4 THE BIRTHDAY RULE

CHAPTER 4 THE BIRTHDAY RULE On the day Ms. Vanderpants got snatched," said Mr. Hoarsely, "she'd been driving around, looking for the boss-monster." Alexander grabbed the keys. "We should search her car for clues!" Alexander, Rip, and Nikki raced down to the lobby, with Mr. Hoarsely trailing behind. "Slow down!" shouted a short man with a big mustache. It was Mr. Plunkett, Alexander's old teacher.

"Where are you goofballs off to in such a hurry?" asked Mr. Plunkett. "Oh, um, uh—" stammered Mr. Hoarsely. "We're looking for "Monsters!" said Rip, rolling his eyes. "They're all over town!" "Ha! Good one!" said Mr. Plunkett. "You crack me up, Bonkowski." He continued on his way. Mr. Hoarsely sighed. "It's a shame Mr. Plunkett can't see monsters anymore." "Anymore?" asked Nikki, stopping in her tracks. "What do you mean?" Rodney Plunkett was the third member of the original S.S.M.P. We were fighting a three-eyed something-or-other at his eighth birthday party. That's when Rodney flipped, and the monster got away.

"Flipped?" asked Alexander. "Yeah," said Mr. Hoarsely. "Nobody can see monsters after their eighth birthday." "Like our friend Dottie!" said Alexander, his eyes widening. "As soon as she blew out her birthday candles, she stopped seeing monsters!" "That's how it works," said Mr. Hoarsely. "But monsters can always see other monsters. Like Rip and Nikki and Ms. Vanderpants." "So how come you can still see monsters?" Rip asked. Mr. Hoarsely sighed. "Beats me. Tomorrow's my thirty-second birthd—" SQUEAK! Alexander skidded to a halt on the shiny floor. "Oh no!" He slapped his head. "What is it, Salamander?" asked Nikki. "Tomorrow is my birthday," said Alexander. "My eighth birthday!"