7 PLATE OF EIGHTS

CHAPTER 7 PLATE OF EIGHTS Alexander woke up to the best of all possible morning smells: pancakes! He got dressed and ran downstairs. "Happy birthday, AI!" said his dad. "Let's start this date with a plate of eights!" Figure-eight pancake Eight blueberries Eight strawberries Eight ounces of orange juice "Thanks, Dad," said Alexander, digging in.

第七章八个盘子亚历山大醒来时闻到了早晨最好的味道：煎饼！他穿好衣服跑下楼。 “生日快乐，AI!”爸爸说。 “让我们从一盘8开始约会吧！”图8煎饼8个蓝莓8个草莓8盎司橙汁“谢谢，爸爸，”亚历山大说着大吃起来。

"But wait! Here's the greatest eight of all!" His dad handed him a gift with eight bows. Alexander tore into the gift. FANCY MAN DRESS SOCKS 4 pairs 8 socks! "Dress socks?" He tried not to frown. "Heck, yeah!" said his dad. "You're turning eight today. No more comics or action figures for you—big kids get useful gifts!" "Uh, thanks," Alexander mumbled. He tossed the gift into his backpack. "You're welcome!" his dad said. "Now get out there and have fun. I'll see you after school for your party!"

“但等等!这是最伟大的八个！”他爸爸递给他一份有八个蝴蝶结的礼物。 亚历山大一口咬住了那件礼物。 花式男人穿袜子4双8袜子！“衣服袜子?”他尽量不皱眉。 “见鬼，是的！”他爸爸说。 “你今天八岁了。 不要再给你漫画或人偶了——大孩子们会得到有用的礼物！”“呃，谢谢。”亚历山大咕哝着。 他把礼物扔进背包里。 “不用谢！”他爸爸说。 “现在出去玩吧。 放学后我去参加你的聚会！”

Alexander hurried outside to find Rip and Nikki waiting in his front yard. "Birthday!" they said at the same time. Alexander raised an eyebrow. "We would have said 'happy birthday,'" Nikki explained, "but we're not super-happy about it." Thanks, guys," said Alexander. "Now let's get moving. While I'm still me." "So, where to?" asked Rip. "School?" "Not yet," said Alexander. "I figured out who Elmer Mooselidge is. I mean, was. He owned that old factory on the other side of town." Alexander opened his placemat maze, and pointed to the abandoned glue factory. Nikki's eyes widened. "Could that be the boss- monster's hideout?" she guessed. "Only one way to find out!" said Rip.

亚历山大急忙跑出去，发现里普和尼基在他的前院等着。 “生日！”他们同时说。 亚历山大扬起眉毛。 “我们本想说‘生日快乐’，”妮基解释说，“但我们不是特别开心。” 谢谢，伙计们。”亚历山大说。 “现在我们开始行动吧。只要我还是我自己。” “那么，去哪儿呢？”瑞普问。 “学校?”“还没有。”亚历山大说。 “我知道埃尔默·穆斯利奇是谁了。 我是说，曾经是。他在镇的另一边有一家老工厂。” 亚历山大打开他的餐垫迷宫，指着废弃的胶水厂。 妮基睁大了眼睛。“那可能是怪物老板的藏身之处吗？”她猜想。 “只有一个办法能知道！”瑞普说。