Extrait du livre Alex and the Monsters - here comes Mr. Flat!
Alex and the monsters - Here comes Mr. Flat! by Jaume Copons and Liliana Fortuny From Crackboom! Books
Alex and the monsters - Here comes Mr. Flat!
1. What a day!
“Tidy your room, or I’ll throw away everything that’s not in its place!” yells my mom. I’ve barely been up for five minutes, and already my mom’s screeching her famous “tidy your room” song. I can hear her from the kitchen, where I’m eating breakfast. I smile, because I just found the best thing to say to her. “Okay, mom, I’ll tidy it right away if you like!” Of course, she doesn’t say anything. We both know it’s time to go to school. “I’ll tidy it when I get home,” I say, as she grumbles away. (Tidy my room? Seriously? It’s already tidy!) "Tidy your room, tidy your room, do it for me, do it for you, won’t you be nice, don’t make me ask twice, just tidy your room, tidy your room!" Actually, my mom’s obsession about me tidying my room doesn’t make any sense. As a matter of fact, my room isn’t as untidy as she says it is. Well, that’s what I think anyway. PAPERS CHUNK OF BREAD FROM TWO DAYS AGO MATH WORKBOOK COMIC BOOKS CRUMBS TWO GLASSES OF WATER DIRTY SOCKS SHOES TEXTBOOK GYM GEAR FOR SCHOOL
After the hassle from my mom at breakfast time, it doesn’t get any better at school. I’ve only been in the classroom five minutes before I realize all my classmates have a blue folder, and I don’t. - What are all those blue folders for, Lidia? - Oh, Alex! Sometimes you really have your head in the clouds! - Okay, all right, but are you going to tell me, or what? Finally, Lidia explains that the teacher asked us to hand in all of our written assignments for the whole semester. But … when did she say that? And how come I don’t know anything about it? This kind of thing happens to me all the time. And Lidia, who always knows what’s going on, seems pretty smug to see me taken by surprise. - Didn’t you make a note in your agenda? - Um, I lost mine at the start of the year. - But Alex, it’s right there on the class calendar! "BRING WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS" - HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN WE HAVE A CLASS CALENDAR ?!
I have to say, the worst thing about Lidia is not that she’s an annoying know-it-all who loves to see other people mess up (and especially me). The very worst thing of all is that we’re neighbors. And not only do we live in the same apartment building, we even live on the same floor! It’s terrible, because every time Lidia sees my mom, she tells her EVERYTHING. Everything I should have done and didn’t and everything I shouldn’t have done but did. - Yesterday Alex left his gym gear at home. - Oh, really? - Lidia, don’t you have things to do? What a day! First my mom screeching her song about tidying my room, now Lidia and the written assignments. But that’s not the end of it! Two minutes later, Emma the school librarian walks into our classroom. Before she even opens her mouth, I know it’s me she wants to talk to. The day before, I played hide-and-seek during recess. And I hid in the library. When my friends came in looking for me, I ran out before they could see me. And without meaning to, I knocked some books off the shelves. I figured I would go back and put them away later, but I forgot.
As I fear, I have to go with Emma to the library. I’m surprised to see the books have been tidied away, though. I’m relieved she’s not making me do it myself, but her twisted mind has surely dreamed up some much more severe punishment for me. - The books are already back on the shelves. Can I go now? - I put them away myself. And while I was doing that, I wasn’t able to do what I needed to. Do you see where I’m going with this? - Er … no. - Yesterday, I was supposed to clear out and clean up the library storeroom, but I had to do something else instead. And do you know who’s going to help me now? Go on, guess! - No! …Yes! …Me? - Would you rather I pull your ears off and fry them for supper, Alex? Because that’s what I’ll do if you ever leave books lying on the floor again! - Well if you put it that way, I’d rather put these books into boxes! My job involves putting a whole bunch of books into cardboard boxes. Then I have to stack those boxes up by the door. It’s so unfair!
I’ve been working in the storeroom for a while. Do you have any idea how heavy a box full of books can be?! And there’s not just one of them, oh no! There are two, three, four, five … and as I’m packing the sixth box I notice some kind of furry orange stuffed toy, neither big nor small. Even though it’s covered in dust, I think it’s pretty cute. It has a wide mouth and big eyes. If it could walk on all fours, it would look a bit like a cat or a dog. But the way it’s lying, it looks more like a funny little yeti or something, or … a monster. When I’ve finished packing and stacking the boxes, I call Emma over. I have to say that she is very happy with my work. I ask her who the stuffed creature belongs to. - It was already lying there, dying of boredom, when I started working at the library. Do you want to keep it? - Why would I want some stuffie for babies? What would I do with a little dust-magnet like that? But okay, I suppose, rather than leave it here on its own … (Of course I want it!) - Thanks, Emma.
Five minutes later, I’m back in the classroom, but I have to wait until the others get back from recess. I quickly stuff the creature into my bag. The last thing I want is for the others to laugh at me and ask what I’m doing with an orange stuffie. I’m happy because it’s Friday and I can stay at home in peace for the next two days. I think my troubles are behind me, but I’m wrong. Just as I’m stepping out the door to leave, the teacher calls me back. - Alex, did you hand in your folder with your written assignments? - No, I left it at home. - Where did you leave your brain today? - Um, at home.
- Alex, I want you to bring me your blue folder on Sunday, right before the school party. - Party? What party?! I forgot! This weekend the school is celebrating its 25th birthday. There’s a party on Sunday for all the students. I have no other choice if I want to get it all done. I have to go home and write non-stop until the party on Sunday. Phew, what a day! 2. What an evening!
