The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney Read Free Book Online Page B

figured out the costume part, but what about this tricking for treats?
    Art (the ninja) stood on his head. He stood on his head so long, Mrs. Brisbane finally had to thank him and tell him it was someone else’s turn.
    Gail (the ballerina) twirled around the room on her toes. Garth (baseball player) told a joke about a witch. Miranda (bunny) sang a funny song about your ears hanging low. It was all very entertaining, except for the fact that I was thinking about Something Else.
    But Mrs. Brisbane got my full attention when she called on Sayeh. Sayeh was dressed as the Statue of Liberty. She wore a flowing dress and had a crown on her head and a big cardboard torch in one hand. She stared down at the floor as she took her place in the center of the circle.
    “What trick will you do for us, Sayeh?” the teacher asked.
    Sayeh still stared at the floor.
    “Sing your song, Sayeh! Sing!” I squeaked out as loudly as I could. “You can do it, Sayeh. Sing!”
    Yes, I know all she could hear was “Squeak-squeak-squeak,” but I did my best.
    “I think Humphrey wants to hear from you,” said Mrs. Brisbane in a surprisingly friendly voice.
    Suddenly, without warning, Sayeh began to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in her clear, sweet voice.
    Everyone stood up right away, like you’re supposed to when they sing the national anthem. Mrs. Brisbane put her hand over her heart and the other kids did, too. Well, Pay-Attention-Art didn’t until his mom came over and whispered in his ear.
    I stood up, too, as proud as a hamster could possibly be.
    When it was over, no one clapped or said a word. It seemed as if those sweet notes were still drifting around the room.
    “That was lovely, Sayeh. Thank you for sharing your beautiful voice with us,” Mrs. Brisbane said.
    I wish she’d speak that way to me someday. Nice. Encouraging. Friendly.
    Anyway, the tricks continued. And after A.J. told a few riddles, Mrs. Brisbane looked around the circle and said, “Did I miss anyone?”
    This was the moment I’d been waiting for. No one had noticed, but the night before, I had sneaked one of Aldo’s white dusting cloths into my sleeping hut. I had to act quickly. I pulled out the cloth and crawled under so it completely covered me. Then I stood up and began to shout like I’d never shouted before.
    “Trick or squeak!” I cried. “Trick or squeak!”
    Miranda noticed first. “Look!” she yelled. “It’s Humphrey!”
    I wish I could have seen the faces of my classmates, but it was DARK-DARK-DARK under the cloth. I could hear them, though. First there were gasps, then giggles, then shouts of “Look!” and “Humphrey’s a ghost!”
    I continued to squeak my heart out until I heard Mrs. Brisbane’s firm footsteps coming toward my cage.
    “Who did this?” she asked. “Who put that on Humphrey?”
    No one answered, of course. Not even me.
    “He could suffocate under that,” she said.
    “But he looks so cute,” Heidi called out.
    Mrs. Brisbane didn’t answer. She just said, “Will someone please uncover him?”
    Golden-Miranda opened the cage door and whisked the cloth away.
    “Humphrey, you are a riot,” she said.
    Only a riot? Let’s be honest here: I was a smash hit!
    Then the room mothers served up cupcakes with orange icing and cups of apple juice, and my classmates played games.
    Just before the bell rang, Mrs. Brisbane clapped her hands and made an announcement. “Mrs. Hopper and Mrs. Patel and I have consulted with one another. We have decided to give the prize for Best Trick to Sayeh Nasiri.”
    Everyone clapped and cheered as Mrs. Brisbane handed Sayeh a blue ribbon. Sayeh looked over at me and smiled a beautiful smile.
    Mrs. Brisbane continued. “And we have decided to award the prize for Best Costume to . . . Humphrey.”
    She walked over to my cage and taped a big blue ribbon to it while my classmates cheered for me.
    “Thank you,” I squeaked, but I’m not sure anyone could hear me over all the noise.