I looooove the smell of old books." The gloomp stepped forward and shouted at the doom-monster. "I ORDER YOU TO DESTROY THE SUPER SECRET MONSTER PATROL!" But instead of attacking the S.S.M.P., the doom- monster leaned down— GULP! and swallowed the gloomp. "Uh-oh," said Nikki. "What now?" asked Rip. "Hooray?" guessed Alexander. One of the doom-monster's heads glared down at them, angrily. But the rest of the heads looked a little sick.

"Uh, guys?" said Rip. "That's how I look when I eat my grandpa's chili." The monster blinked. It hiccupped. It made gurgling sounds. Then KERR-PLOOOOMIE!! The doom-monster burped an earth-shattering burp, and its monstrous origami body exploded. Shreds of paper rained down all over Stermont. Alexander, Rip, and Nikki smiled, laughed, and danced in the falling confetti. "Who wants cake?" asked Alexander. He led his friends back to his house. "There you are!" said Alexander's dad, standing in their backyard. "Look who else came to your party. Ms. Vanderpants! And Mr. Hoarsely! Did you know it's his birthday, too?" "Wait, really?" asked Alexander.

"Yeah," said Mr. Hoarsley. "I have a weird leap- day birthday, just like you. Except I turn thirty- two today!" "Thirty-two?" Nikki repeated. "Wait a minute... That's it!" cried Alexander. His eyes grew wide. "Leap year only comes around once every FOUR years!" "That means today is... said Rip, counting on his knuckles, "Hoarsely's eighth birthday!" "Oh!" said Alexander's dad. "Mr. Hoarsely should make a wish, too!" He plopped a fresh candle on a slice of cake. Then he lit the candle and passed the cake to Mr. Hoarsely. Mr. Hoarsely blew out his candle. Then he sat back in his chair and smiled. His hair had gone black again.

"I'll get the ice cream," said Alexander's dad, heading to the kitchen. This is GREAT news, Salamander!" said Nikki. "This leap-day loophole means you'll be able to lead the S.S.M.P. for years to come." "Yup, today's only my second birthday!" said Alexander. "But wait," said Rip. "We beat the boss-monster. Does that mean we're done? Fighting monsters, I mean?" Ms. Vanderpants took a bite of cake and pursed her lips. "I'm afraid your work will never be done," she said. "New googly-eyed monsters will show up, all covered with ooze, trying to swallow school children whole." "Then we swear that we'll fight 'em!" said Rip.