8 HIDE-AND-GO-FEP!

CHAPTER 8 HIDE-AND GO-EEP! After lunch, Alexander's classmates lined up for the Barely-go-round. "Should we give it a go?" Alexander asked Rip and Nikki. BARELY- GO-ROUND NO UP-AND-DOWN HORSES! SEAT BELTS! AIR BAGS! SNAIL-SPEED!

"Forget that baby ride!" said Rip. "Let's play ring toss!" Alexander and Nikki followed Rip to a game booth. Joan the Safety Cone stood behind the counter. Rip paid a dollar for a floppy ring. He tossed the ring. PLINK! It landed on a peg. "Fiddly-ho! Way to go!" said Joan. "So what's my prize?" asked Rip. "You get to keep the ring!" said Joan. She tossed the ring back to Rip.

Rip frowned. "I paid a whole dollar for this?" Alexander and Nikki laughed as Rip slipped the ring on his wrist. "Excuse me." Dr. Tallow stepped in front of Nikki. She leaned down to talk to Alexander and Rip. "You two are such responsible students. Could you do me a favor?" "Sure!" said Rip. Alexander saw Nikki grit her teeth. Dr. Tallow lowered her voice. "Dottie and Mr. Hoarsely are still not back yet. Could you run a loop around the park to look for them?" "Uh, Nikki's my park-buddy," said Alexander. "Can she come with us?"

Dr. Tallow paused. "Of course, dearie," she said. "Okay guys, let's go!" said Alexander. "We'll hit the petting zoo first!" The friends ran past rides, game booths, and snack carts. They finally arrived at the petting zoo: a fake ranch filled with giant stuffed animals. "I should've known!" said Nikki. "Real animals would be too dangerous for Safety Land."

Rip tried to pet a cow, but it tipped over. "Sheesh!" he said. He unsnapped his helmet and strapped it to the cow's head. "You need this more than I do." "Eep!" shouted a giant stuffed llama. Actually, it wasn't a giant stuffed llama. It was a tall person crouched down behind a llama. "Mr. Hoarsely!" said Nikki. "Where have you been?" "I've been hiding!" said Mr. Hoarsely. His kneepads made a clack-clack-clack sound as they knocked together. "Count Chad was right. The coaster ghost is real!"

"Where's Dottie?" asked Rip. "I think the ghost got her!" cried Mr. Hoarsely. "We were near the roller coaster when we heard a terrible noise. Then I ran!" "You left Dottie all alone?" asked Alexander. A thunderous rumble rang out across the park. Mr. Hoarsely jumped into the pouch of a giant kangaroo. "Mr. Hoarsely," said Alexander, "head back to Pillow Mountain! We'll find Dottie!" Mr. Hoarsely hopped the fence and ran. Alexander, Rip, and Nikki ran the other way. Toward the roller coaster.