I unlocked the front door, feeling like a nervous grandmother. How was Misty doing? Had she had her babies yet? How long did a hamster take to have babies anyway?
“Follow me,” I said. “Misty’s in the kitchen.” (For some reason I was whispering.)
I tiptoed into the kitchen, and Mal, Kristy, Claudia, Dawn, and Mary Anne tiptoed after me. I paused in the doorway, listening for unusual sounds, although what sounds a baby hamster might make I cannot imagine.
At last I looked into Misty’s cage. There she was, a golden brown body…. And there were four tiny pink bodies! They looked like jelly beans. They had no hair at all and their eyes were closed.
I gasped. “She’s had them!” I whispered. “Misty had four babies!”
Everyone crowded around the cage.
“Make that five,” said Kristy softly.
“Oh, EW!” exclaimed Mary Anne, backing away. “That is disgusting.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s beautiful,” said Dawn.
“Five babies. I wonder what the Mancusis will name them,” said Mal. “I wonder if there will be more than five.”
“I wonder if they’ll keep them,” said Claudia. “Do you think they will, Jessi?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think another cageful of hamsters would be much extra work.”
“Is there anything we’re supposed to be doing for Misty or her babies?” asked Mary Anne, even though she wouldn’t look in the cage anymore.
“I don’t think so,” I replied. “Doctor West said to be sure not to touch the babies, even if I think one is dead. He said Misty will know what to do. He said the babies — actually he called them pups — will get scattered all around the cage, but that Misty will take care of them.”
We watched for a few more minutes. Finally I said, “Maybe we should leave Misty alone. If I were in a cage giving birth to hamsters, I wouldn’t want six faces staring at me.”
“If you were in a cage giving birth to hamsters,” said Mal, “you’d be a miracle of science.”
“No, she’d be in a zoo!” said Kristy.
We left the kitchen and wandered into the living room.
“Aw,” said Claudia, “who’s this guy?”
“That’s Powder. Hey, do you want to meet the rest of the Mancusis’ animals? I mean, do all of you want to meet them?”
“Thanks, but I’ve already met Barney,” Mary Anne replied drily.
“There are other animals here, though, and Kristy and Dawn haven’t been over before. Also —”
“Where’s the beef? Where’s the beef?”
“Aughh!” shrieked Kristy. “Someone’s in the house! We’re not alone!”
Dawn began to laugh. “It’s a bird, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“We used to have one,” Dawn told us. “A long time ago. I think it was a parakeet. His name was Buzz. He could say a few words. But the funniest thing he ever did was fly into a bowl of mashed potatoes.”
“Dawn!” I exclaimed. “Is that true?”
“Cross my heart,” she replied.
It must have been true.
We were all laughing hysterically and couldn’t calm down for awhile. When we finally did, we checked on Misty (six babies) and then I let Kristy and Dawn meet the animals.
“Hey, Mary Anne!” called Kristy as we were leaving the sun porch. “Where’s the lid to Barney’s cage?”
Mary Anne began screaming without even turning around to look at the cage. If she had turned around, she would have seen that the lid was on tightly. Kristy had to confess her joke in order to keep Mary Anne from running home.
At last I suggested that we take Cheryl, Jacques, and Pooh Bear on their afternoon walk. I thought my friends might enjoy that.
So we took the dogs on a long walk. When we returned I said, “Well, you guys, I hate to kick you out, but I have to feed the animals. And I should probably be the only one here when the Mancusis come home.”
“Okay,” Kristy answered. “We understand.”
My friends left. I was alone in the house, although not for long. The Mancusis would return soon. Even so, I phoned my parents to tell them where I was and why I’d be late. Then I looked in on Misty. Ten pups! And they were all gathered around their mother in a big jumbly pile of legs and feet and ears. I guess Misty had finished giving birth. Now she could tend to her babies.
While I waited for the Mancusis, I found a roll of crepe paper (out in the garage, with all the boxes) and tied a big red bow to each of the dogs’ collars.
“You three look lovely,” I told them. “You’re doggie fashion plates.”
“Rowf?” asked Jacques, cocking his head.
“Yes, you’re very handsome.”
I was about to make bows for the cats when I heard a car pull into the driveway. “Guess who’s home!” I called to the dogs.
Of course, they had no idea, but when I ran to the front door, they followed me. I opened the inside door and waved to Mr. and Mrs. Mancusi as they unloaded their luggage from the car. They were surprised to see me, but they smiled and waved back. Then, their arms weighed down with suitcases, they walked to the front door, while I tried to open it for them and hold the dogs back at the same time. It wasn’t easy, but we managed.
As soon as the Mancusis were safely inside, I cried, “Guess what! One of the hamsters had babies! …Oh, I hope you had a nice vacation.”
“My heavens!” exclaimed Mrs. Mancusi. “One of the hamsters had babies?! How could we have missed a pregnancy? Are the babies okay? Which hamster is it?”
“Everything’s fine. Honest,” I told them. “I knew something was wrong, well, I knew something was unusual, so my mom drove the hamster and me to your vet yesterday. Dr. West looked at her and he told me what to do.”
“Oh. …” The Mancusis let out a sigh of relief.
“Do you want to see the babies?” I asked.
“Of course,” said Mr. Mancusi. He and his wife put down their suitcases and followed me into the kitchen, the dogs bounding joyfully at our sides.
“It’s this one,” I said. “I moved the other hamsters to the aquarium on the table.” I stood back so the Mancusis could look in at Misty.
“Ah, Snicklefritz.” Mrs. Mancusi scratched her head. “How did we miss this? I really apologize, Jessi. But I have to congratulate you. You did a terrific job in a difficult situation. We’re very grateful to you.”
“I guess,” added Mr. Mancusi, “that in the excitement when we were trying to get away — our pet-sitter canceling and all — we just didn’t notice that Snicklefritz was pregnant.”
“Well, everything worked out fine,” I spoke up. “Mis — I mean, Snicklefritz has ten babies.”
The Mancusis watched them for a few moments. Then they turned to me. “Thank you again, Jessi,” said Mr. Mancusi. “You’ve been very responsible.” He handed me some money — much more than I’ve gotten paid for any other job.
“Wow!” I cried. “Thanks…. Are you sure this isn’t too much?”
“Not at all.”
“By the way,” said Mrs. Mancusi, “do you have any friends who would like a hamster? We’ll let the babies go to anyone who will give them good homes — in about three weeks, that is. After the pups are weaned.”
“Anyone?” I repeated. “Gosh, we’ve never had a pet. I’m sure my sister Becca would like one. I’d like one. And, well, I’ll spread the word. I bet I can help you find lots of homes!”
I couldn’t believe it. A pet! Would Mama and Daddy let us have one? I had no idea. Neither Becca nor I had ever asked for a pet.
I headed for the front door. The dogs followed me.
“Good-bye, Cheryl. Good-bye, Jacques. Good-bye, Pooh Bear,” I said.
The Mancusis were right behind the dogs. “They really like you,” Mr. Mancusi said. “Oh, and we like their bows. Very spiffy.”
I smiled. “Well, thanks again. If you ever need another pet-sitter, let me know. And I’ll find out about homes for the baby hamsters. I promise.”
The Mancusis and I called good-bye to each other and then I ran to my house. I was just about bursting with my news — Snicklefritz’s babies and homes for them. Maybe one would become our first pet.
“Mama! Daddy!” I shouted as I burst through our front door.