Mysteries According to Humphrey Read Online Free PDF Page A

glanced up at the clock. I didn’t have much time before the class returned from lunch.
    â€œOh, and by the way, I don’t think you’re an ‘it,’” I said as I headed back to my cage. “And I know you don’t think I’m a rat.”
    â€œBOING-BOING-BOING!” Og twanged.
    I managed to pull the cage door behind me just as my friends returned to their desks.

    The afternoon went pretty much like the morning. There was no Mathketball, but Mr. E. pulled out three smaller balls from his big sack and juggled them.
    Yes, he juggled! It was quite amazing to see him toss the balls into the air and keep them going. Mrs. Brisbane had certainly never done that. It made my brain whirl when I tried to keep my eyes on the balls.
    Then Mr. E. let my friends try juggling.
    Harry couldn’t keep even one ball in the air, but he didn’t seem too upset about it.
    Next, it was Thomas’s turn. “You should see my dad juggle. He can juggle fifteen balls at a time,” he said.
    Mr. E. looked amazed.
    â€œAnd knives, too. He can juggle knives,” Thomas added. “And . . . baseball bats!”
    Juggling large, sharp objects sounded downright dangerous.
    I heard Rolling-Rosie say, “Give me a break!”
    Just-Joey rolled his eyes.
    Thomas managed to juggle the balls a few seconds, but then he dropped them and they rolled across the classroom.
    â€œPerhaps your dad can give you some pointers,” Mr. E. said.
    Phoebe caught the balls on her first try but then dropped them. When Daniel tried, he managed to keep two of the balls going for a few seconds.
    It looked like fun, but I couldn’t help thinking about Mrs. Brisbane.
    She’d be teaching us something interesting about the clouds or the ancient Egyptians or reading something wonderful like Sherlock Holmes.
    And here we were, going through an entire afternoon without learning anything except how to juggle!

    Near the end of the day, when Mr. E. finally stopped juggling, Helpful-Holly raised her hand.
    â€œIt’s time to take care of Humphrey and Og,” she said. “They need to be fed, and Humphrey needs fresh water. Tomorrow he gets his cage cleaned.”
    â€œI don’t know how to do those things,” Mr. E. said.
    Holly explained that the students took turns at the job. This week it was Phoebe’s turn to look after me and Harry’s turn to look after Og.
    When Harry threw some Froggy Food Sticks into the tank, Og made a huge, splashy leap to get to them.
    I could tell my friends were impressed.
    Mr. E. was impressed, too. “He’s quite a jumper.”
    â€œThat’s nothing,” Thomas said. “Once I saw Og leap up out of his tank and land all the way on Mrs. Brisbane’s desk!”
    Some of my friends laughed.
    â€œThat didn’t happen,” Simon said.
    â€œYou’re exaggerating,” Holly said.
    Thomas just shook his head. “I know what I saw,” he told them.
    I’d seen Og pop the top of his tank a few times, but I’d never seen him leap to Mrs. Brisbane’s desk!
    Phoebe gave me fresh water, which tasted much better than the old water in my bottle.
    â€œOh, no!” Phoebe suddenly said. “Mrs. Brisbane always brings fresh veggies for Humphrey.”
    Yes, she does, and I look forward to them. I always have Nutri-Nibbles and Mighty Mealworms, but there’s nothing as crunchy and munchy as fresh veggies. In fact, I hide them in my cheek pouch and in my bedding. But the cage cleaner always finds them and takes them away.
    â€œYou don’t have any?” Mr. E. asked.
    Phoebe looked WORRIED-WORRIED-WORRIED as she shook her head.
    â€œI do!” a voice called out.
    Thomas rummaged through his backpack. “I didn’t eat my carrot sticks,” he said. “Humphrey can have them. I don’t like them.”
    I was extremely grateful to Thomas, though why anyone wouldn’t like carrot sticks is