Frog Power

by Beverly Lewis

  Stacy shivered. No way did she want Croaker in her pet parade!

  The recess bell rang. “Since we only have a half day today, let’s have a meeting after school,” Abby said.

  “Good idea,” Stacy said. And she ran across the playground, with her puppy scampering ahead.

  The line for Miss Hershey’s class was full of kids with pets. Sunday Funnies barked at Jason. Croaker was sitting inside Jason’s shirt pocket! Bulging eyes stuck out over the top of his pocket.

  Abby laughed. “What’s Croaker doing out here?”

  “Frogs need exercise, too,” Jason explained.

  Eric turned around. “Animals need attention, whether they’re ugly or not.”

  Shawn laughed a high-pitched giggle.

  Stacy didn’t feel like laughing at all.

  FIVE

  Stacy was glad school was out early. She went with Abby to pick up Carly after school. Carly was waiting with Dee Dee Winters beside the first-grade door.

  Shawn and Jimmy, Abby’s Korean brothers, walked with them across the playground.

  Jason’s mom picked him up in her car. The frog aquarium was too heavy to carry home.

  Soon, Eric came with Fran the Ham, and Dunkum with Blinkee. The Cul-de-sac Kids always walked together. It was one of Abby’s ideas. She was the president of the Cul-de-sac Kids—nine kids who lived on Blossom Hill Lane.

  Carly and Dee Dee held hands as they skipped. Stacy remembered holding hands with Abby when they were in first grade. That had been the year after Stacy’s dad moved out.

  “Spring is almost here!” Abby shouted.

  The sun was warm on Stacy’s back. “And then comes summer!” she squealed.

  “Yes! School over in two months,” Shawn yelled.

  Dunkum and Eric had their hands full with cages. One for Blinkee and one for Fran the Ham. Shawn helped Eric carry his tape recorder.

  Just then, Abby turned around in the middle of the cul-de-sac. “Everyone meet at Dunkum’s after lunch,” she said. “We have important things to discuss.”

  Carly giggled. “I already know what Abby’s gonna say.”

  “What is meeting about?” little Jimmy asked.

  “Come and find out,” Dee Dee bossed.

  “Abby, you tell now!” Jimmy yelled.

  “It’s not really a secret,” Abby told her brother and all the kids. “But we could surprise our parents for Easter.”

  “Yes, let’s,” said Stacy. She couldn’t wait for the meeting.

  “What surprise?” Jimmy asked.

  “Stacy is planning a pet parade,” said Abby.

  The kids liked the idea. Stacy could tell by the way everyone hurried home for lunch.

  She unlocked her front door and went to fix a sandwich. “It’s just you and me,” she said to Sunday Funnies. She poured dog food into his dish. Standing up, she saw a note stuck to the refrigerator. “What’s this?”

  Stacy began to read.

  Dear Stacy,

  Your father called this morning. He’s going to be in town over Easter and wants to see us. We’ll talk tonight, OK?

  Love you, honey—

  Mom

  “Listen to this!” Stacy sat down beside her puppy and read the note out loud. She hugged Sunday Funnies. It was a strange name for a dog, but it fit. He could sniff out the Sunday newspaper and find the funny papers. Before anyone else!

  A tall paper hat—made from the Sunday comics—would be the perfect Easter hat for him. Stacy could almost see the cul-de-sac pets marching, hopping, and jumping down Blossom Hill Lane. The pet parade would be the perfect Easter surprise for her dad!

  Stacy made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She drank a glass of milk with it. Nibbling on an apple, Stacy dashed off to Dunkum’s.

  She passed Jason Birchall’s house on the way. Just thinking about Croaker made her shiver. He was the ugliest creature on earth.

  Stacy wished Jason’s bullfrog would go jump in a well. Then the pet parade would be perfect!

  SIX

  Stacy tossed her sneakers beside the steps in Dunkum’s basement. Sitting on the floor, she finished eating her apple.

  Dunkum whistled and the kids got quiet.

  Abby plopped down in her president’s seat—the blue beanbag. “OK,” she began. “Is everyone here?”

  The kids looked around.

  “Someone’s missing,” Abby said.

  Eric pushed his hair back. “Did we forget to tell Jason?”

