Read Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic for Free Online Page A

lot of meat, buy it here.’ The messages would get the shoppers to do what they said.”
    “This isn’t a supermarket,” says Lumphy.
    “Duh,” says Plastic. “But we could do like this:StingRay could whisper in the Little Girl’s ear while she’s asleep. When the Girl wakes up, she’ll think whatever StingRay has told her.”
    “Oooooh.” StingRay is silent for a moment. “What if I whisper, ‘Don’t eat your vegetables’?
    or ‘Sit in front of the TV all day like a giant
wet noodle’?
or ‘Cheat at card games’?
What if my submarine message is
‘Buy StingRay lots of presents’?
Will she really do whatever I say?” StingRay
feels a thrill.
    Plastic rolls side to side, nervously. “Forget I told you about it. It only maybe works, anyway.”
    “If it maybe works, I want to try it,” insists Lumphy. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it,” says Plastic. “It’s a bad idea.”
    “Then how am I going to get on the bed?” criesLumphy, looking up at the fluffy pillows from his spot on the rug. “I have to get up there!”
    “Don’t worry,” says StingRay. “I’ve done submarine messages lots of times before. I’ll get you up.”
    It is hard to think about sharing the big high bed—in fact, StingRay doesn’t want to share it at all. But even more, she doesn’t want Lumphy to ignore her and stare at his bit of fluff all day. That evening, StingRay stays awake when the Little Girl falls asleep.
    “Bring Lumphy to bed,
Bring Lumphy to bed,
Bring Lumphy to bed,
Bring Lumphy to bed,”
she whispers long into the night.
    … …
    The next evening, after brushing her teeth and putting on her pajamas, the Little Girl lifts Lumphy up along with StingRay. The submarine message has worked!
    Lumphy is so excited. Cool white pillows, patchwork quilt, warm flannel sheets, private time! He can hardly believe it’s true.
    But here is what happens, up on the high bed:
    Not much. The Girl’s father reads three stories aloud. He sings a short lullaby. The Girl kisses her father four times. He turns out the light and leaves.
    Then the Girl kisses StingRay and Lumphy, tucks them under the covers, and goes right to sleep.
    StingRay goes to sleep, too.
    Lumphy lies there and stares at the ceiling.
    He stares at the clock, which glows in the dark.
    He stares at the curtains, blowing slightly in the wind.
    He doesn’t feel sleepy.
    “Psst. StingRay,” he whispers.
    StingRay doesn’t answer.
    “StingRay!” he whispers again, nipping her gently on the cheek.
    “What?” StingRay sounds muddled.
    “Want to play I Spy?”
    “It’s dark. I can’t spy anything.”
    “I need a drink of water,” moans Lumphy.
    “No you don’t.”
    “Then I need another story. Will you tell me a story?”
    “I can’t think of one now,” says StingRay. “I’m trying to sleep.”
    “Want to sing ‘Camptown Races’?”
    “No.”
    “Just a little bit? I think it will help me relax. Camp-town Racetrack sing a song …”
    “Doo dah, doo dah,” mumbles StingRay softly, and closes her eyes.
    Lumphy stares at the ceiling again.
    He stares at the clock.
    He stares at the curtains.
    He still doesn’t feel sleepy. He crawls to the edge of the high bed and looks down.
    The toy mice are playing leapfrog. Plastic is reading one of the big books and rolling slightly side to side. The one-eared sheep is laughing with the wooden rocking horse in the corner.
    Lumphy sighs, and rearranges himself on the bed. The problem is, he usually stays up late. This time of night, he likes to be doing stuff. Playing marbles, or checkers, or pick-up sticks. Something.
    It is not his bedtime yet. Not even close.
    Bonk! Lumphy jumps down. It hurts his bottom when he lands, but he doesn’t mind. He is so happy to be down again that he kisses all three toy mice with his buffalo mouth and then trots over to Plastic and offers to watch her roll down the staircase.
    … …
    Every night after that, the Little Girl takes Lumphy to bed with her. Lumphy