Einstein the Class Hamster and the Very Real Game Show (Einstein the Class Hamster Series) Read online

  places and threw his shirt into

  Bonnie’s pack. “Don’t get into trouble.”

  “We’ll be as quiet as a mouse,”

  Marlon said.

  “Mice aren’t quiet,” Einstein said.

  “They’re the biggest chatterboxes in

  the rodent family. Seriously, they

  never shut up.”

  “As long as you do,” Ned said.

  But Einstein was too busy looking

  around to answer. He was on the set

  of a real game show!

  The life span of a mouse is usually

  only one to two years—except for

  Mickey Mouse, who’s been around for

  more than eight decades.

  Mice are nocturnal and can’t see

  colors; their tails are almost as long as

  their bodies. When they communicate

  with each other, they make ultrasonic

  noises that humans can’t hear. Mice are

  super neat, organizing their living

  spaces into different areas. They’re also

  very smart and can find their way

  through a complicated maze.

  One female mouse can deliver

  more than one hundred and twenty

  babies each year.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  wE’rE rEaLlY

  hErE!

  As several assistants ushered the

  class into the studio, Einstein and

  Marlon ducked behind some crates.

  “Look at all the lights!” Einstein said.

  “And a REAL audience!”

  “The set seems fake,” Marlon

  complained. “It’s much better on TV.”

  Einstein shook his head. It was

  generous of Ned to invite Marlon

  along, but let’s face it—Einstein was

  the one who helped the class study all

  those fun facts, not Marlon.

  “Welcome to KIDS KNOW STUFF,“

  the announcer boomed over the

  speakers.

  The blue curtains parted, and

  Lance Weaver emerged, waving

  to the crowd.

  “It’s him!” Einstein said. “The host!”

  Lance Weaver was the coolest guy

  Einstein had ever seen—cooler than a

  lion tamer, engineer, and movie star

  combined.

  “He’s amazing!” Einstein crooned.

  Marlon already wished he’d stayed

  back in the classroom.

  “Is everybody ready?” Lance asked.

  “Because it’s time to play...”

  The entire studio audience shouted

  along with the host, “KIDS KNOW

  STUFF!”

  “Look, Marlon!” Einstein pointed to

  the bright words above them. “It’s

  the APPLAUSE sign.”

  Sure enough, the studio audience

  started hooting and clapping as soon

  as the neon sign flashed.

  “I’ve GOT to get one of those,”

  Einstein said. He could already tell this

  was going to be the most memorable

  day of his life.

  Engineer Percy Spencer was at work,

  standing next to a magnetron—a micro-

  wave tube used in radar systems—

  when he realized the chocolate bar

  in his pocket had melted. Percy was

  curious (like all good inventors), so he

  got some corn kernels and held them

  next to the magnetron, creating the first

  microwave popcorn. He then held up a

  raw egg that exploded and cooked all

  over his co-worker.

  Percy Spencer held patents for over

  a hundred inventions, but he’s most

  famous for the microwave oven. The

  first one he made was about five and

  a half feet tall and weighed 750

  pounds—three times heavier than the

  average refrigerator!

  THAT’S NOT

  GOING TO FIT ON

  THE COUNTER.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  mEaNwHiLe, iN tHe

  pArKiNg lOt

  “I can’t believe they threw us out,”

  Principal Decker told Twinkles. “They

  obviously have no appreciation for

  amazing reptilian specimens.” He

  paced outside the studio until another

  guard came to shoo him away.

  “I’m not going in without you,”

  Principal Decker told Twinkles. “You

  know what the Marines say: ‘Never

  leave a man behind.’ ”

  Twinkles liked being Principal

  Decker’s favorite pet, but the guy

  was crazier than a bag of wolverines.

  “There’s got to be a way to get in,”

  Principal Decker mumbled.

  Twinkles spotted a rabbit in the

  bushes behind one of the cars and

  licked his lips. Come over here, little

  bunny. Would you like a hug?

  “I’ve got it!” Principal Decker said.

  “A surefire way into the studio!”

  The principal picked up Twinkles and

  headed to the store at the edge of

  the parking lot.

  The rabbit was relieved.

  There’s no difference between rabbits

  and bunnies; they’re just different words

  for the same animal. Rabbits are

  herbivores that eat grasses and other

  plants. A rabbit’s digestive system is

  structurally similar to a horse’s; they

  both need to eat fibrous plants daily.