  “I thought you told him,” Dunkum said.

  Shawn stood up. “I go get Jason.”

  Stacy felt funny inside.

  When Shawn came back with Jason, the Cul-de-sac Kids began to plan the parade.

  “Stacy is a good fixer-upper,” Abby said. “She should be in charge of arranging the pets.”

  Dunkum brought a marker board from his father’s study. He handed a blue marker to Stacy. “You make a list of all the girl animals.” He drew a black line dividing the board in half. “I’ll write the boy animals on this side.”

  Girls Boys

  Quacker—Carly’s duck Jack—Jimmy’s duck

  Snow White— Shawn’s dog Mr. Whiskers— Dee Dee’s cat

  Blinkee—Dunkum’s rabbit Sunday Funnies—Stacy’s dog

  Fran the Ham—Eric’s hamster Croaker—Jason’s bullfrog

  Stacy turned around. “What about you, Abby?”

  Shawn leaped off the floor. “Abby play march tape on tape recorder.”

  “Good idea!” Stacy said.

  “Or, Abby could pull a wagon full of my grandpa’s birdcages. He has three canaries and two parakeets,” Eric suggested.

  Stacy looked at Abby. “Wanna?”

  Abby nodded. “I’ll carry the tape recorder in one hand, and pull the wagon with the other.”

  “I could buy a lady frog for you,” Jason said. “Would you like that?”

  “Uh . . . that’s OK,” Stacy said quickly. “Abby is our props manager and bird tamer. Besides, one frog on the block is enough.”

  Carly and Dee Dee giggled.

  “Let’s make Easter bonnets for the girl animals,” said Stacy. “Who wants to help me make them?”

  Abby shot up her hand.

  “What about bow ties for the boy animais?” Eric said. “Hey, Stacy, wanna help me?”

  Stacy smiled. “OK!”

  “Good idea,” Jason croaked. “I’ll help, too. Er-rib-bit!”

  Stacy groaned. Had Eric tricked her into touching Croaker? Again?

  Abby ended the meeting. “Remember, don’t tell your parents. It’s a big surprise. Stacy’s head of the parade. She’ll make sure all the animals are dressed for the show.”

  Stacy scrambled for her sneakers. Keeping a secret was not a problem. But tying a bow around a bullfrog’s neck? That was a problem!

  SEVEN

  Stacy ran home to clean her room. Something bugged her about Jason’s horrible frog. What was it?

  She stood on a chair and dusted the shelf in her closet. In the back, Stacy found her old fairy-tale book.

  She jumped off the chair and sat on her bed. Slowly, she turned the pages. It was filled with beautiful pictures. And memories of her dad.

  Stacy picked up the bookmark. It had marked the spot in the middle of the story. The one her father was reading to her before he left.

  Stacy turned the page. “Oh no!” Staring up from the page was a giant green bullfrog. The story was “The Frog Prince”—the same one that Stacy was reading for school.

  Whoosh! Stacy slammed the book shut. A puff of dust flew out. “I hate this story!” she yelled. “I hate frogs!”

  Stacy stomped out of her bedroom and down the hall. It was time to think about Easter bonnets and bow ties. Anything but frogs!

  In the living room, Stacy searched through old newspapers. She found the Sunday paper from last week.

  Her puppy scampered down the hall. He nosed his way into the comics. He’d found them again!

  Stacy held up the col
or page to her face and sniffed. It didn’t smell any different from the other pages. She snuggled her puppy. “How do you do it, you silly?”

  Stacy folded the comics page in half and began to make a tall pointed hat. She found scissors and glue in the kitchen. Then she made a bow tie to match.

  Stacy giggled as she dressed Sunday Funnies. She picked him up and ran to her room. Standing in front of the long mirror, she held her puppy up. “You’ll be the star of the Easter parade.”

  “Woof!” Sunday Funnies agreed.

  Stacy heard the garage door rumble. “Mom’s home!” She hid the Easter hat and bow tie in her closet. Then she ran to the top of the steps. She couldn’t wait to find out more about her dad. Was he really coming?

  Her mother hugged her close when she came in. “Hi, honey, how was school?”

  “OK.” She followed her mother into the kitchen.

  Her mother sat at the kitchen table. “Whew! I need a vacation.”

