Read Online Winter According to Humphrey (9781101591222) by Betty G. Birney - Free Book Online

bag and pushed it through the bars of my cage. “Season’s greetings,” he said.
    I didn’t say anything, because I was busy chewing my crunchy treat.
    â€œI always love Christmas,” Aldo said. “But this year is a special one.” Aldo looked at us and smiled a big smile that made his furry mustache look like a half-moon on its side.
    â€œYou see, boys, I got some exciting news from Maria,” he said. “She’s going to have a baby in the coming year. That means we’re going to be a real family! I’m going to be a
dad
!”
    Aldo’s smile just grew and grew!
    â€œThat’s wonderful!” I shouted, wishing with all my heart that he could understand me. “Isn’t it, Og ? ”
    My neighbor was strangely silent.
    â€œOg, didn’t you hear that ? Aldo and Maria are having a baby!” I repeated.
    I guess Og heard me that time because he suddenly leaped up and said, “BOING-BOING-BOING-BOING-BOING!”
    That made Aldo’s smile even bigger and he let out a loud laugh. “Thank you, fellows,” he said. “Your congratulations are appreciated.”
    Then Aldo took out a huge sandwich and began to eat.
    I stopped eating and hid some of the carrot in my cheek pouch.
    I wasn’t in the mood to eat right then. I was too busy thinking about Aldo and Maria and their baby.
    â€œYep, next year this time, we’ll be celebrating with our own baby,” Aldo said. “Isn’t that amazing ? ”
    I absolutely, pawsitively thought that it was!
    I only wished that Joey could celebrate with his dad
this
year.
    HUMPHREY’S WINTER WONDERINGS: I wonder if Aldo’s baby will have a mustache like his. If so, I hope it’s
not
a girl!

9
    More Sour Notes

    O ver the next few days, the most amazing things began to happen.
    First of all, large white sheets of cardboard turned into great big snowflakes that the girls could fasten onto their bodies by putting their arms through elastic loops. Smaller snowflakes went onto their wrists like bracelets.
    Second, long pieces of colorful yarn were woven together into handsome tails for the boys. They also wore caps with paper ears on them.
    By Thursday, the girls learned to swirl around like snowflakes as they sang:
    Snowflakes floating through the air
    Make a lovely sight.
    No two snowflakes are alike,
    Almost . . . but not quite.
    They looked wonderful, especially Rolling-Rosie, who could spin her wheelchair in perfect circles.
    Meanwhile, the boys learned to prance while they sang:
    Dashing through the snow,
    In a one-horse open sleigh . . .
    But there were problems, too. One day, things got WILD-WILD-WILD and Tall-Paul pranced right into Be-Careful-Kelsey, and Forgetful-Phoebe almost knocked Small-Paul over when she swirled out of control.
    Just-Joey pranced over to my cage.
    â€œLook, Humphrey—I’m a horse,” he said. Then he made a weird noise that sounded a lot like a horse.
    â€œWheee h n g eeeeh!” he said. Or something like that. I think it’s called a whinny.
    I’ve never actually seen a horse in real life, but I once saw an amazing movie at Mrs. Brisbane’s house that had lots of people riding around on the backs of enormous horses. At least they looked enormous to me.
    â€œDo it again, Joey!” I squeaked.
    Guess what ? He did! “Wheeehngeeeeh!”
    Hurry-Up-Harry and Slow-Down-Simon heard him and rushed right over.
    â€œThat was amazing!” Harry said.
    â€œHow did you do that ? ” Simon wanted to know.
    Joey did it again.
    Harry and Simon tried to whinny, too, but they didn’t sound like horses at all.
    â€œSettle down, class. Back to your seats,” Ms. Lark said. “Now, girls, you will be decorating your snowflakes with paint first and then glitter. Boys, you need to finish up your ears and tails. I’ll bring in jingle bells for you to practice with as well.”
    All of my friends