  It’s important for rabbits to eat healthy

  fiber every day because,

  like horses, they can’t

  vomit. For a rabbit,

  a hairball can be fatal.

  UGH! NOT

  MORE FIBER!

  I’LL

  EAT IT!

  CHAPTER SIX

  tHiS iS

  iT!

  Ned hoped he could harness his

  nervous excitement. They were

  going to be on television! He looked

  over to Bonnie, who seemed cool and

  collected. Ms. Moreno also appeared

  ready to go, her hand poised above

  the buzzer.

  “First, the rules of the game,”

  the host said. “Each team consists

  of one class and a teacher. Only two

  students can compete at a time,

  alternating with other students in

  their class. Does everyone understand

  how to play...”

  Again, the audience shouted along,

  “KIDS KNOW STUFF!”

  The neon light flashed, and the

  audience applauded.

  “So many fun facts,” Einstein said.

  “I’d give anything to be up there.”

  “Let’s introduce our teams,” Lance

  continued. “Led by their teacher,

  Ms. Moreno, we’ve got students from

  Boerring Elementary School!”

  The whole class held up their fists

  like boxers climbing into the ring.

  Einstein and Marlon cheered from

  the sidelines.

  “Our other team is from Perfect

  Ed Elementary, and they’re led by

  Mr. Tompkins!”

  Ned glanced across the stage to

  their opponents. The teacher looked

  as if he’d never cracked a smile in his

  life, and the students looked like they

  ate encyclopedias for breakfast with

  maple syrup and toast.

  “I wasn’t worried before,” Bonnie />
  whispered to Ned. “But I am now.”

  Ned had to agree.

  “Okay,” the host continued. “The

  category is history. And our first

  question goes to the students from

  Boerring Elementary.”

  Ned and Bonnie got ready for the

  first question. Ms. Moreno gave them

  a big thumbs-up.

  “How many Pilgrims traveled to the

  New World on the Mayflower?” Lance

  Weaver asked.

  Bonnie suddenly looked panicked.

  Ned knew he’d covered this topic with

  Einstein during AnSwEr...ThAt...

  QuEsTiOn, but with the bright lights

  and the studio audience staring him

  down, he couldn’t remember a thing.

  “You know this fact!” Einstein

  shouted from his hiding place. “We

  studied it last week!”

  BUZZ!

  Somebody pressed the buzzer.

  “Boerring Elementary, what have

  you got?” Lance asked with a smile.

  Unfortunately, Ms. Moreno’s head

  hitting the podium was what made the

  buzzer buzz. The students watched

  their teacher snoring onstage.

  Einstein’s classmates needed him.

  There was only one thing to do. He

  scurried behind the stage to reach Ned.

  Initially, two ships were scheduled to

  bring the Pilgrims to America—the

  Mayflower and the Speedwell. But the

  Speedwell had to turn back twice

  because of leaks in the hull, so all the

  passengers were put on the Mayflower.

  The Pilgrims couldn’t change their

  clothes or bathe for two months and

  were often seasick. One child was born

  during the journey and one child died.

  Believe it or not, 10 percent of all

  Americans today—more than 31 million

  people—can trace their ancestors back

  to the Mayflower Pilgrims.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  mEaNwHiLe, bAcK aT

  sEcUrItY

  The guards moved aside when they

  spotted the man in the silken robes

  and turban.

  “Get out of my way!” the prince

  exclaimed. “Don’t you know I’m

  royalty?”

  “I’m sorry, sir. We weren’t

  expecting you.” One guard made a

  short bow and let the prince pass

  through the entry point.

  “I didn’t realize a real prince was

  coming today,” the guard whispered.

  He’s a prince-ipal, Twinkles thought.

  “Did he say he was from India?” the

  other guard asked.

  “He sure looks familiar,” the first

  guard added. “I’ve definitely seen him

  before.”

  The two guards accompanied the

  prince to a seat in the front row.

  Many games were invented in India,

  including chess and Chutes and Ladders

  (sometimes called Snakes and Ladders).

  Yoga was also invented in India, as well

  as three of the world’s major religions—

  Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  wHeN tHe gOiNg gEtS

  tOuGh, cAlL a

  hAmStEr

  “Ned!” Einstein shouted. “How many

  Pilgrims were on the Mayflower? You

  can do this. Come on!”

