Free School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

understand what it is. But it does seem a little dangerous.”
    â€œSure, if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Rosie explained. “I practiced and practiced this summer. The camp counselors were always there to catch us if we tipped over.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “But there might not be anyone to catch you on the playground. Do me a favor, Rosie. Don’t pop wheelies on the playground. You can do it at home if your parents say it’s okay.”
    Rosie looked disappointed.
    â€œIs that a deal?” Mrs. Brisbane asked.
    Rosie nodded. “Deal.”
    â€œNow off to lunch,” the teacher said.
    When Rolling-Rosie was gone, Mrs. Brisbane turned to the boys.
    â€œSo, tell me what happened,” she said.
    â€œWe were just fooling around,” Thomas said. “That Mrs. Wright, she’s a busybody.”
    I wasn’t exactly sure what a busybody was. Perhaps it was a person with a whistle.
    â€œMrs. Wright was just doing her job,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “She said Paul lifted you up off the ground and you were yelling.”
    â€œThomas told me to!” Paul burst out. His cheeks were flaming red.
    â€œHe told you to grab him and pick him up off the ground?” Mrs. Brisbane asked.
    â€œYes,” Paul answered.
    Mrs. Brisbane pursed her lips and tapped her foot on the ground. “Why did you do that, Thomas?”
    Thomas shrugged. “Just for fun, I guess.”
    â€œFun?” Mrs. Brisbane looked surprised.
    â€œBecause he’s always after me about being tall.” Paul looked completely miserable. “He always wants me to do things. So he said, ‘I bet you can’t pick me up.’ I didn’t say anything, so he dared me. So I picked him up. That’s it.”
    â€œIs that true, Thomas?” Mrs. Brisbane asked.
    â€œYes, ma’am. That’s all it was,” he said.
    Mrs. Brisbane turned to Paul. “Do you think it’s a good idea to pick people up?” she asked.
    â€œI guess not,” Paul answered.
    Next, it was Thomas’s turn. “Do you think it’s a good idea to dare people?” she asked.
    â€œMaybe not,” Thomas said. “We were just fooling around.”
    â€œDon’t fool around like that anymore,” she said. “If there’s any more trouble like this, I’ll have to call your parents. Do you understand?”
    The boys nodded. Then she made them shake hands. But she didn’t send them to the principal’s office—whew!
    She sent Tall-Paul off to lunch but had Thomas T. True stay for a minute.
    â€œI don’t think Paul likes you to talk about how tall he is all the time,” she said.
    â€œIt’s pretty cool. He’s practically a giant!” Thomas said.
    â€œPlease don’t exaggerate, Thomas. Paul’s just tall for his age. Remember the rule about treating people the way we’d like to be treated?” Mrs. Brisbane asked.
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œTry to be friends with Paul without talking about his height. Is that a deal?” she said.
    â€œDeal,” he said.
    He and Mrs. Brisbane shook hands and she sent him off to lunch.
    After he left, Mrs. Brisbane turned to Og and me. “And now, maybe I can have lunch, too.”
    But as she grabbed her lunch bag from her desk drawer, Mrs. Wright came into the room.
    â€œWhere are the boys?” she asked.
    â€œThe matter’s been taken care of,” Mrs. Brisbane told her.
    Mrs. Wright didn’t like that answer. “Have they been punished?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s all taken care of,” Mrs. Brisbane said. “I’ve got to eat now.”
    She took her bag and walked past Mrs. Wright and out the door.
    Mrs. Wright stood alone in the room shaking her head. I was afraid she might blow her whistle, but instead she just left.
    â€œOg, do you think Mrs. Wright is a busybody?” I asked when my