4 CRY, CRY AGAIN

CHAPTER 4 CRY, CRY AGAIN Alexander wasn't sure he'd ever get used to having class in a morgue an underground room where the hospital would stick dead people. But after several weeks of fighting monsters, a cold, windowless room was no big deal. Alexander swung open the heavy door. "At least Mr. Plunkett likes to joke around," he said to Rip and Nikki. "Imagine how gloomy our classroom would

"WAAAAAAAH!" His teacher sat on his desk, crying into his hands. "BOO-HOO-HOOO!" cried Mr. Plunkett. "Take a seat, Alexander." Alexander adjusted his goggles. Every student in the classroom was sobbing including Rip and Nikki. "Are you guys okay?" asked Alexander. He sniffed the air. "And, hey, what's that smell?" "Just sit down, weenie," Rip said between sobs. He stumbled to his seat. Alexander followed Nikki to their table. She wept like a baby. Why are they all crying? he thought. There must be a monster behind this! He opened the notebook to a page speckled with old tear stains.

BLUBBER-DUCKIE Rub-a-dub-RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! HABITAT Hot, steamy baths. DIET Muddy Kids.

SQUEAK! The blubber-duckie's song makes kids cry BEHAVIOR Blubber-duckies Hoat alongside regular bath toys, waiting to be squeezed. WARNNG! Don't squeeze 'em unless you're ready to become durk chow. To survive: never take a bath.

Alexander closed the notebook. "Well, blubber-duckies aren't making us cry," he said to Nikki. "They only hang out in hot baths. It's so cold in here that even my ski goggles are fogging up!" Alexander gasped. My goggles! He pulled them off. Instantly, his eyes began to sting. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He snapped the goggles back into place. HONK! Mr. Plunkett blew his nose. "Since you will be serving the grown-ups at the Chili Supper this Friday, we will spend the rest of the week studying table manners. You'll all learn how to be polite little waiters." The class cried even louder. That sharp smell, thought Alexander, rubbing his nose. It's so familiar... "Nikki, I know that smell!" he whispered. "It's onions!"