  Ned tentatively pressed the buzzer.

  “Ninety-nine Pilgrims?”

  “I’m sorry, that’s incorrect.”

  Why is everyone answering questions

  with questions? Einstein wondered.

  Lance Weaver turned to Perfect

  Ed Elementary. Before he could

  repeat the question, everyone on

  the team hit their buzzers.

  “There were one hundred and two

  Pilgrims traveling on the Mayflower,”

  they said in unison.

  “That’s correct!” the host shouted.

  WE ARE SMART!

  Neither the students nor their

  teacher at Perfect Ed Elementary

  showed the slightest hint of a smile

  after winning the round.

  “I can’t believe I missed that one.”

  Ned wished he had taken Einstein’s

  advice and studied a little harder.

  “You’ll get the next one,” Einstein

  whispered.

  From the front row, Twinkles

  squinted toward the stage. Is that my

  appetizer—I mean, my buddy Einstein?

  Principal Decker’s turban slowly

  began to unwind.

  Stay right there, my little snack.

  Your pal Twinkles is on the way.

  Ned noticed Twinkles sliding across

  the floor before Einstein did. So did a

  woman in the first row, who started

  screaming.

  Several audience members jumped

  to their feet. Principal Decker felt his

  turbanless head and panicked. “Twinkles!

  Come to Papa!”

  But Twinkles was halfway across

  the stage, slithering toward Einstein.

  “What are YOU doing here?”

  Einstein said. “Go squeeze somebody

  your own size.”

  “Like you?”

  Just as Twinkles was about to wind

  himself around Einstein, Lance

  Weaver leaped onto his podium,

  waking up Ms. Moreno.

  “Call security! I’m afraid of snakes!”

  he screamed. “I have ophidiophobia!”

  The Perfect Ed Elementary team

  hit their buzzers. “Ophidophobia is a

  fear of snakes,” they all shouted.

  Perfect Ed Elementary is a bunch

  of know-it-alls, thought Ned and

  Bonnie.

  “Snakes are forbidden

  on the set. It’s in my

  contract!” The host

  jumped onto a spotlight

  and swung across the stage.

  “It’s either me or the snake, so I’m

  out of here!”

  “Lance, come back!” The director

  turned to his assistant. “Where am I

  going to find a replacement host to

  finish the show?”

  That was all Einstein

  needed to hear.

  More than 19 million Americans suffer

  from some form of phobia. Twice as many

  women deal with phobias compared with

  men. Scientists still don’t understand why

  certain people have irrational fears.

  Here are some of the most common

  phobias:

  •Acrophobia (fear of heights)

  •Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)

  •Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces)

  •Cynophobia (fear of dogs)

  •Glossophobia (fear of public speaking)

  •Nyctophobia (fear of the dark)

  •Testophobia (fear of taking tests)

  And don’t forget phobophobia—the

  fear of phobias.

  MY DOG IS

  GREAT WITH KIDS.

  CHAPTER NINE

  eInStEiN’s tUrN

  tO sHiNe

  “This is my chance to host A REAL

  GAME SHOW,” Einstein told Marlon.

  “I’ve been preparing for this moment

  my whole life!”

  “Then we better get you mic’d up.”

  Einstein looked around. It wasn’t

  Marlon who’d answered h
im; it was

  the friendly guy standing beside him.

  “You can HEAR me?” Einstein asked.

  “Of course I can. I’m the sound

  man. You can call me Bill.”

  Einstein reached up to shake Bill’s

  hand.

  “Since I was a kid, I’ve always paid

  attention to sounds,” Bill said. “I could

  tell the difference between a cardinal

  and a starling when I was just two

  years old.”

  “You mean when they sing?” Marlon

  asked.

  “No. When they talk. Those birds

  never shut up.”

  “Like mice,” Einstein agreed.

  Marlon gestured toward Einstein.

  “See this hamster? He has his own

  game show back at school. He’s a

  really good host.”

  Einstein couldn’t hide his surprise.

  Marlon always seemed to be

  humoring Einstein when he played

  AnSwEr...ThAt...QuEsTiOn.

  He had no idea Marlon thought he

  was actually good at it. Einstein really

  appreciated his friend’s support.

  “But no one in the studio will be