Chapter V
A Secret Nest for Henretta
When Jonas Salk Elementary school got quiet Henretta stirred in her nest of shredded paper. She looked around for the pile of hamster food and ate a few pellets. Then Henretta felt thirsty and remembered following her scent trail back to her old nest.
As Henrettas claws scratched along the ventilator shaft, Mr. Hoover heard the scratching noise and remembered he had decided to set out rat traps.
Ill do it first thing in the morning, he said to himself. He continued cleaning the classrooms and finally left the school whistling happily.
Henretta tumbled out of the ventilator shaft into Room 26s cloak room. She followed her scent trail to the pellets and water left for her by the students.
Once Henretta had eaten some pellets she took a drink of water and then filled her cheek pouches with more pellets.
Before she left Room 26 for her hidden nest she sniffed the aquarium that had been her home. She could see the plastic exercise wheel, and the comfortable little home in the wood shavings.
Henretta turned around twice and then ran across the wooden floor to the ventilator shaft opening. She climbed through the grill of the shaft opening and followed her scent trail back to the hidden nest.
Henretta emptied her pouches into the pile of pellets beside her nest. Next she ran back along the slippery metal shaft, jumped down into Room 26, hurried to the water dish and took another long drink of water. After drinking her fill Henretta followed her scent trail back to her new nest, closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Friday morning when the students arrived in Room 26 they all gathered around the aquarium in the cloak room. They could see some of the water was gone and the pile of pellets was almost gone.
When they looked closely inside the aquarium they could tell Henretta hadnt come back to stay.
What if Henretta doesnt want to stay in the aquarium, Robert suggested. Maybe shes found a better place to stay. Maybe she doesnt like people staring at her all the time?
Before class started Tyler and Sarah tried to find Mr. Hoover. When they couldnt find him they went to the school office and asked Mrs. Greene if Mr. Hoover had come to work.
No, now Mr. Hoover called in sick today, didnt he, the small woman behind the counter answered with an Irish accent.
What would you two be wanting with Mr. Hoover? Mrs. Greene asked them.
Well, our hamster escaped from Room 26. We were in the custodians room getting a broom and dustpan to clean up a mess in our classroom and Mr. Hoover said he thought he had heard rats. Then he said he was going to put out rat traps, Sarah explained.
Now we want to tell Mr. Hoover the scratching sound he heard might be Henretta, our hamster, and we dont want him to put out rat traps until we get Henretta back in her aquarium.
Mr. Hoover called in sick today with the flu, so he wont be putting out any traps today, will he? said Mrs. Greene.
Only we dont know if he has already put out some traps, said Tyler.
You just have to hope your little pet rodent doesnt step into a trap before tomorrow. Sorry! said Mrs. Greene.
Tyler looked at Sarah and shook his head. I guess Henretta hasnt been caught yet. We just have to hope she doesnt go exploring before tomorrow morning.
Back in the classroom Mrs. Mabbit took roll and started classes for the day.
Is anyone missing an assignment this morning? Mrs. Mabbit asked the class.
The students checked their desks and no one was missing an assignment. But Calvin said, Mrs. Mabbit, there is a hamster pellet in my basket.
Theres a pellet in my basket too, Cindy said.
Well, said Mrs. Mabbit, I guess we know how the papers disappeared. Now we have to discover what Henretta is doing with the missing papers.
Tyler glanced at Sarah. She was already looking his way.
Mrs. Mabbit, said Tyler raising his hand.
Yes Tyler, said Mrs. Mabbit.
I think I know what Henretta could be doing with the papers.
He glanced at Sarah again and she nodded her head yes.
Well, when Henretta lived in the aquarium she had wood shavings to make a nest. Now she probably doesnt have any wood shavings so we think she is using the papers to make a new nest.
Yes, yes, that does sound logical. You two have definitely done your homework on the habits of hamsters.
Also, Tyler continued speaking.
We think we should put the food and water in her old nest. Maybe she will stay in the aquarium once she is in it.
Thats a good idea, agreed Mrs. Mabbit. We will try your idea tonight.
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