Frog Power Read Free

brothers.
    Abby pulled a tablet and pen out of herjeans pocket. “There’s Blinkee, Dunkum’s rabbit, and Dee Dee’s cat, Mister Whiskers. That makes six.”
    â€œAnd Eric’s hamster, Fran the Ham,” said Stacy. “That’s seven.”
    â€œEr-rib-bit!” Carly stopped the swing with her feet. “Don’t forget Jason’s bullfrog.” She giggled and ran to catch up with her friend Dee Dee.
    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.
    â€œGood 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?”
    â€œFrogs 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.
    â€œSpring is almost here!” Abby shouted.
    The sun was warm on Stacy’s back. “And then comes summer!” she squealed.
    â€œYes! 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.”
    â€œWhat is meeting about?” little Jimmy asked.
    â€œCome and find out,” Dee Dee bossed.
    â€œAbby, you tell now!” Jimmy yelled.
    â€œIt’s not really a secret,” Abby told her brother and all the kids. “But we could surprise our parents for Easter.”
    â€œYes, let’s,” said Stacy. She couldn’t wait for the meeting.
    â€œWhat surprise?” Jimmy asked.
    â€œStacy 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

    â€œListen 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.