Bumble puppy, as described in the book, is a game where players hit tennis balls high into the air and they have to cause as much chaos as possible.
The term bumble puppy derives from a slang term for playing bridge or wist poorly and goofily.
Look out the window. Do you see a love triangle? Characters that embody turn-of-the-century tensions? Or do you see a boring courtyard? Best ask for a new room, perhaps one with a view.