Imagination According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney Page B

said. “I’d like that. He lives just down the street.”
    Mrs. Brisbane hesitated. “And you know, maybe you could help Joey with his writing. He has wonderful ideas, but he has trouble getting them down on paper. You’re doing a great job, so maybe . . .”
    Rosie nodded. “Yes, I’ll do it.”
    â€œBut don’t let him think you don’t like what he’s written,” Mrs. Brisbane said.
    Rosie shook her head. “No! I’ll just cheer him on. Like you always do.”
    â€œThank you, Rosie,” Mrs. Brisbane told her with a smile.

    On Friday, Rosie’s dad—she called him “Papa”—came to pick us up.
    â€œSo, Humphrey, I hope you know what you’re getting into, coming to our house,” Papa said. “It’s a pretty busy place.”
    â€œI know I’ll like it,” I said.
    When we got there, I met her younger brother and sister, Diego and Elena. And Rosie’s mom—she called her “Mama”—was very friendly.
    â€œRosie is in charge of Humphrey,” she told Diego and Elena. “Don’t touch the cage or do anything else without asking her first.”
    She is a wise mama!
    On Saturday, Mama went to the store. When the doorbell rang, Rosie rolled to the door as her father opened it.
    Joey was standing there, holding a skateboard.
    â€œCome on in,” Papa said in his booming voice.
    â€œHere’s Humphrey,” she said as she rolled her chair in my direction. “I waited for you to clean out his cage. I could use your help.”
    Joey leaned down and put his face close to mine. “Hey, Humph,” he said. “How’s it going ? ”
    â€œGREAT-GREAT-GREAT,” I squeaked.
    â€œMake yourself at home,” Papa said.
“Mi casa es su casa.”
    â€œThanks,” Joey said, putting his skateboard and backpack on the floor next to the table.
    â€œI’m glad you remembered your skateboard,” Rosie said.
    â€œWhy’d you ask me to bring it ? ” Joey asked. “And my notebook ? ”
    Rosie’s eyes were sparkling. “The skateboard, because it’s nice outside. And the notebook, because . . . well, you’ll see.”
    Just then, Diego chased Elena through the room.
    â€œWhoa!” Rosie’s father said. “Stop and say hello to Joey.”
    â€œHi, Joey,” Diego said.
    Elena giggled.
    â€œHi,” Joey said.
    â€œNow you’re
it,
” Diego said to Elena and she chased him out of the room, squealing with laughter.
    Papa shook his head. “Those two. Do you have brothers or sisters ? ”
    Joey shook his head. “No. It’s just me. And my dog, Skipper.”
    Thinking about Skipper made me glad I didn’t get to go to Joey’s house after all.
    Rosie and Joey got busy cleaning my cage, with Papa’s help.
    First, Rosie took me out of the cage. She held me in one hand and gently stroked my back with one finger. It felt like a soft breeze on my fur and I shivered with delight.
    Rosie put me in my hamster ball and set me on the floor.
    When I started to roll, Papa chuckled. “Look at him go!”
    They put my bedding in a bag and cleaned almost everything in my cage with warm, soapy water.
    I was HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY they didn’t move my mirror and find my notebook. I don’t think warm, soapy water would do it much good. I was glad they didn’t wash
me
in warm, soapy water, too. (Hamsters should never get wet.)
    When everything was dry, Rosie filled the base of my cage with fresh bedding. She remembered to mix a little of my old bedding in with it before Joey slid it back into place.
    Then they put all my things back, too.
    Papa filled my water bottle and Joey put some food in my dish.
    â€œHumphrey, I think it’s time to move you back into your house,” Rosie said.
    I sniffed here and I sniffed there. It smelled fresh and familiar all at the same