3 SWEPT UP

CHAPTER 3 SWEPT UP That footprint was as big as a kiddie pool!" said Alexander. He lagged behind Rip and Nikki as they walked up the hill toward school. His nose was buried in the notebook. "What could have made such a supersized footprint?" asked Rip. It had to be a monster," Alexander said. He flipped to a page with sticky purple thumbprints along one side. "Listen to this, guys."

TRAMPLE HAMSTER Cute little critter with ENORMOUS feet! HABITAT That strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street.

SHOE-IN! Trample hamsters wear a size 340. DIET Anything flat and round. Pancakes, tortillas, baloney slices. BEHAVIOR Trample hamsters love stomping things hat with their perfectly round elephant feet. WARNING! Trample hamsters dislike geese. waddle around honking to avoid getting flattened.

Alexander closed the notebook. "Hmm... I'm not sure if our footprint maker was a trample hamster." "Let's ask the oldest member of the S.S.M.P.," said Rip, pointing. "Him?" said Nikki. "He never wants to help." They watched a tall, shaky, white-haired man push a tall, shaky, white-haired broom in front of their school.

"Hi, Mr. Hoarsely," said Alexander. Mr. Hoarsely was the school secretary. He was also the bus driver, the nurse, the gym coach, and today: a janitor. "Oh, hi," said Mr. Hoarsely. "Ugh! Kids can be so messy! Someone spilled candy on the sidewalk!"

"Candy?" said Alexander. He and Nikki gave each other a look. "Don't mind if I do!" said Rip. He jumped in front of Mr. Hoarsely's broom to snatch a piece of bubble gum. "So, Mr. Hoarsely," said Alexander. "We, uh, stumbled across a huge footprint on the way to school. Do you think there could be a trample hamster in town?" "Well, trample hamsters do have big feet," said Mr. Hoarsely. "They make round footprints, and— HEY! We had a deal! You run the S.S.M.P. now! My monster-fighting days are over!"