5 OPEN WIDE

CHAPTER 5 OPEN WIDE During math class, Alexander checked the monster notebook. He found nothing about creepy animal-shaped shadows. BRINNGGG! As the final bell rang, Alexander hurried over to Rip's desk. "What's up, Salamander?" Rip asked. "Does Nikki have tentacles now?" "No!" said Alexander. "It's your shadow! It's turned into some kind of reindeer creature." "What?" Rip said. He glanced at the wall. Rip's shadow was back to normal: no antlers.

He looked back at Alexander and cleared his throat. "Ahem." "I don't understand!" said Alexander. "Your shadow was all wonky at lunch!" Rip laughed. "Hey, Nikki!" he called. "Help me talk some sense into Oh. She's gone already." Alexander slouched. "Never mind, Rip. I should go, too. I'm meeting Dad at his office." "All right," Rip said. "Watch for reindeer!" Alexander's dad's office was only a few blocks from school, but the walk there felt like 100 miles.

I've only made two friends since moving here, thought Alexander, and now they've got fangs and antlers! Am I going bananas? "Hello, kiddo," called a voice. Alexander stopped at a sign reading BOPP DENTISTRY. His dad was kneeling behind the sign. "My poor tulips," he said. "It's like they're not getting enough sunlight." "Maybe they're being blocked by Alexander shuddered. A chill crept up his back. He saw his father's shadow stretch across the lawn. It was shaped like a T. rex.

"Dad! Your shadow!" Alexander yelled. "It's a dinosaur!" As Alexander's dad stood up, his dino shadow twisted back into a regular people shadow. "Oh, AI," he said. "It's just the light. Haven't you seen a shadow puppet before?" He wove his fingers together. "Look! A birdie!" "I don't know, Dad," said Alexander. "Your shadow looked—" His eyes grew huge. "Nikki? What are you doing here?" Nikki came up the walk. "Oh, hi, Salamander," she said. "I'm here to see your dad." "Howdy!" said Alexander's dad.

Nikki swallowed. "Uh, hi, Mr. Bopp. I was hoping you could help me with" she shot Alexander a glance "my teeth." "Anything for a pal of AI's!" said Alexander's dad. "What exactly is the problem?" Nikki closed her eyes and then opened her mouth wide. Alexander's dad leaned in for a look. "Those are some serious choppers!" he said. He turned back to Alexander. "Son, why don't you run home and start on your homework?" "Ugh," said Alexander. "Meanwhile, Nikki and I will head inside and see what we can do about her overbite." He said "overbite," and not "fangs"! Maybe Nikki is normal after all, thought Alexander. Not like that dino shadow!