Imagination According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney Page A

“They are very, very good.”
    â€œI like to fool around with drawing,” Joey said, sitting up straighter in his chair.
    â€œYou should illustrate your story,” Mr. Morales said. “Don’t you think so, Mrs. Brisbane ? ”
    Mrs. Brisbane came over to Joey’s desk and looked at his notebook. “I hadn’t seen these. Mr. Morales is right.”
    â€œIs it all right for us to draw pictures for our stories ? ” Thomas asked.
    â€œYes,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “I think it would be great. But this
is
a writing assignment, so you need to have words to go with the pictures.”
    Joey seemed more interested.
    Mr. Morales looked at Rosie’s notebook next. He smiled when he read what she’d written. “Great description.”
    Rosie’s smile lit up the whole room!
    Then he talked to the whole class. “Mrs. Brisbane and I have been talking, and we’ve come up with a big surprise for you when you’ve finished your stories.”
    That got my whiskers wiggling! And my friends seemed excited, too.
    â€œSo do the best work you can,” Mr. Morales continued. “You’ve got something big to look forward to.”
    â€œHow big ? ” I squeaked. “As big as an elephant ? Or a dragon ? ”
    Mr. Morales heard me and laughed. “Oh, do you have a story idea, Humphrey ? ”
    â€œYes! I do!” I squeaked.
    Everybody laughed at that. “I think I’d like to read your story,” Mr. Morales said, acting as if he understood me.
    Suddenly, I realized that as good as my story might be, no one would ever read it.
    And stories are meant to be shared.
    I hopped on my wheel and began to spin to shake off my disappointment.

    As soon as school emptied out, I scurried out of Room 26. “I’ll be quick,” I told Og.
    â€œBOING-BOING!” Og chimed.
    As soon as I slid under the door of Room 12, Gigi said, “Is that you, Humphrey ? ”
    â€œYes, here I am!” I squeaked as I rushed toward her table.
    I swung up to her tabletop and noticed that she wasn’t shaking the way she usually did.
    â€œWhat’s new ? ” I asked.
    â€œYesterday, a boy told me I was his best friend,” she squeaked in her soft voice. “And today, a girl said she loves me!”
    â€œThat is unsqueakably wonderful!” I said. “That’s why being a classroom pet is the BEST-BEST-BEST job in the world.”
    â€œNow I understand,” she said. “Thank you for encouraging me.”
    â€œAnytime,” I said.
    It was getting dark outside. “I’ve got to get back,” I told Gigi. “But I’ll see you soon!”
    When I returned, I told Og, “Now Gigi loves being a classroom pet.”
    â€œBOING-BOING!” Og replied. I knew he loved being a classroom pet, too. Especially in Room 26.
    I worked on my story, even though I knew no one else would ever read it.
    Still, it was exciting to get my ideas down on paper.

    On Thursday morning, I overheard Joey talking to Mrs. Brisbane.
    â€œSo, what did your mom say ? ” our teacher asked him.
    Joey looked so disappointed. “She said this isn’t a good week. That’s what she says every week. I don’t think I’ll ever get a turn.”
    â€œYour mother is very busy. But I have an idea,” our teacher said. “Rosie said she could bring Humphrey home this weekend. Don’t you live on her street ? ”
    Joey nodded.
    â€œIt’s her first time taking Humphrey home,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “Maybe you could go to her house and help her out.”
    Joey shrugged. “I guess I could do that.”
    That afternoon, I overheard Mrs. Brisbane talking to Rolling-Rosie.
    â€œI was wondering if you’d like to invite Joey to come over this weekend,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “He hasn’t been able to take Humphrey home and he knows a lot about hamsters.”
    â€œSure,” Rosie