40 pages 1 hour read

Beverly Cleary

Runaway Ralph

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1970

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Chapters 4-6Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 4 Summary: “Chum”

Ralph wakes in the evening and explores his new housing. He spreads out his bedding and nibbles at the food in his bowl. He tries out the exercise wheel in the cage, finding it as initially exciting as the motorcycle, which he tries to catch a glimpse of through the window but fails.

As the sun rises, a boy blows the bugle to wake the camp. Garf sneaks into the craft shop to care for Ralph on his own. During the day, campers come into the craft shop and are distracted from their crafts by Ralph’s acrobatics on his wheel. They give him treats of the beans and grains they use to make mosaics.

When Garf sneaks in at lunch time to feed Ralph, Ralph tries hesitantly to talk to him. However, Garf doesn’t hear him and starts singing. Garf sings “Little Rabbit Fru-Fru,” which horrifies Ralph and prevents him from trying to connect with Garf. Ralph does notice, however, that Garf’s singing coincides with singing from the mess hall. Garf sings the same words, but his voice behaves differently from the other campers.

Several days pass, and Ralph is safe and comfortable in the cage in the craft shop.

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