  “Disneyland?” Stacy suggested.

  Stacy’s mother chuckled. “That’s not what I had in mind.” She went to the refrigerator. When she opened the door, the note fell off.

  Stacy ran to pick up the note. Now was her big chance. “Why is Daddy coming to town?”

  “He’s coming on business and . . .” Stacy’s mother stopped for a second. “He wants to see you.”

  Stacy held up the note. “This says he wants to see us.” Stacy hoped that meant something. Maybe Daddy was coming back!

  “He’s coming Friday afternoon,” her mother said.

  Three days from now! “Let’s invite him for supper,” Stacy pleaded.

  “Not this time,” her mother said.

  Stacy left the room. “Not this time,” she whispered to herself. “Not this time and not ever!” Why couldn’t her parents at least be friends?

  Stacy went to her room and closed the door. She found her storybook. It reminded her of the best days of her life.

  “Let’s find out what happens to the frog prince,” she said to Sunday Funnies.

  Happy and sad feelings jumbled up inside her. She found the bookmark and began to read.

  EIGHT

  Stacy pretended her father was sitting next to her. Reading out loud to her.

  The princess was talking to the frog. “I promise to do everything you said.” But the princess secretly hoped the frog would forget. She didn’t want a nasty frog coming into the castle! But she said it again, “I promise.”

  The frog went down, down. Deep into the well. The princess watched and waited.

  Up he came with the gold necklace in his mouth. He tossed it onto the grass.

  “Oh!” said the princess. “My beautiful necklace!” And she picked it up and ran away.

  “Wait a minute!” croaked the frog. “You forgot to take me with you.”

  But the princess didn’t wait for the frog. She ran all the way to the castle. And soon she forgot about him,

  Stacy stopped reading. What a horrible girl, she thought. The princess didn’t even say thank you.

  Stacy stared at the picture of the princess.

  Knockity-knock!

  Stacy jumped. “Come in.”

  It was Abby. She was carrying a white plastic bag. “Hi, Stacy. What are you doing?”

  “Reading.” Stacy showed the book to her friend.

  “Oh, I like the bright colors,” Abby said. “Where’d you get it?”

  “From my dad.” Stacy turned to the front of the book. “It was a birthday present a long time ago.”

  Abby smiled. “It’s really nice.”

  Stacy moved over on the bed. “Guess what?”

  “You hate Jason’s bullfrog, right?”

  Stacy felt uneasy. “It’s just so . . . uh, so ugly.”

  “God made lots of weird-looking animals,” Abby said. “And my dad thinks God probably laughs about it sometimes.”

  Stacy nodded. Abby was lucky to have a father who loved God—even though it wasn’t luck at all.

  “My dad’s coming for a visit this Friday,” Stacy said.

  “Double dabble good!” Abby said. “What a fantastic Good Friday present.”

  “I hope so.” Stacy felt the sad and happy feelings again.

  NINE

  “I haven’t seen my dad in a long time,” Stacy said. “It’s a little scary.”

  “You’ll do OK,” Abby said softly. “You love your dad, right?”

  Stacy sat up straight. “I’m worried that Mom might get mad.”

  Abby leaned closer. “Why would she?”

  “If I’m nice to my dad, my mom might get upset.” Stacy hugged the storybook.

  Abby touched Stacy’s hand. “Just be yourself. I like you best that way.”

  “It’s not easy sometimes,” Stacy replied. “Not around my parents.”

  Abby raised her eyebrows. “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t want to hurt either one of them. Your parents aren’t divorced. Maybe you don’t understand.”

  Abby nodded. “You’re right. I can’t imagine my dad not living with us.”

  Stacy grabbed Abby’s hand. She felt tears slide down her cheek.

  Abby bowed her head. “Let’s pray, OK?” Abby was like that. She prayed anytime. Anywhere.

  “Dear Lord,” she began. “I don’t understand about divorce, but you do. Help Stacy have a good time with her father when he comes.” Abby took a deep breath. “And help Stacy remember that Jason’s bullfrog is part of your creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

  “Amen,” Stacy repeated. She felt warm all over.

  Abby pulled some tissue paper out of her plastic bag. “Carly and I made hat patterns for all the pets.” She held up some tissue paper. Some were little. Some big.

