7 SWORD OF A BIG DEAL

CHAPTER 7 SWORD OF A BIG DEAL Wait up, Rip!" said Alexander as he pulled on his gym shirt.

Alexander walked into the gym. Actually, it wasn't a gym it was a hospital laundry room. Students had lined up near a row of washing machines. Everyone wore matching gym clothes, except for Nikki. She joined Alexander and Rip at the end of the line. "You wear your hoodie to gym?" Alexander asked. "Yes." Nikki jammed her hands into the hoodie's pockets. "I have a... condition."

"What do you mean?" asked Alexander. CLANG! CLONG! The students stopped talking. "What was that?" someone whispered. Alexander pointed to a square hole in the ceiling. "It's coming from the laundry chute!" BUMPA-BUMPA-BOOM! "Is someone up there?" asked Nikki. "Duh, Nikki!" Rip sneered. "I bet that chute is Hoarsely's hidey-hole!"

The clanging sound grew louder until -WHOOSH! a white blur tumbled through the chute. The blur caught a water pipe and flipped backward through the air, landing perfectly on its toes. Whoa! Alexander took a step back. It was the masked woman he'd seen earlier. The class started clapping. "She's an acrobat!" said Nikki. "Acrobat, nothing," said Rip. "She's a ninja!" The woman took a bow.

"Good afternoon, students. I am Coach Gill." Her voice sounded wet and bubbly, like she was gargling mouthwash. "I'll be filling in while your teacher is... on vacation." Alexander raised his hand. "But Mr. Hoarsely isn't Coach Gill leaped across the room and landed in a crouch, inches from Alexander. "Yes?" She read Alexander's shirt. "Mr. Bopp? Were you going to correct me on the whereabouts of"— she took a raspy breath— "Mr. Hoarsely?" Alexander stared into Coach Gill's face mask, but all he could see was darkness. He also caught a whiff of her breath. Pee-yew! Someone had tuna for lunch!

"Um, no," he said, leaning back. "Never mind." Coach Gill stared at Alexander a moment longer. "Today," she said, "you will learn the sport of warriors fencing!" She wheeled out a laundry cart full of swords. "Everyone, take a practice foil," she said. "Once you've sharpened your skills, you may one day use a real blade. Like mine." Alexander tapped Rip's shoulder. "Doesn't her sword look weird?" Practice foil (Short and flimsy) Coach Gill's sword (Long and sharp)