The World According to Humphrey Read Online Free Page A

everyone stops what they’re doing and waits to see what he has to say. And for a third thing, both Ms. Mac and Mrs. Brisbane sometimes threatened to send a misbehaving student to Mr. Morales’s office. As soon as the teacher mentioned the principal’s name, the student would start acting very, very nice.
    “Good afternoon, ladies,” said Mr. Morales. He was wearing a light blue shirt and a tie that had tiny books all over it.
    Everyone said, “Hello.”
    “Well, how’s your first week back, Sue?” he asked.
    “Sue” was apparently Mrs. Brisbane, although I’d never actually thought of her having a first name before.
    She said it was great to be back and what a wonderful class it was, which obviously pleased the room mothers.
    Then Mr. Morales leaned over my cage and smiled. His tie dangled right over my head.
    “I’ll bet you’re enjoying this furry little pupil,” he said with a grin.
    I expected Mrs. Brisbane to tell him what a trouble-making rodent I was. But instead, she forced a smile and said, “Well, yes, but he’s quite a bit of extra work.”
    Mr. Morales waved a finger at me. He didn’t seem to hear what Mrs. Brisbane said.
    “I always wanted one of these fellows,” he said. “But my papa wouldn’t let me have one. Sure is cute.”
    Mrs. Brisbane cleared her throat. “Yes, but I’m afraid he’s a little distracting. I was going to see if Mr. Kim in Room 12 wants him.”
    I was shocked. Luckily, so were the room mothers.
    “Oh, no! The children just love Humphrey,” said Mrs. Patel.
    “Heidi talks about him all the time. And it’s a wonderful way to teach the kids responsibility,” Mrs. Hopper said.
    “Yes, but it’s a little too much responsibility for me.” Mrs. Brisbane sighed. “At least I have a couple days away from him this weekend.”
    “You’re not taking him home with you?” asked Mrs. Patel.
    Mrs. Brisbane backed away from the cage. “Oh, no. It’s out of the question.”
    “But Ms. Mac always took him home,” said Mrs. Hopper.
    “He’ll be fine. He has plenty of food,” Mrs. Brisbane answered very, very firmly.
    The room mothers were silent a second. Mr. Morales was still wiggling his finger at me.
    Then Mrs. Hopper spoke up. “Why don’t the kids take turns bringing Humphrey home for the weekend? They can sign up, we’ll talk to their parents and give them instructions. It will be a great experience!”
    “Some people might not want him,” said Mrs. Brisbane.
    Squeak for yourself, Mrs. Brisbane!
    “That’s fine,” said Mrs. Hopper. “There’ll be plenty who will.”
    “I think it’s great,” Mrs. Patel agreed. “I’d take him today, but we’re going up to the lake for the weekend.”
    “Oh, I’d take him, too,” said Mrs. Hopper. “But we’re painting the house and the place is a mess. Next week for sure.”
    “Yes, I could do it next week,” Mrs. Patel agreed.
    Mrs. Brisbane smiled a fake smile. “So who’s going to take him this weekend?”
    The room mothers looked at one another.
    “I could make a few quick calls. Maybe the Rinaldis,” Mrs. Patel suggested.
    “CALL-CALL-CALL,” I squeaked.
    Suddenly, Mr. Morales stood up straight. “I have a better idea,” he announced. “I’ll take Humphrey home for the weekend. My kids will love him. Then, starting next week, you can have the students take turns.”
    The three women were almost as surprised as I was.
    “Don’t worry. He’ll be in good hands,” Mr. Morales assured them.
    Well, I guess I would be. After all, I was going home with the Most Important Person at Longfellow School!
    As he drove me to his house, Mr. Morales told me how he’d always wanted a hamster when he was a kid. But his dad always said they didn’t need another mouth to feed. “I argued with him, Humphrey. I said, ‘Papa, I will feed him off my own plate.’ Then Papa said we’d have to buy the cage and stuff to put in it. I guess he was right, Humphrey. We couldn’t afford it.”
    He smiled his big