Ben looked out the window of the school bus.
A man wearing a gray suit and red tie was hurrying toward them.
"Welcome to People Place," he called in a friendly voice.
"My name is Al—Al Normal."
The monsters slowly climbed off the bus.
"I'm the museum director's assistant," the man continued cheerfully.
"I'm going to show you monsters all around the museum.
I'm sure your overnight stay in our new education wing will be really great!"
Mog looked around in confusion.
"Where are all the cobwebs?" he asked.
A vampire was squinting and searching for her sunglasses.
"It’s too bright here for me."
Mr. Freaky flapped his arms nervously.
"Now, students . . . remember your monster manners, please!
We are guests in People Place."
"Stay calm, Mr. Freaky," Miss Bungle said.
"Everything is totally under control."
"Ugh!" a monster burst out.
"That part of the museum looks so new and shiny!"
Al Normal beamed with pride.
"Yes, we've just had a major renovation. Isn't our building beautiful?
Some sections are still under construction, of course, but the work is nearly finished.
You'll all have to come back for the dedication ceremony in the spring."
"It's a very nice building," Ben said. "The museum looks really cool."
"Thank you." Al Normal nodded at Ben.
"The construction crew is still working on the area between the education wing and the main part of the museum," he explained.
"I'm very sorry about any inconvenience.
But the classrooms where you'll be spending the night are finished.
They are ready for your stay, and I think you'll be very comfortable there."
Mr. Freaky was looking around with a frown.
"I thought that the museum director was supposed to meet us when we arrived," he said.
"Mayor Hubbletree indicated that she'd be here to greet us."
"Um, Dr. Bones had to deal with some last-minute museum issues," Al Normal explained.
"And Mayor Hubbletree will be here very soon.
We'll meet the director right after I show you our new education wing.
I think you monsters will be very impressed with what you see."
"I'm sure the education wing is beautiful," Miss Bungle replied politely.
She turned to the group of Monster Academy students.
"Monsters! Please line up. It's time to start the tour."
Mr. Freaky looked startled. "I-it is?" he stammered.
"Oh . . . yes! It is!
Nothing to be afraid of, students! Everything is totally—"
"Under control!" shouted a few monsters.
The group followed Al Normal into the museum.
Gaby ducked so that she wouldn't hit her head on the door.
A monster wrinkled his nose.
"It's all so . . . er, new!" he said, looking around.
The vampire wearing sunglasses shuddered.
"Wow. The lights are even brighter in here," she moaned.
"We're very proud of this new addition to the museum," Al Normal was saying.
"Everything is quite modern and up-to-date.
We even have solar power cells on the roof."
"You have solar power!" The vampire gasped in horror.
"Isn't that dangerous? It sounds awful."
"Oh no. It's not dangerous," Al Normal said.
"It's very safe and very clean as well."
"It's good for the environment," Ben chimed in.
"Mr. Creepy said that's helpful for people and monsters."
The vampire nodded slowly, but she still looked uneasy.
A long hallway was cluttered with construction equipment—metal pipes, scaffolding, tools, paint cans, and ladders.
Ben could see that a new wall was being constructed.
"What's going on there?" Mr. Freaky asked, pointing to the mess.
Al Normal frowned. "I'm sorry about that, Mr. Freaky.
As I mentioned, the building isn't quite finished.
And unfortunately, that construction blocks our access to the main part of the museum.
So we'll have to go around to the main entrance to see the exhibits.
But first, we'll view the education wing.
After that we can go upstairs to the director's new office and meet her."
He smiled at the monsters.
"Does anyone have any questions so far?"
"I do! I do!" A monster waved his hand.
"Yes?" said Al Normal pleasantly.
"When's dinner?" the monster blurted out.
"Yeah!" Mog chimed in, rubbing his belly. "I'm really hungry."
"Er . . ." Al Normal quickly checked his watch.
"Let's see. We have a busy schedule, but I think we can eat dinner around—Eek!"
He shrieked in horror as a hairy creature sprang at his face!