The World According to Humphrey

The teacher in Room 26 at Longfellow School, Mrs. Brisbane is “short with short gray hair” and speaks “in a voice just loud enough to hear and sat at her desk or stood at the chalkboard when she taught” (9). Mrs. Brisbane appears to starkly contrast the warm, flamboyant Ms. Mac. Mrs. Brisbane dislikes the fact that Ms. Mac brought Humphrey into the classroom, and consequently plays the role of the book’s main antagonist. Mrs. Brisbane presents an existential threat to Humphrey’s status as class pet: As long as she does not like him, he is not safe.

When Mrs. Brisbane returns to Room 26 at the beginning of the book, it is revealed that she was taking care of her husband, Bert, who was in an accident. Like many of her students, Mrs. Brisbane’s behavior is influenced by her home life. Bert’s accident has embittered him toward the world, and their marriage has consequently soured. Mrs. Brisbane directs some of her frustration toward Humphrey. Humphrey ultimately rekindles Bert’s spirits by having him chase him around the house, showing Bert that he is still mobile in many ways. As a result, Mrs. Brisbane comes to welcome and accept Humphrey in both her personal life and her classroom.

Ms. McNamara, known to her students and Humphrey as Ms. Mac, is the pretty, lively, and free-spirited teacher who purchases Humphrey from Pet-O-Rama and introduces him to the world of Room 26 at Longfellow School. Ms. Mac tells Humphrey, ‘You can learn a lot about yourself by taking care of another species […] You’ll teach those kids a thing or two” (1). Humphrey idolizes and loves Ms. Mac, who takes him home and plays with him every night during the six weeks in which she teaches Room 26. However, Humphrey is mortified with Mrs. Brisbane returns. Ms. Mac follows her dreams of teaching abroad and tells Humphrey she will not forget him. Indeed, she does not: She remembers Humphrey in a postcard she sends from Brazil. She returns to visit the class before winter break, gives Humphrey another tiny notebook, and congratulates him for doing well for himself. Though Humphrey loves Ms. Mac, he realizes that she does not need him as much as the students of Room 26 do. 

Sayeh earned the nickname “Speak-Up-Sayeh" due to the fact that she rarely participates in class. Sayeh is a kind and gentle girl who hides the fact that she is the daughter of immigrants. Her parents do not speak English, and she has an accent as well. Sayeh worries that the other students will not accept her because her accent is different. Sayeh’s silence belies the fact that she has a beautiful singing voice. When it is her turn to take care of Humphrey over the weekend, Humphrey helps her encourage her mother and father to practice English. Humphrey proves to be an entertaining and nonthreatening subject of conversation. This inspires Sayeh to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” for them. Her new-gained confidence shows when she begins to speak in class; she even sings the national anthem for the class, winning the Halloween talent show.

Known to Humphrey as the most important man at Longfellow School, Mr. Morales is the school’s principal. Mr. Morales likes Humphrey. As a child, he always wanted a hamster, but his father would not allow it due to money concerns. At school, Mr. Morales is the ultimate figure of authority, responsible for the management of the school and the discipline of the students. However, at home, he is not respected: His children, Brenda and Willie, do not listen to him, and his wife seems to walk all over him because of it. Humphrey is able to solve this problem. He escapes from his cage, and Mr. Morales has Brenda and Willie work together. Listening to their father makes the children realize that they do respect him, and they begin to behave better. Mr. Morales is grateful to Humphrey for this. 

Aldo is the night janitor at Longfellow school and Richie Rinaldi’s uncle. Aldo is a jubilant man who sports a large mustache and likes to sing, dance, and laugh. He helps Humphrey overcome his fear of being alone in the classroom at night. Aldo makes a point of taking his lunch break in Room 26 so that he can talk to Humphrey. Despite his joyful demeanor, Aldo is actually very lonely. Working graveyard shift means he cannot spend time with his friends. Humphrey solves this problem by placing a newspaper ad for a Moonlighter’s Club (a club for night workers) on the class projector for Aldo to see. Aldo attends and meets a woman named Maria, who he later successfully proposes to. Aldo credits this to Humphrey; he wants Humphrey to be his best man.