to the sign.
Katie studied the sign and said, “Oh.” She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her shorts and asked, “Who put this up?”
“Duh,” Richie said. “It must be Noah. All he talks about is animals.”
Now, talking about animals is not a bad thing. In fact, I usually think it’s a very good thing.
But even though Noah cared a lot about animals—and he did—I was almost as frightened of him as I was of the hootie owl, the hawk and the Howler.
“I’ll talk to him,” Katie said.
She left and the campers scattered. Miranda took me back to the Nature Center and set me on the table next to Og.
We were alone then, except for Lovey and Jake, who were on the other end of the table.
I was still thinking about that hawk.
“Listen, Og,” I said. “Noah wants to free us. But I’ve been out there and I just want to say, you might not want to be free.”
“BOING.” It was a quiet response.
“I’m just saying there are some dangerous creatures out there who are our enemies. They don’t like hamsters and frogs at all, except maybe for dinner.” I realized I was getting slightly hysterical. “Like owls and hawks and snakes!”
I was sorry as soon as I said it. I craned my neck to try and see Jake in his cage, but Lovey’s crate blocked him.
“Maybe you don’t feel that way, Jake,” I said. My voice was a little weak. “I’m sure you’re a friendly snake, like I’m a friendly hamster and Og’s a friendly frog,” I added, hoping it would help.
I’m afraid I didn’t sound very convincing.
I crossed my paws and HOPED-HOPED-HOPED that I would not spend the night with the Bobwhites—and Noah—that particular night.
NOTE TO SELF: It’s great to be free-but only when you want to be!
16
Onstage at the Comedy Club
D espite the disturbing signs, my day out had done me a world of good and I was planning on a long, dozy evening in somebody’s cabin.
But I had forgotten one thing: it was Happy Hollow Comedy Club night. And as much as I would have liked a nap, I knew I wouldn’t get one.
After dinner, Aldo brought Og and me into the dining hall and gave us a ringside seat near the stage. It looked a lot bigger than it ever had before.
I was concentrating on remembering my part when Hap Holloway came out onstage with a very serious look on his face.
“Before we start, we need to do a little talking,” he said. “There were some signs that went up today about freeing our animals. First off, if you want to talk about a problem, just come to me. No need to put up signs anonymously.”
“Anonymous” was the funny name people called themselves when they didn’t want to give out their real names.
“It’s a good issue to discuss,” he said. “So let me say this: We’re hoping to release Lovey, but only when she’s completely healed. Jake has been our camp mascot for a while, but I’d be happy to see how you all feel about releasing him.”
I gulped hard. It sounded like Hap Holloway was in favor of letting us all go wild. My whiskers twitched as I listened intently.
“As for Og and Humphrey, they are pets. They are not to be released into the wild. They are only on loan to us. Understand?” He waited and there was an uproar from the crowd.
Half of them were chanting, “Hum-phree! Hum-phree! Hum-phree!”
The other half chanted, “Og-Og-Og-Og-Og!”
Noah wasn’t chanting. He was just watching the other campers, looking surprised.
The noise was deafening—until Mrs. Wright gave a mighty blow on her whistle.
“There will be order !” she exclaimed.
And there was, because the skits began.
The Blue Jays got the show off to a great start. A.J. started this one by coming out onstage, intently looking down at the floor. Aldo came out and asked him what he was doing.
“I’m trying to figure out what kind of tracks these are,” A.J. answered loudly, pointing at the ground.
Aldo said, “They look like wolf tracks to me.”
Then Simon came in and asked Aldo and A.J.
Katie studied the sign and said, “Oh.” She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her shorts and asked, “Who put this up?”
“Duh,” Richie said. “It must be Noah. All he talks about is animals.”
Now, talking about animals is not a bad thing. In fact, I usually think it’s a very good thing.
But even though Noah cared a lot about animals—and he did—I was almost as frightened of him as I was of the hootie owl, the hawk and the Howler.
“I’ll talk to him,” Katie said.
She left and the campers scattered. Miranda took me back to the Nature Center and set me on the table next to Og.
We were alone then, except for Lovey and Jake, who were on the other end of the table.
I was still thinking about that hawk.
“Listen, Og,” I said. “Noah wants to free us. But I’ve been out there and I just want to say, you might not want to be free.”
“BOING.” It was a quiet response.
“I’m just saying there are some dangerous creatures out there who are our enemies. They don’t like hamsters and frogs at all, except maybe for dinner.” I realized I was getting slightly hysterical. “Like owls and hawks and snakes!”
I was sorry as soon as I said it. I craned my neck to try and see Jake in his cage, but Lovey’s crate blocked him.
“Maybe you don’t feel that way, Jake,” I said. My voice was a little weak. “I’m sure you’re a friendly snake, like I’m a friendly hamster and Og’s a friendly frog,” I added, hoping it would help.
I’m afraid I didn’t sound very convincing.
I crossed my paws and HOPED-HOPED-HOPED that I would not spend the night with the Bobwhites—and Noah—that particular night.
NOTE TO SELF: It’s great to be free-but only when you want to be!
16
Onstage at the Comedy Club
D espite the disturbing signs, my day out had done me a world of good and I was planning on a long, dozy evening in somebody’s cabin.
But I had forgotten one thing: it was Happy Hollow Comedy Club night. And as much as I would have liked a nap, I knew I wouldn’t get one.
After dinner, Aldo brought Og and me into the dining hall and gave us a ringside seat near the stage. It looked a lot bigger than it ever had before.
I was concentrating on remembering my part when Hap Holloway came out onstage with a very serious look on his face.
“Before we start, we need to do a little talking,” he said. “There were some signs that went up today about freeing our animals. First off, if you want to talk about a problem, just come to me. No need to put up signs anonymously.”
“Anonymous” was the funny name people called themselves when they didn’t want to give out their real names.
“It’s a good issue to discuss,” he said. “So let me say this: We’re hoping to release Lovey, but only when she’s completely healed. Jake has been our camp mascot for a while, but I’d be happy to see how you all feel about releasing him.”
I gulped hard. It sounded like Hap Holloway was in favor of letting us all go wild. My whiskers twitched as I listened intently.
“As for Og and Humphrey, they are pets. They are not to be released into the wild. They are only on loan to us. Understand?” He waited and there was an uproar from the crowd.
Half of them were chanting, “Hum-phree! Hum-phree! Hum-phree!”
The other half chanted, “Og-Og-Og-Og-Og!”
Noah wasn’t chanting. He was just watching the other campers, looking surprised.
The noise was deafening—until Mrs. Wright gave a mighty blow on her whistle.
“There will be order !” she exclaimed.
And there was, because the skits began.
The Blue Jays got the show off to a great start. A.J. started this one by coming out onstage, intently looking down at the floor. Aldo came out and asked him what he was doing.
“I’m trying to figure out what kind of tracks these are,” A.J. answered loudly, pointing at the ground.
Aldo said, “They look like wolf tracks to me.”
Then Simon came in and asked Aldo and A.J.
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