5 BOXED IN

CHAPTER 5 BOXED IN The loading dock was crowded. Students swarmed around, packing and stacking boxes. This place is like a beehive!" said Nikki. "More like a make-kids-do-all-the-work hive," said Rip. "Look!" said Nikki. "More striped boxes! They're everywhere!" "I'm telling you," said Alexander. "These boxes must have something to do with monsters!" "Or the boxes are monsters!" Rip joked. "Hmmm," said Alexander. "There's only one box monster in the notebook." He flipped it open to show his friends.

HABITAT A polka-dot windup box. DIET Ladies. Gentlemen. Children of all ages.

BEHAVIOR This beast may wear a gooty hat, but it does not clown around. WARNING Don't turn the crank!

"Our boxes can't be yaks-in-the- box," said Nikki. "Ours are striped." "If we could just figure out where these boxes came from," said Alexander. "Let's ask that walking pile of boxes," said Rip. "Ask me what?" said the walking pile of boxes. Alexander looked closer, A shock of white hair stuck up from behind the stack of boxes. Hey, Mr. Hoarsely!" said Alexander. "What's the deal with these striped boxes?" Mr. Hoarsely was the school secretary, bus driver, nurse, gym coach, and janitor. He also used to be a member of the S.S.M.P.

"Well, uh..." Mr. Hoarsely leaned down. "Someone mailed a box to every kid in Stermont," he said. "And they were all empty, except for P-P-PIP! PIP! POP-POP! "Eep!" Mr. Hoarsely threw his boxes and curled up on the ground. Boxes crashed around him. One landed upside down, covering him like a turtle. Rip stood nearby, twisting a sheel of bubble wrap. "Oops," he said. "I forgot Hoarsely is such a, uh, scaredy-turtle."

Alexander tapped Mr. Hoarsely's shell. "Did monsters send us these boxes?" Mr. Hoarsely stuck his neck out. "Monsters?! I don't know and I don't want to know!" he said. "I've got my own problems! I had packed Ms. Vanderpants' telescope, but it's missing! And my dustpan is gone, too!" He shuffled off. More missing stuff?" said Rip. "Maybe you're not crazy, Salamander." "Yeah... your dad's mirror, Mr. Plunkett's projector, and now this," said Nikki. "Something is up." I agree!" said Alexander, grabbing one of Mr. Hoarsely's boxes. "We've just unpacked a big clue!"