Happy Birthday, Rotten Ralph

Illustrated by Nicole Rubel

Houghton Mifflin Company Boston

For Anne—J.G.
To my family—N.R.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gantos, Jack.
Happy birthday Rotten Ralph/written by Jack Gantos; illustrated
by Nicole Rubel.
p. cm.
Summary: Rotten Ralph the cat is up to his usual rotten behavior
as Sarah prepares for his birthday party.
RNF ISBN
0-395-53766-5
PAP ISBN
0-395-70091-4
[ 1. Cats - Fiction. 2. Behavior - Fiction. 3. Birthdays - Fiction.
4. Parties - Fiction.] I. Rubel, Nicole, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.G15334Hap 1990 90-32738
[E]—dc20 
CIP

AC

The character of Rotten Ralph was originally created by
Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel.

Text copyright © 1990 by John B. Gantos, Jr.
Illustrations copyright © 1990 by Leslie Nicole Rubel

All rights reserved. For information about permission to
reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions,
Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South,
New York, New York 10003.

Printed in China

SCP
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12

One morning when Sarah woke up, her rotten cat Ralph was searching through the closet.

"I hope she got me what I wanted for my birthday," Ralph thought to himself.

"Happy birthday," said Sarah.

She gave him a hug and closed the closet door.

"Now, no snooping until your party."

Rotten Ralph made an ugly face and squirted toothpaste into Sarah's slippers.

"You are truly rotten, Ralph," she said.

"We have to make a list of friends to invite," said Sarah.

Rotten Ralph wanted to invite all his alley-cat friends. But Sarah wanted to invite his sweet house-cat friends.

So Rotten Ralph poured prune juice onto her cereal. "That's not good birthday behavior, Ralph," said Sarah.

They went out to buy party favors. Ralph ran through the store blowing horns and wearing a birthday hat.

"Calm down," said Sarah. "This is not the time to start your party."

On the way home Rotten Ralph saw a fire truck. "I want that for my birthday," he thought.

He jumped on the fire truck and turned on the water.

"You can't have a fire truck," said Sarah.

Then they passed a stable.

"I've always wanted a pony," Ralph thought.

"Give that back," said Sarah.

When they got home Sarah baked Ralph a cake. He licked off all the icing.

"You'd better behave yourself, Ralph," Sarah said, "or you can't have a birthday party."

Ralph broke open the pinata and ate all the candy.

"Rotten cats don't get birthday parties," warned Sarah.

After Sarah decorated the house, Ralph swung on the streamers and popped the balloons.

"I've had enough of your rotten behavior," said Sarah. "No birthday party for you!"

"I don't want a party anyway," Ralph thought.

"I just want my present."

"Go to your room," ordered Sarah. "And don't come down until you have learned how to behave."