5 SHOCKINGLY LATE

CHAPTER 5 SHOCKINGLY LATE Alexander had almost gotten the hang of the super-fast escalators by the time he made it to the ninth floor. He scooted down the carpeted hallway to a big yellow door.

当亚历山大爬到九楼时，他几乎已经掌握了超级快的自动扶梯的窍门。 他飞快地穿过铺着地毯的走廊，来到一扇黄色的大门前。

Alexander pulled the door handle. A jolt of electricity shocked his hand. MACK! he yelped as the door swung open. Everyone in the room looked up from their school books. Rip and Nikki waved from the back row. Actually, Nikki waved. Rip crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue.

亚历山大拉开门把手。 一阵电击电击了他的手。 麦克!门开了，他叫了一声。 房间里的每个人都从课本上抬起头来。 里普和尼基在后排挥手。 实际上，尼基挥了挥手。里普交叉着眼睛，伸出舌头。

"Uh," said Alexander, tugging his backpack straps. "The door zapped me." Alexander's new teacher was writing on the board. She capped her marker and turned around. "Sorry I'm late," Alexander mumbled. STAR SHOW TOMORROW Dr. Tallow grinned so wide, it stretched out her face. "No worries, sweetie," she said. "It's only the first day of school." She spoke warmly, like someone lulling a puppy to sleep.

“嗯，”亚历山大说着，拽着他的背包带。 “门撞到我了。”亚历山大的新老师正在黑板上写字。 她盖上记号笔，转过身来。 “对不起，我迟到了。”亚历山大咕哝道。 明日明星秀塔洛医生咧着嘴笑得那么厉害，把脸都咧开了。 “别担心，亲爱的，”她说。 “这只是开学的第一天。” 她说话很热情，就像有人哄小狗入睡一样。

Alexander took a step into the room. It was cheery and warm— nothing like his old classroom in the broken-down hospital. Windows! Posters! Bookcases! New desks! Odd door...

亚历山大走进房间。 这是一间愉快而温暖的教室——一点也不像他在那间破旧医院里的旧教室。 窗户!海报!书架!新桌子!奇怪的门……

Dr. Tallow led Alexander to a desk in the front row. Then she went back to the board. "Tomorrow," she said, "we'll see a Star Show in our planetarium." The ceiling lights began to flicker. "Not again!" groaned Rip. Alexander looked up at the lights. He could hear a faint humming sound. Dr. Tallow kept smiling. "Don't worry! If the lights go out, we have these sunny windows." She glanced at the clock. "But since the lights are acting up, why don't you head down to the second floor? We'll start lunch early." Everyone cheered for their new teacher. Except Nikki. She yanked her hoodie down over her face. All Alexander could see was her frown.

塔洛医生把亚历山大领到前排的一张桌子前。 然后她回到黑板前。 “明天，”她说，“我们将在天文馆看一场明星秀。” 天花板上的灯开始闪烁。 “又来了！”瑞普呻吟道。亚历山大抬头看了看灯光。 他能听到微弱的嗡嗡声。 塔洛医生一直微笑着。“别担心!如果灯灭了，我们还有这些阳光明媚的窗户。” 她瞥了一眼钟。“但是既然灯坏了，你为什么不下楼到二楼去呢？” 我们要早点吃午饭。”每个人都为他们的新老师欢呼。 除了尼基。她猛地把连帽衫拉下来遮住脸。 亚历山大只看到她皱着眉头。