3 PRINCIPAL HOARSELY

CHAPTER 3 PRINCIPAL HOARSELY Look!" said Alexander, as the friends jogged to school. "The purple slurper isn't the only monster out today." There were signs of monsters everywhere. Rusty! Knotted!

The three friends ran a little faster and soon arrived at school. "Weird," said Nikki. "There has never been a guard out front before."

"Move along, toddlers!" said the guard. "No funny business!" "That's Ms. Sargent from the Stermont Museum," Rip whispered as they passed through an x-ray scanner. "She's tougher than P-rex teeth!" "Mr. Hoarsely must've hired her," Alexander said. "He's really taking this security stuff seriously," said Nikki. "Well, he did watch Vanderpants get nabbed by a monster," said Rip. "That is exactly why we need to talk to him," said Alexander. "Come on!" The friends rode the escalators up to the thirteenth floor.

The door to the principal's office was closed. Alexander knocked. "Open up, Hoarsely!" Rip yelled. "Forget it!" the shaky voice called back. "It is too dangerous out there!" Alexander leaned toward the door, and spoke calmly. "It's about Principal Vanderpants." The door swung open, and Mr. Hoarsely waved them in. He wore a baggy suit that made him look like a half-stuffed scarecrow. "Did you find her?" he asked. "Not yet," said Nikki.

Mr. Hoarsely's shoulders drooped, making his jacket look even baggier. "We need her," he said. "Ms. Vanderpants was the S.S.M.P.'s best monster- fighter." Rip's jaw dropped. "What?! Vanderpants was in the Monster Patrol?" "Well, sure," said Mr. Hoarsely. "The S.S.M.P. was her idea. She created the notebook." "No way!" said Alexander. "Yes way," said Mr. Hoarsely. "But how?" asked Nikki. Mr. Hoarsely looked out the window as he spoke. I met Helen Vanderpants when I was just a kid. I was playing in Derwood Park when a cheese-blaster attacked me.

I was so scared that my black hair turned bright white! But then Helen showed up. She transformed... and saved me! I've been by her side ever since. I joined her club—the S.S.M.P.-and we battled monsters together for a while. But later, the S.S.M.P. disbanded. Then Helen became a principal so she could protect the kids of Stermont—and look for new monster-fighters.