jump and splash water. They like to wash very much.
When they are clean Alyosha puts them in the sun on a small carpet.
Dad comes to them.
“Now I know who you are,” he says to Happy Hop. “You are a hamster. A small clean hamster.”
CHAPTER 16. HAPPY HOP CANNOT BE A HAMSTER
“No,” Alyosha says, “Happy Hop cannot be a hamster.”
“Why?” Dad is surprised.
“Because hamsters never jump. They cannot jump. They can only run.”
“But I can!” Happy Hop cries, “I can jump! And I am a hamster!
I like to be a hamster!”
“It sometimes happens,” Father says. “Look, cats don’t like to swim and our Timoshka likes.”
“Yes, I like to swim,” Timoshka says.
“Dogs don’t like cats,” Father continues, “and our Bertha likes Timoshka.”
“Yes, I like Timoshka,” Bertha says.
“All cats eat mice and Timoshka doesn’t want to eat Moc because he doesn’t eat mice,” Father says.
“No, I don’t want to eat my friend Moc,” Timoshka says.
“You see, it sometimes happens,” Dad says.
“It’s interesting,” Alyosha says, “Can you say something about me?”
“Of course I can,” Dad says, “Boys don’t like to work in the kitchen and you often help Mum in the kitchen.”
“Yes, I do,” Alyosha says.
“Boys don’t like to cook,” Father continues, “and you often help Mum to cook food.”
“Yes, really,” Alyosha says, “Do you want to say that Timoshka is an unusual cat, Bertha is an unusual dog, Happy Hop is an unusual hamster and I am an unusual boy?”
“Yes,” Father says.
“I am an unusual cat,” Timoshka thinks.
“I am an unusual dog,” Berta thinks.
“I am an unusual hamster,” Happy Hop thinks.
“And Moc? Is he also unusual?” Alyosha asks.
“Of course he is,” Father answers.
“Why?”
“Because mice never make friends with cats and dogs. And Moc is Timoshka’s and Bertha’s friend.”
“Wow! I am an unusual mouse!” Moc cries.
“Of course you are,” his friends say.
CHAPTER 17. HAPPY HOP CHOOSES A HOUSE FOR HIMSELF
“Where do you want to live?” Alyosha asks Happy Hop.
“Where may I live?” Happy Hop asks.
“You may live in the big house with me and Timoshka,” Alyosha answers, “or you may live in the yard with Bertha or with Moc. But we have no house for you in the yard.”
“We don’t need one more house,” Bertha says, “Happy Hop may live with me in my house.”
“Or he may live with me in my den,” Moc says.
Happy Hop is interested. “May I look at your houses and choose?” he asks.
“Of course you may,” his friends say.
At first, Happy Hop goes to the big house where Alyosha lives with his parents. And with Timoshka.
He looks at all the rooms and says, “I think this house is too big for me. Let’s see Moc’s den.”
They return to the yard and Moc with Happy Hop go into the hole.
Bertha and Alyosha are waiting for them near the hole.
When Moc and Happy Hop return Bertha asks, “Do you like Moc’s home?”
“Yes, very much,” Happy Hop says, “but I cannot live there.”
“Why?” Alyosha and Bertha are surprised.
“Because when I jump I bump into the ceiling,” Happy Hop says. “Moc’s home is too small for me. Bertha, may I see your house?”
“Of course you may,” Bertha says, “You are welcome.”
Happy Hop goes to Bertha’s house. “Oh, I like it!” he says.
He sits down on the hay. “It’s nice to sleep here,” he says.
Then he jumps, high, high, very high. And he doesn’t bump into the ceiling. “Oh, I like it!” he says. “I want to live here. I choose Bertha’s house.”
“I am glad,” Bertha says, “You are welcome to live in my house.”
CHAPTER 18. WHAT IS A CASTLE?
Today is Sunday.
Alyosha does not go to school. But he gets up early and goes to the yard. His friends are still sleeping.
He goes to the sandbox and begins to play.
Then Moc gets up and comes to Alyosha.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“I am building a castle,” Alyosha answers.
“What is a castle?” Moc asks.
“A castle is a big and beautiful house where King and Queen live.”
“Do they live there alone?” Moc asks.
“No, they live there with many people and dogs and cats,” Alyosha says.
“And with mice?” Moc asks.
“Yes, and with mice.”
“And with hamsters?” Happy Hop is already sitting on the sand and listening.
“Yes,” Alyosha smiles, “and with hamsters.”
At this moment Bertha comes.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“He is building a castle,” Moc says.
“What is a castle?” Bertha asks.
“A castle is a big and beautiful house where King and Queen live,” Moc and Happy Hop answer together.
Timoshka comes to his friends.
“What are you doing?” he asks Alyosha.
“He is building a castle,” Moc and Happy Hop answer together.
“What is a castle?” Timoshka asks.
“A castle is a big and beautiful house where King and Queen live,” Bertha, Moc and Happy Hop answer together.
“And they live there with many people, cats, dogs, mice and hamsters,” Moc says.
At this moment Mother calls Alyosha to have breakfast.
CHAPTER 19. WHY IS HAPPY HOP SAD?
When Alyosha returns all his friends are sitting around the sandbox and waiting for him.
Alyosha