by Jane Yolen
Agent 007½
climbs aboard the skimmer,
bringing the ladder
up with him.
“Thanks, Cousin Hip”
says the monster.
“I hope I really am
your cousin,”
says Commander Toad.
“You will soon know,”
says the monster,
grinning with 412 teeth.
The skimmer lifts up
to the ship.
Once on board,
the monster takes off
his disguise.
He takes off his horn.
He takes off his hair.
He takes off his hide.
He is a tall
and slim
and handsome brown toad.
Commander Toad
puts his arm
around Tip Toad.
“See,”
says the commander.
“We look exactly alike.”
Lieutenant Lily smiles.
Mr. Hop shakes his head.
Old Doc Peeper
laughs out loud.
“I do not think
you look exactly alike,”
says young Jake.
Commander Toad
looks at his cousin.
He looks at himself
in the mirror.
“You are right,”
says the commander.
“We may look alike,
but I am much better looking.”
“Give me a minute,”
says Tip Toad,
“and I can be
just as good looking as you.
After all,
I am
a master of disguise.”
They all laugh.
Then young Jake
sends the green ship
into deep hopper space
and they leapfrog
across the galaxy
from star to star to star.