THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY Chapter 14 Read Aloud

the world according to humphrey by betty bernie chapter 14 hide and go squeak apparently the day after thanksgiving humans do two things eat leftovers from the day before and go shopping mr brisbane didn't go shopping of course but mrs brisbane left early in the morning after telling mr brisbane that there were plenty of leftovers for him in the refrigerator so there was stuck with old sourpuss and all he did was sit in his wheelchair looking unhappy i'd much rather have been hanging out with principal morales or chatting with sia's family could have been tricking miranda's dog playing cards with aj's family or watching aldo balance broom on his finger but no was watching sad and grouchy old man act sad and grouchy could have just settled in for my nap but remembered what mrs brisbane had said this man had to get out of his cage out of your cage squeaked out loud without realizing it quiet you little rat mr brisbarine growled at me then he wheeled over to the front window and stared out okay if he wasn't going to get out of his cage then i'd get out of mine because had new plan mr brisbane didn't notice me open the lock that doesn't lock he didn't see me scamper out of the cage across the table and onto the couch he wasn't aware that left down to the floor he didn't even think about me until stood in the middle of the living room and said catch me if you can know he only heard me squeaking but sure got his attention he was as surprised as could be to see me there how did you get out and how am ever going to get you back in he rolled toward me come on whatever your name is let's get back in the cage let him get just close enough to reach me he bent forward cupping his hands but just as he reached out to grab me dashed over to the opposite side of the room you little rat he said you can't outsmart me he rolled over to the closet and took baseball cap off hook again he approached me and let him get almost within arm's reach this time he raised the baseball cap and said okay fella let's play ball we'll see about that squeaked as bustled off to the living room we quickly established the rules of the contest one would stay out in the open in places he could reach in his wheelchair two he would use his cap to capture me if he could once he reached the dining room rushed into the den you think you're clever we'll see who's clever he challenged from the den scuttled over to the hallway by now mr brisbane's cheeks were pink and he was almost smiling you're smart but you won't win this one this time let him get that cap within whisker of catching me just to keep the game interesting then scurried back to the living room but before he followed me mr brisbane slammed the bathroom bedroom and guest room doors he was limiting my range of possibilities pretty cunning in the living room decided to make bold move hid under the couch then let mr brisbane stew for five minutes come here humphrey you'll have to come out sooner or later he called and thought he didn't know my name he shook the curtains and pushed the chairs to see if he could browse me too bad he didn't think of using sunflower seeds like mr morales did yum finally got kind of bored so made dash for the dining room mr brisbane followed and this time let him scoop me up in the cap win he shouted triumphantly he was beaming with pride as he stared down at me but you were worthy opponent he put me back in my cage and scrambled into my sleeping house have to admit the game had made me little drowsy don't think it was very long before mrs brisbane returned carrying several shopping bags full of packages what happened bert she asked when she saw her husband nothing he said but your face is all rosy you look different and you're wearing baseball cap she said sit down sue he answered i'll tell you all about it he told her every detail of our match chuckling and swinging his cat back and forth guess there are some things can still do he said now how about game of gin rummy mrs brisbane was almost speechless okay she said starting to get up mr brisbane waved her away with his cap i'll get the cards you just sit as he wheeled into the den mrs brisbane turned to me and quietly said thank you humphrey mr brisbane didn't frown the rest of the day and evening except when mrs brisbane beat him at cards the next morning which was saturday she couldn't even find her husband where could he be she asked me he hasn't left the house in months minute later he came into the house from the garage his lap full of boards and bricks and things i've got an idea for our friend humphrey he said mr and mrs brisbane spent most of the rest of the day building an obstacle course on the coffee table in the den they lined up boards along the side so couldn't stray too far and then they set up things for me to climb over and climb under like bricks with holes to hide in and big cardboard tubes and mr brisbane constructed series of ramps for me to climb we had wonderful day mr brisbane got out of stop watch to time me on my runs and they made bets on how long it would take me to get from start to finish mrs brisbane even added few treats to the maze bits of apple and biscuits had fun fun fun the brisbanes did too could tell on sunday afternoon the brisbanes invited their neighbor over to watch me run my maze mr and mrs robinson brought their five-year-old twins along glad to see you looking so chipper mr robinson told mr brisbane think he's finally feeling better mrs brisbane whispered to mrs robinson mr brisbane looked little vinegary again on monday morning though why can't we keep him here sue he asked the children would never forgive me she told him he's really there hamster but she grinned there's two week christmas vacation coming up soon think humphrey better spend it here could believe my cute furry ears she liked me so much she actually wanted me to come back this was whole new mrs brisbane one who liked me by the time mrs brisbane and returned to room 26 was pretty tired but it was good tired and knew could rest up from my weekend during recess tip 14 hamsters should be let out of their cages to run in closed environment for an hour or two at time guide to the care and feeding of hamsters dr harvey hammer you