  “How cute,” Stacy said. “But can a rabbit wear a hat?”

  Abby giggled. She wiggled her fingers. “Right between his ears,” she said.

  Stacy went to the closet. She found Sunday Funnies’ bow tie. “Look what I made.”

  “Hey, you’re good,” Abby exclaimed. “Let’s make everything out of the Sunday comics.”

  “How about a hat-fitting party tomorrow after school?” Stacy suggested. “For girl animals only.”

  “Double dabble good!” Abby said.

  “Let’s meet at the end of the cul-de-sac,” Stacy said. “Between Mr. Tressler’s house and the old oak tree.” She followed Abby to the front door.

  “It’s the perfect place,” Abby said as she left.

  Stacy couldn’t wait.

  TEN

  After school, Stacy measured the girl pets for their tall Easter bonnets. “Ahchoo!” She couldn’t stop sneezing. Pet allergies were no fun!

  Blinkee twitched her long bunny ears as Stacy tried to measure around them. Abby held Blinkee still.

  Next came Fran the Ham. Eric bribed her with a carrot while Stacy measured. Now Stacy’s eyes were itchy. Super itchy!

  “Ah-choo!” Stacy blew her nose. “This is horrible,” she said.

  “Here.” Abby gave her a clean tissue. “Cover your nose with this.”

  “And try not to breathe,” teased Eric.

  Quacker and Snow White were last. The tissue didn’t help. Stacy’s eyes watered even more.

  She thought about the Easter parade—a good surprise for her father. For all the parents in the cul-de-sac. No way would she give up! Not even for allergies!

  After supper, Stacy made herself a mask from an old T-shirt. She cut holes for the eyes. This will keep me from sneezing, she thought. Then she headed to Dee Dee’s house.

  Dee Dee giggled when she saw the mask.

  Stacy measured Mister Whisker’s neck. “Bow ties look cool on cats,” she teased.

  Then Stacy hurried to Abby’s house to measure Jimmy’s duck, Jack. Dunkum and Eric came along to help.

  “Bow ties look so classy on a duck,” Abby said.

  Jimmy held the duck’s fluffy body still. Dunkum wrote down the inches on some paper.

  “Simp
ly ducky,” Eric said, laughing.

  Stacy smiled through the mask. She stood up to leave. Glancing across the street, she thought about Jason’s slimy bullfrog. She shivered. Icksville!

  “You won’t need your mask at Jason’s,” Abby said.

  “Why not?” Stacy asked.

  Eric cackled. “Frogs can’t make you sneeze.”

  “Hey, do you know what a frog uses to cook supper?” Dunkum joked.

  Jimmy shook his head. “Frog cannot cook.”

  “It’s just a joke,” Abby told her little brother.

  “What does a frog cook supper in?” asked Stacy.

  “A croakpot, of course!” Dunkum said, pretending to shoot a basket.

  The kids giggled.

  Stacy said, “Good joke, but now I’ve got work to do. Alone.” And she wandered across the street. She held her breath inside her mask as she went.

  Jason answered the door. “What’s the mask for?”

  “Some animals bug me,” Stacy said. “I’m itchy and sneezy.”

  “Croaker won’t bother you,” Jason said.

  That’s what you think, thought Stacy. “So, what’s your frog’s neck size?” she asked.

  Jason took the lid off the aquarium. “How should I know?”

  Stacy stepped back. “Uh, don’t take him out yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t like frogs,” Stacy blurted.

  Jason pushed up his glasses. “You don’t?”

  Stacy sat down. “I’m sorry, Jason. It’s not your fault.”

  “That’s OK. Frogs aren’t for everyone.”

  Stacy nodded. “I guess that’s why God made dogs and cats and ducks.”

  “Here, I’ll measure Croaker’s neck for you.” Jason took the yellow measuring tape from Stacy.

  She watched Jason touch his frog. She thought about the frog in her storybook. She tried to imagine Croaker making a deal with a real live princess.

  Stacy stopped sneezing and took off her mask. Slowly, she inched closer to the green bullfrog. “Jason?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Will Croaker jump down the street in our parade?”

  “You betcha! All you need is a fly on the end of a string,” Jason said.