Summer According to Humphrey Read Online Free PDF

destruction! I’ve always managed to outwit him— so far. Luckily, Miranda’s dad quickly put him back into the car, much to my relief.
    “Richie! Hey, Richie!” That booming voice could only belong to Lower-Your-Voice-A.J., who had arrived with his friend, Garth, and Garth’s parents.
    “A.J. It’s me—Humphrey Dumpty!” I shouted, using A.J.’s favorite name for me. Again, he couldn’t hear me above the noise. Neither could his brother, Ty, who was standing next to him.
    Mrs. Wright gave her whistle another mighty blast and Aldo helped her get the people to line up at the tables. Then, one by one, the families hurried off on paths going in many directions and disappeared. They headed toward the cabins, and I figured that each cabin would house a different family.
    I figured wrong, because to my amazement, after a while, the parents all returned to their cars and drove away, leaving their children behind at Camp Happy Hollow!
    “Og, they can’t leave their children here all alone,” I told my neighbor.
    “BOING-BOING,” Og twanged in agreement.
    But they had. I thought for a while and realized they actually weren’t all alone. Aldo and Ms. Mac were at camp, and Mrs. Wright and the other counselors. They could help the kids.
    And so could I. Maybe—just maybe—a camp needed a pet hamster as much as a classroom did.

    It was so peaceful and quiet after the ruckus at the tables that I had a nice little nap. But I was rudely awakened by the ding-donging of the loudest bell I have ever heard. It was even louder than Mrs. Wright’s whistle.
    Og must have heard it (even if I can’t see his ears), because he leaped up so high, he almost hit the top that covered his tank.
    Suddenly, the paths were filled with kids wearing shorts and T-shirts, all heading straight for Happy Hollow Hall. Some were laughing and joking, and some looked as if they had been crying. My friend Gail definitely wasn’t giggling anymore.
    There were yummy smells coming from Maria’s kitchen, so I didn’t think anyone would be crying for long.
    Once they were in the hall, I couldn’t see the campers, but I certainly could hear them. My friends in Room 26 got pretty noisy sometimes, but there were MANY-MANY-MANY more kids at camp and they were all talking at once.
    “Goodness, Og,” I squeaked over the racket. “If Mrs. Brisbane were here, she’d quiet them down.”
    Og splashed around agreeably until there was a loud, shrill blast. Things settled down then and for once, I was almost glad Mrs. Wright was there with her whistle.
    I couldn’t make out everything that was being said, but I heard Hap Holloway welcoming the campers. Then Ms. Mac taught the kids a song about chewing—I am not kidding! Since hamsters are excellent chewers, I enjoyed the words a lot.
    Chew, chew, chew your food,
Gently through the meal.
The more you chew, the less you eat,
The better you will feel.
    Then the hall got noisy again with talking and the clinking and clanking of forks and spoons. I was getting unsqueakably curious about what was happening in the hall, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to slip out of my cage while it was still light outside.
    After a while, the whistle blew and things quieted down again. Hap Holloway said something about “campfire” and “games.” And then he said, “You’ll be getting to know your new friends over the next few days, but I want you to meet two more Happy Hollow Campers.”
    Just as I was wondering who they might be, Aldo came into our room and picked up Og’s tank while Ms. Mac picked up my cage.
    Things were really buzzing when we came into the room!
    “Humphrey Dumpty!” A.J. shouted, and some of my friends cheered.
    “Og the frog!” Garth shouted, and other friends cheered.
    Mrs. Wright had to blast her whistle several more times until things were quiet again.
    I looked around and oh, my! The tables were filled with enthusiastic boys and girls. Even the ones like Gail who’d looked weepy