3 ZERO O'CLOCK

CHAPTER 3 ZERO O'CLOCK The next morning, Alexander woke up feeling groggy. The lightning bugs were all gone. He yawned as he glanced over at his new alarm clock.

Alexander rubbed his eyes. Zero o'clock? he thought. That's impossible! The clock's screen blinked. Then it displayed a strange symbol. Alexander set up. Huh? The clock's screen went dim. Alexander hit a few buttons, but the clock stayed dark. Greul, he thought. My brand-new alarm clock is already broken. What time is it? He got up, and shuffled out of his bedroom. He could hear his dad snoring. There was a grandfather clock in the hallway.

Little hand points halfway between 10 and 11. It doesn't really matter where the big hand is pointing. Alexander is late! "DAD! Wake up!" Alexander screamed. "We overslept!" TNIINK! Alexander's dad fell out of bed. He staggered into the hallway. "Hey, AI." he said. He yawned wide, like a lion. "My alarm clock seems to be dead." "Yours, too?" said Alexander. "That's— "Holly overbite!" shouted Alexander's dad, pointing to the grandfather clock. "It's after ten thirty! We overslept! We have to go NOW!" Alexander raced to his room to get dressed. He dashed downstairs. His dad was already there, brushing his teeth in the kitchen sink.

"Grab a banana for breakfast, AI!" he said. "And you'll have to buy lunch today!" He ran to the door. "Meet me at the car. Go, go, go!" Alexander tried to tie his shoes with one hand and eat a banana with the other. Then he headed outside. His dad ran over to him, wearing a helmet. "Change of plans!" he yelled. "We're taking our bikes! The car won't start— the battery must be dead!" "That's too bad," said Alexander. They jumped on their bikes and pedaled down the driveway. "Good luck, kiddo!" said Alexander's dad. "See you after school!" said Alexander. They rode off in opposite directions.