Summer According to Humphrey Read Free Page A

you on a great year,” he said. “And I wish you a wonderful summer ahead.”
    He was in and out of the room quickly, but as he left, I didn’t know if I would ever see The Most Important Person at Longfellow School again.
    I was happy, I was tired. I was nervous. As the clock went TICK-TICK-TICK, I wondered what my future—and Og’s—would be. I hopped on my wheel again and spun.
    Then something surprising and wonderful happened. Ms. Mac entered Room 26.
    Ms. Mac! With bouncy black curls tumbling around her lovely, happy face. With her big dark eyes and that slight smell of yummy apples. My friends all cheered when they saw her. Like me, they had started off with her as their teacher.
    She’d broken my heart when she went to Brazil. But I forgave her when she came back. That’s what happens when you love somebody.
    “Am I too early?” Ms. Mac asked.
    Mrs. Brisbane smiled. “No, your timing is perfect. Please, go ahead.”
    Ms. Mac was wearing a pink blouse and a bright red skirt and TALL-TALL-TALL red shoes.
    “Students,” she said, in a way that made the word sound wonderful. “I know you all have exciting plans for the summer. And Mrs. Brisbane has exciting plans, too. But I just want you to know that your friends Humphrey and Og are going to have a fantastic summer, too. Because they are coming with me !”
    “Eeek!” I actually tumbled off my wheel. Of all the wonderful, fabulous, remarkable and amazing things Og and I could do for the summer, being with Ms. Mac would be the most wonderful, fabulous, remarkable and amazing of all!
    “BOING-BOING-BOING-BOING-BOING!” Og obviously agreed with me.
    “I’m glad you’re pleased,” said Ms. Mac. “Because we are going to have a great adventure.”
    I was overjoyed. Og and I didn’t have to go to Pet-O-Rama or search for unending schools or hit the open road. We were going to have a great adventure!
    I had a big lump in my throat, just thinking of leaving my friends.
    But my heart went pitter-patter at the thought of being with Ms. Mac again.
    And then, it happened. The bell rang and my friends all raced out of Room 26, out of Longfellow School.
    “BYE-BYE-BYE!” I squeaked, but I don’t think anyone could hear me.
    Og dived into his tank and made a huge splash.
    “Well, boys, here comes summer,” Ms. Mac told us with a big smile on her face.
    Summer! What a wonderful word. I hoped.
    NOTE TO SELF: Anytime you think humans don’t know what they’re doing, they’ll usually prove you WRONG-WRONG-WRONG.

3
    The Mysterious Journey
    A fter my friends left, Ms. Mac and Mrs. Brisbane stayed and talked. They chatted about Mrs. Brisbane’s trip and her son’s wedding. They spoke about the nice weather. They discussed what a good class it had been.
    They talked about just about everything except the great adventure Og and I were going to have.
    I thought they’d never stop talking, but finally Principal Morales came in to say good-bye. Then he helped Ms. Mac carry our supply of Nutri-Nibbles and Mighty Mealworms and Og’s unsqueakably yucky crickets out to her car.
    While they were gone, Mrs. Brisbane stopped and looked at Og, then me.
    “It’s been a pleasure having you in Room 26, fellows, but I hate good-byes,” she said. “So I’ll just say good luck.”
    “Good-bye and thanks for everything!” I clung to the side of my cage as Mr. Morales and Ms. Mac returned and carried Og and me out the door, down the hallway of Longfellow School and outside to the car.
    SLAM! The door was shut. Ms. Mac tooted her horn and waved good-bye to Principal Morales and off she drove.
    I glanced back at Longfellow School. Would I ever see it again? Would I ever see Mrs. Brisbane or Mr. Morales again?
    I was just about to ask Og when Ms. Mac turned up the radio and music began to blare. The windows were open, the music was jazzy and we were on our way—somewhere.
    At least I knew that life with Ms. Mac was never ever boring.

    I was a little disappointed over the