Surprises According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney Page B

and too smart. Each time she thought she was going to be successful, I changed directions. I felt a little sorry for the girls. Afterall, it was time for bed. But I was determined to carry out my Plan.
    Finally, Heidi stomped her foot. “This isn’t working.”
    “No,” said Gail. “But maybe…”
    Heidi suddenly brightened up. “Wait—I know! We’re doing it all wrong. We should move really slowly and tiptoe up to him so he doesn’t even notice us and then we’ll get him in the cup.”
    “I don’t know.” Gail sounded doubtful.
    “Try it.” Heidi was already tiptoeing. “We can’t talk at all.”
    It was funny to watch the girls tiptoe around the room, trying so hard not to make a sound. To make it even more fun, I came out in the open so they’d think they could really catch me. Of course, the second Heidi started to lower the cup over me, I darted across the room and under the desk again.
    “Bad Humphrey!” Heidi said. I actually felt like a bad little hamster, but I wasn’t giving up on my Plan yet.
    Heidi flopped down in a chair. “I give up. Don’t
you
have any ideas?”
    “Yes,” said Gail. “I have a very good idea. Come with me.”
    Gail left the room and Heidi followed.
    When they came back, without a word, Heidi moved my cage to the middle of the room. She opened the door and fiddled with it. Gail leaned down, opened her closed fist and placed something orange on the floor.
    I stared out at the floor, trying to figure out what was happening. Then I saw it: a luscious, juicy, beautiful little carrot wiggling and waggling across the floor. I’d never seen a vegetable dance around like that before. I shuddered to think it might be an alien carrot until I noticed that the carrot was attached to a string!
    This was my chance. I was longing to get back to the comfort and safety of my cage. Gail and her carrot gave me the perfect excuse to go back home.
    I waited a few seconds before I ventured out from under the desk.
    “There he is!” Heidi announced in a rather loud voice.
    “Sssh!” Gail reminded her.
    I stopped in my tracks, then headed straight for the carrot.
    Gail pulled on the string, drawing the carrot closer to my open cage door.
    She wiggled it and I skittered toward the carrot. She kept pulling the string and I dutifully followed.
    At last, the carrot was at the cage door. She jerked the string and the carrot crossed over the threshold of the open cage door. I followed it and was back home again at last.
    “Close it,” Gail said, but Heidi was ahead of her. Bam! The door closed firmly behind me.
    “We did it!” Heidi hopped up and down. Gail jumped up, too, and the girls hugged.
    “I wish you’d thought of that a lot sooner,” Heidi told Gail.
    “I did,” said Gail. “You just wouldn’t listen to me.”
    Heidi stopped hopping and stared at Gail. “Yes, I would have.”
    “I tried about a million times,” Gail explained. It was an exaggeration, but I understood how she felt.
    “Heidi, you’re my best friend and I have fun with you,” Gail continued. “But every time I have an idea, you interrupt me and never give me a chance to talk.”
    Gail was following my Plan even better than I expected. It was all up to Heidi now.
    “I do?” said Heidi.
    “Sometimes,” Gail answered. “A lot of times.”
    “I don’t mean to,” Heidi said. “These ideas just pop in my head and I say them. I’m sorry.”
    Gail gave Heidi another hug. “You’re still my best friend.”
    “And you’re mine,” Heidi agreed.
    Mrs. Hopper knocked on the door and said it was time for the girls to go to sleep. Soon, they were tucked into their beds and the lights were out.
    “Tomorrow, let’s practice being rock stars,” Heidi said.
    “I have an idea,” said Gail.
    I held my breath, waiting for Heidi’s response. “What is it?” she asked.
    “We could make up a hamster dance,” Gail suggested.
    Heidi was quiet for a few seconds. “That’s a great idea,” she said.
    I was