3 Up, Up, Up

Up, up, up,

Stink walked tall down the hall, around the corner, and back to class 2D. "Stink! You won!" said Sophie of the Elves. "While you were gone," said Mrs. Dempster, "we drew a name to see who would get to take Newton home this weekend. Your name was chosen." "For real? Me? I get to take the newt home?" "You have all the luck," said Webster. "Things are definitely looking up, up, UP," said Stink, telling himself a joke and cracking himself up, up, up.

Stink climbed on the bus. He held the Critter Keeper carefully in his lap. "Don't worry, Newton," said Stink. "I'll take really good care of you. The best." "What's that?" asked Judy when she got on the bus. "A red-spotted newt. Like a baby salamander. His name's Newton." "Where'd you get him?"

"He's our class pet. We're studying life cycles, and Mrs. D. went to New Hamster and brought him back for us. I'm taking care of him for the weekend. I get to play with him and watch him and keep a journal of stuff that happens."

Judy snorted. "New Hampshire, Stink. Not New Hamster." "You mean Newt Hampshire!" said Judy's friend Rocky. "It's in Newt England," said Judy, cracking up. Stink rolled his eyes. When Stink got home, he did not stop to get a snack. Not even Fig Newtons. He took Newton up to his room. He got out his notebook and wrote: Friday 3:37 Newton hiding Stink stared at the newt. Judy came in and peered over his shoulder. Friday 3:40 Newton hiding Friday 3:45 Newton still hiding "You should write BORING in your journal," said Judy. "Newts are not boring," said Stink. "Name one UN-boring thing about a newt," said Judy.

"Newts eat crickets. And worms and slugs," said Stink. "BOR-ing!" said Judy. "Red-spotted newts are the state amphibian of New Hampshire." "BOR-ing," said Judy. "Okay. How about this? Newts start out as eggs. Then they hatch and swim around like tadpoles. Then they turn into red efts and live on land. Then they change color and go back to the water." "Now that's a teensy-weensy bit not-boring," said Judy. "And they shed their skins," Stink said. "Interesting!" said Judy. "Call me when that happens." On Saturday, Stink wrote in his journal some more.