Ralph S. Mouse - Beverly Cleary [22]
Ralph refused to come out of the mitten thumb to answer. Later, when Mr. Costa came in to sweep, he listened to the radio sing a mournful song about a lonely truck driver in jail who longed for his eighteen-wheel rig and the open highway. And all I want is two wheels, thought sad and lonely Ralph.
9
The Surprise
The next morning Mr. Tanner reported to Miss K and Miss K reported to her class that no mice had been caught in Mr. Costa’s traps.
“Yeay!” cheered Room 5.
I told you so, said Ralph from the mitten thumb, but no one heard him.
Miss K wrote the proper form of a business letter instead of a friendly letter on the blackboard, because the class was not planning to write friendly letters to the Cucaracha Voice. The class set to work, writing to the editor, explaining that the story he published about the mouse exhibit was not true. If someone had trouble spelling a word, that person asked Miss K about it. She then wrote the word on the blackboard in case someone else wanted to use it. Outrageous and ridiculous were the first words she wrote. She told Brad, “Yes, blockhead is one word, but can’t you find a better way of expressing yourself?” Miss K promised personally to deliver the letters to the paper during lunch period.
No matter how many people spoke to him that day, Ralph refused to come out of the mitten thumb, which fortunately already had an excellent peephole. He noticed Brad, who still had his arm in a sling, hand a note to Miss K, who handed it back to him with a nod and a big smile. He saw Ryan pass a note to Brad and Brad pass a note back. Quite a busy bunch, thought Ralph. He was bored and much too warm, but he refused to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing him in his glass prison.
When the long, miserable day ended, Ralph found himself being pulled out of the mitten by Ryan. “Come on, fellow, you’re going back to the inn,” he said.
“And face all my relatives without my motorcycle,” squeaked Ralph. “No, thank you.”
“Relax. You can’t live at school forever,” said Ryan through his teeth, as he tried not to move his lips. “Trust me. Everything is going to be all right. You’ll see.”
Because Ryan kept his hand closed around him, Ralph had no choice. He had to trust Ryan unless he bit him instead. He decided against doing so, because Miss K said hurting people did not solve anything.
Ryan shoved Ralph into his parka pocket and closed the zipper all the way. Even so, Ralph was aware that something unusual was happening. Brad got on the school bus with Ryan after saying to the driver, “Here’s my note from home.” The two boys sat together.
“Have you got it?” asked Ryan.
“Yep,” answered Brad. “Right here in my pocket.”
Got what? Ralph wondered. The remains of my motorcycle?
“I’ve always wanted to ride on a school bus,” said Brad.
“And I’ve always wanted to ride on a tow truck,” said Ryan.
“That’s easy,” said Brad. “My dad will give you a ride. He gets lots of calls up your way when the roads are icy, and he pulls a lot of cars out of snowbanks. Business is good this time of year.”
“I’ll ask the cook if you can stay to dinner,” said Ryan.
“Wow! Dinner in a hotel.” Brad was impressed.
“We’ll have to eat in the kitchen,” Ryan explained, “and since the hotel’s got a microwave oven, sometimes the plates are hot and the food isn’t.”
“That’s OK,” said Brad. “My dad cooks mostly hamburgers and opens cans of beans.” Then, lest Ryan think him disloyal to his father, he added, “My dad makes good hamburgers, and on Sunday he cooks a steak. Sometimes if he’s really busy, I get my own supper. Then I have hot dogs.”
“You mean you stay alone?” asked Ryan.
“I have Arfy with me,” said Brad.
“I wish I could get to stay alone with a dog,” said Ryan. “I get tired of hearing the waitresses tell the cook that the guests are complaining because the food isn’t hot enough.”
Ralph resented being