Secrets According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney Page B

paws.
    It wasn’t easy—and it took a long time—but I managed to write Joey’s name.
    My writing was small and shaky, but I was pleased when I looked at the note and saw:
    HOLD FOR:
    Joey
    Rm. 26
    I crossed my toes hard.
    â€œWish me luck!” I squeaked to the fish.
    They didn’t answer, but maybe they glowed a little more brightly.
    Then I started my slow climb down the drawers, across the library floor and under the door, back to Room 26.
    Back to the place I love best of all!

    When I got back, I was too tired to tell Og everything that had happened.
    â€œCross your fingers, um, paws, um, webbed feet that my Plan will work,” I said.
    Og splashed around as I hurried back to the safety of my cage.
    A little nap would have been nice, but I had too much on my mind. I pulled my notebook out from behind my little mirror.
    I hadn’t solved the Riddle of the Sphinx.
    I wasn’t sure if Joey would ever get
The Jungle Book
.
    But I’d done my best and I had other things on my mind.
    I opened my little notebook and began to write.
    Human Secrets I Know About
    - A student is leaving Room 26 soon. I don’t know which student and I don’t know when.
    Question: Why is Mrs. Brisbane happy about that? Because I am NOT-NOT-NOT!
    - Aldo has a secret that his wife, Maria, told him. What is it? (No clue)
    - Joey’s secret is that he doesn’t enjoy reading. Will my Plan work?
    - Secret Clubs: They started with Kelsey and Phoebe. Now Rosie, Cassie and Sophie have a secret club. So do Tall-Paul and Small-Paul. Feelings are being hurt. How to stop that?
    - Ms. Mac has a secret longing to have a class pet. Will she get another hamster? Will she love it more than she loves me?
    My Secrets
    - I write my secret thoughts in this wonderful little notebook. But I don’t let anyone else see it.
    - I have a lock-that-doesn’t-lock and I hope no one ever discovers that secret, either.
    Question
    - Are secrets good? Or are they bad?
    HUMPHREY’S TOP SECRET SCRIBBLES
Secrets, secrets everywhere,
Should they stay secret, or should I share?

8
    Secrets, Secrets Everywhere

    S o who solved the Riddle of the Sphinx ? ” Mrs. Brisbane asked the next morning.
    I certainly didn’t raise my paw, but I was surprised to see almost every hand go up.
    I was amazed. Were there actually any three-legged creatures ?
    â€œI wonder how many of you figured it out on your own and how many looked it up,” the teacher said. “How about you, Thomas ? ”
    â€œI looked it up. It was in one of my library books,” Thomas said.
    â€œPaul F., did you look it up ? ” Mrs. Brisbane asked.
    Paul looked down at the desk. He seemed embarrassed.
    â€œI didn’t say you couldn’t look it up,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “In fact, if you couldn’t solve it on your own, I think it would be smart to look it up.”
    Small-Paul and most of the students in the class looked relieved.
    â€œI would have looked it up in the library, but I couldn’t find the right book,” I squeaked.
    Mrs. Brisbane looked over at my cage and smiled. “I wonder if Humphrey knows the answer,” she said.
    â€œNo, but I wish I did!” I replied.
    Of course, all she heard was SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK.
    â€œSo who is going to tell me: What creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon and three legs in the evening ? ” Mrs. Brisbane asked.
    Hands were waving everywhere, but she called on Stop-Talking-Sophie.
    â€œI looked it up online and the answer is humans, because the beginning of life is like the morning, when people are babies and they crawl on all four legs. In the afternoon, when they’re older, they walk on two legs. And in the evening, when they’re very old, people sometimes walk with a cane. Once you know the answer it seems easy. But before I looked it up, it seemed impossible to answer at all,” Sophie