16 CHOP CHOP!

CHAPTER 16 CHOP CHOP! There you are, AI!" said Alexander's dad. "I've been looking for you all night." Alexander watched his dad swallow a spoonful of chili. "Mmmm. Best. Veggie. Chili. EVER! What's in here, anyway?" Alexander smiled. "A chef never shares his secrets!" He walked to the kitchen tent.

"Mr. Hoarsely!" Alexander said. "The veggie monsters "Tut-tut!" said Mr. Hoarsely. "I don't want to hear the M-word." He leaned in. "I thought the supper was going to be ruined, but then diced vegetables rained from the sky. I caught enough to feed everyone." "Those veggies "Nope!" Mr. Hoarsely said. "I don't want to know." "Okay, okay," Alexander said. "Have you seen Rip and Nikki?" "Oh, sure," said Mr. Hoarsely, "I made them wash up— they were so muddy!"

Alexander found his friends at the sink. "The S.S.M.P. weeded out another monstrous plot!" said Nikki. "Yeah," said Rip. "The best part was watching you stand up to that corn." "Aw, shucks," said Alexander as he pulled out the notebook to make a new entry. "I couldn't have done it without you guys."